The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge
Is it truly Fall with Gilmore Girls? Most of us know Rory Gilmore, a studious girl with big dreams of going to Harvard while also being an avid reader. She reads over 400 books throughout the seven seasons; here are a few direct mentions we gathered and will be highlighting over the next few weeks.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (SEASON 1:8) is a quintessential Victorian novel about a young, orphaned Jane Eyre living with her heartless aunt, which leads to her being naturally independent and spirited, something that soon becomes necessary when the governess employs Jane to the young ward of Bryonic, Mr. Rochester. But after finding a terrible secret about Thornfield Hall, Jane has to make a choice. Will she stay with Mr. Rochester and live with the consequences, or will she flee from the man she loves? Read this gothic masterpiece filled with dark secrets to find out!
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (SEASON 2:16) is a timeless gothic novel between a man and a monster. Victor Frankenstein, a man of science, is on a scientific quest to create life. But when his creations lead to a horrific chain of events, sending Victor to the brink of madness, he is desperate to destroy his creation. In the process, his creation destroys everything he loves. The story of Frankenstein has been hailed as one of the first modern science fiction works.
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (SEASON 1:1) is a classic piece of literature about a madman pursuing an unholy war against a creature as dangerous and unknown as the sea. But the novel is about more than a quest for the beast–it’s an adventure mixed with whaling lore, legend, and humor.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (SEASON 2:5) Oliver Twist is a poor orphan who has had misfortune following him since his first breath. After running away from the workhouse and the pompous Mr. Bumble, Oliver stumbles upon a den of thieves and outlaws who are quick to take in Oliver for work. Suddenly, Oliver finds himself in more misfortune and trouble than he hoped.
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende (SEASON 7:14) Eva Luna: a lover, a writer, a revolutionary, and a storyteller. Eva Luna was born poor, orphaned early, and worked as a servant. Despite being poor, she trades her stories like currency with people who are kind to her. She shares her story, telling about the diverse people in her life– Lebanese émigré who take her in, an unfortunate godmother with a brain addled by rum, a street urchin, and even a refugee who will prove crucial to Eva’s fate. Eva tells her story filled with the rich, the poor, the simple, and the sophisticated, who celebrate the power of imagination to create a better world.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (SEASON 1:16) provides a vast panorama of contemporary life in Russia. Anna is a sophisticated woman who abandons her empty existence as the wife of Karenin and turns to Count Vronsky to fulfill her passionate nature, which leads to tragic consequences. After her passionate affair with the officer, Anna begins a downward spiral fueled by jealousy and grief. This forbidden, passionate affair results in societal scorn that furthers Anna’s spiral.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? By Edward Albee (SEASON 1:17) is a dark comedy about husband and wife George and Martha during a searing night of dangerous fun and games. But by the evening’s end, an almost unbearable revelation provides a shocking climax. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a brilliant play with sharp-tongued dialogue and a plot that strips away social norms.
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (SEASON 5:12) is about a young Nancy Drew who sets out to find a missing will. She discovers that the Topham family will inherit the wealthy Josiah Crowley’s large fortune instead of his relatives and friends, who were all promised a piece of the inheritance. Upon investigation, Nacy determines that a clue to a second will could be hidden inside Mr. Crowley’s old clock. Setting out to find the clock, not only is Nancy Drew’s mind tested, but the mystery leads her into an even bigger adventure.
Rory Gilmore’s love for books includes quite a few iconic classics in literature, many of which have been highlighted in the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge!
Written by Carlie Renee
