By Jamie Keebler
Whether you love her or hate her you have to admit that Rory has great taste in
literature. She is seen reading various books throughout the show, 408 to be exact.
Here are my favorite Rory reads.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
This novel is brought up twice in the series; the first when Lorelai suggests that reading the novel will be more fun than a Chilton party in season one, and in season four when Rory recommends it to her mother when Lorelai is trying to find something to do besides to go to Luke’s. This novel goes into what it is like to experience depression in depth. It is a fascinating read and beautifully crafted, but you need to know what you are getting into. The prose is tragically beautiful and it stands as a dark American classic.
For purchase at local bookstore: https://whitewhalebookstore.com/item/rkA3nXS2J2bNwEZ4tOjoCA
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This book is brought up in season one when Dean borrows it from Rory to read. In my opinion that's a sign of true love; getting your first boyfriend to read Jane Austen for you. This novel follows the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet as she learns how to find genuinely good people while she attempts to find a husband in order to save her family’s inheritance. The content of this novel is light and the romance is charming but the language can definitely be challenging for someone who isn’t well versed in old english. While it can be challenging I think that this book is a staple for any romance reader. (Tip: watch the movie with Keira Knightly to get the gist of the plot, or to just hear the British accents and see pretty dresses)
For purchase at local bookstore:
1984 by George Orwell
While Rory is seen with this book and references to it, Sookie and Lorelai are the ones that talk about it. When Sookie is very pregnant and upset Lorelai brings it up (although it's not a feel-good story). This story is a dystopian novel written in the 1940s which makes a prediction of a grim future full of immense surveillance and little freedom. This book is written in language that is fairly accessible but it definitely demands attention in order to catch all of the haunting details. This book may be hard to read in 2022 because Orwell's predictions were not exactly wrong, but I still recommend it. Also, it is probably one of the most referenced American novels, so if you don’t want to read it for yourself, read it to sound super smart when you can prove that you know what doublethink is in a conversation.
For purchase at local bookstore: https://whitewhalebookstore.com/item/sWIrF8Gf8lPbBufD4Hd37Q
In the end, while I admire Rory’s aesthetic her literature taste aligns with that of high school English teachers everywhere. I do have to acknowledge that out of the classics, these picks have to be some of my favorites. I would recommend these books to anyone but they have to be prepared to use every brain cell.
We all may not be running around Stars Hollow with multiple floppy haired boys chasing us in our plaid school uniform, but at least we can pretend for a little while we read these novels.