Chris DattilioNothing is ruined by reading the three books in question (Beloved, Jazz, Paradise) in any order, or years apart, or reading only 2 of them, or only 1 of them.... frankly, for those readers who were not specifically informed beforehand that the 3 novels form a loose kind of thematic trilogy, it would be nearly impossible for a casual reader to read all 3 books, even consecutively, and believe they had just read a trilogy. Like Erdrich's Justice Trilogy, or Roth's America Trilogy, it's a very very loose use of the word 'trilogy.'
