Gilmore Girls: Here’s How To Read Like Rory

As Rory Gilmore once said, “I live in two worlds; one is a world of books.” Part of Rory’s identity on Gilmore Girls was being a book lover. She always had a book with her and would get lost in whatever world she was reading. Books were her friends and something she could always rely on.

Her love of reading is what got her through four years of Chilton and four years of Yale. It’s what inspired her to start writing as a career. Fans who were inspired by Rory’s dedication to reading can find over 300 titles that were name-dropped throughout the show’s entirety. Some are well-known classics while others are more obscure. Regardless of which book a reader chooses, they were all Rory-approved.

10 Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland By Lewis Caroll

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a classic English tale by Lewis Caroll that was brought up on numerous occasions throughout GilmoreGirls, particularly in regards to a certain bed and breakfast. The book was written in 1865 and follows a young girl named Alice on an adventure of a lifetime. She meets unique characters, faces her fears, and fights for her life in this wild dream. As many know, the book got turned into a movie by Disney in 1951 and later spun into live-action films.

9 The Bell Jar By Sylvia Path

Sylvia Plath was a complex and strong-willed woman who was known for her poetry and stories. In 1963, Plath’s only novel, The Bell Jar, released and became an instant hit because of its deep look at mental illness.

The book mirrored Plath’s real life as it follows a young woman named Esther Greenwood who climbs up the ladder as a prominent young writer. Along the way, she falls deeply in love but her struggles with mental health perpetuates. Rory has name-dropped The Bell Jar and was seen reading Plath’s works.

8 Carrie By Stephen King

When fall rolls around and the spooky vibes fill the air, reading Stephen King is a must. He is the king of horror and Carrie is one of his best works. While most King fans know the tale from the 1976 movie Carrie, his book released two years prior. Carrie revolves around a 16-year-old Carrie who is tormented in school by her classmates and her mother. When she realizes she has telekinesis, she uses her powers for revenge.

The most infamous scene involves a cruel prank in which Carrie’s bullies dump a bucket of pig’s blood on her at the prom. Rory references this in her early days at Chilton when, like Carrie, she felt like an outsider.

7 Beowulf: A New Verse Translation By Seamus Heaney

Beowulf is one of the most important works of Old English literature. It’s a poem that was released somewhere between 700 and 750. Shockingly, it’s not known who wrote Beowulf but Seamus Heaney is known for translating the piece. The translation took place in the 1990s and focuses on a hero named Beowulf who saves his kingdom from a monster

Lorelai referenced Beowulf: A New Verse Translation in “He’s Slippin’ ‘Em Bread… Dig?” after Rory suggested it to her. Unsurprisingly, Lorelai couldn’t stay with the poem.

6 Catch-22 By Joseph Heller

Catch-22 is a dark satire revolving around an American soldier, Captain John Yossarian, stationed overseas during World War II. He chronicles his life and time by the sea as he tries to get home alive. Catch-22 was published in 1961 and was soon adapted to a movie in the ’70s. Joseph Heller wrote a sequel to Catch-22 in the ’90s called Closing Time. 

The original novel is referenced in season 5.

5 The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger

The Catcher In The Rye is an American classic written by J.D. Salinger. The story follows Holden Caulfield as he escapes to New York City after being expelled from prep school. He knew he had to come clean to his parents but wanted to blow off some steam in the Big Apple before seeing them. The book has been recognized for its raw honesty in rebellion.

In “The Ins and Outs of Inns,” Rory brilliantly compared Jess to The Catcher In The Rye‘s protagonist for his need to rebel against Luke.

4 A Comedy of Errors By William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is mentioned a few times throughout Gilmore Girls. His work was on one of Rory’s first exams at Chilton. She also performed in Romeo & Juliet at the private school.

In the first season, Rory was studying for the exam and she name-dropped A Comedy of Errors. It was one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays and revolves around a pair of twins and identity. In the episode, Rory was guessing when Shakespeare wrote the play while pulling an all-nighter with her mom.

3 The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown

The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 thriller written by Dan Brown. The book was a breakout sensation that followed Robert Langdon on a mysterious adventure of a lifetime when someone dies at the Louvre.

In the fifth season of Gilmore Girls, Brian and Zack are arguing back and forth at Luke’s. Zack is tired of hearing Brian talk about Mary Magdalene when Brian says “This is, like, the number one book in the country.” Brian was not wrong!

2 Emma By Jane Austen

Who can forget when Paris and Jess meet for the first time and talked about the one and only Jane Austen? No one would have thought these two would get along but they did. Jess was well-read and enjoyed talking about literature, which surprised Paris.

Emma was released in the 1800s and followed a confident young woman named Emma Woodhouse as she meddled in the personal affairs of those around her. It’s known as one of Austen’s best pieces of work.

1 Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes

Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon is an invigorating look at mental health. The story is written in a unique series of journal entries through the eyes of a lab mouse named Algernon and a man named Charlie Gordon. The short story did exceptionally well and was based on real events in Daniel Keyes’ life.

Paris Geller name-dropped the short story after walking into an apartment full of flowers.

About The Author

Lynn Gibbs
(1654 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

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