I need a new challenge.
Reading has always been one of my favorite forms of escape. Books and stories got me through all my tough times, as well as my happiest moments. I longingly think of the days when I used to stay up all night reading a book under the covers with a flashlight. Growing up, I would read any book I could get my hands on. I once read all the Harry Potter books in one week, in the lead-up to the final installment’s release. I’ve been a reader since before I could even read by myself. And once I mastered the skill, there was no stopping me. I devoured books.
So when Gilmore Girls premiered, I felt an instant connection to fellow bookworm Rory Gilmore. Now, with time and maturity, I can see that the character Rory is trash and that Lorelai was really who I connected to the most. But, even with all her bad choices, Rory’s book list is sublime.
Photo compliments of Netflix
I’ve recently returned to Stars Hallow for my annual fall rewatch and not only is it giving me all the warm and cozy feelings it always does, my return this time has me hankering for a good book.
Photo compliments of Pinterest.
So I decided to take on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. Depending on where you seek this out on the internet, there are between 300 - 500 books listed. And being me, I decided to take on the longest list I could get my hands on. I’ll be using the list that was beautifully compiled by Jules Buono of The Literary Lifestyle. She not only listed all the books that Rory read on the show and the Netflix follow-up, A Year in the Life, but she also listed the books mentioned or referenced. So it’s a true literary romp through Rory’s teens and early twenties.
I’ve given myself some rules to go along with this challenge.
I’ll update what I’m reading on my Instagram @weezeramb. Meaning, I’ll post in my stories where I’m at in the books and when I sit down to read. This will be a way to stay accountable to the challenge.
I’m allowed to read other books while doing this challenge, but only in the romance genre. I’m hard at work on a romance novel myself, so reading these books is not only a great palate cleanser from the somewhat heavy book list, but also research.
Each book on the list will be picked at random. The list is numbered and I’ll use the random number generator on Google to pick a number and I’ll read the corresponding book.
That’s it for rules. I think three is plenty.
I used the random number generator and came up with - 192.
The corresponding book? The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Photo compliments of The Kelmscott Bookshop
Woof. Of course, I pull a big one first. Originally published in 1776, it is a work in six volumes by historian Edward Gibbon. In Gilmore Girls, the book is finished by Richard, Rory’s grandfather.
So because Richard finally finished all six volumes - a feat that took him decades (he started reading it in 1968 and finished in the mid-2000s!) - and not Rory who finished all the volumes, I’m making an exception. I’m only going to read the first volume, which is basically as far as (I think) Rory got. Because it will take me decades to read otherwise. And who knows, maybe I’ll finish the whole shebang in a few decades too.
Of course, I’ll report back in posts to come and let you know my thoughts on all the books to come. I’ll be heading to the library tomorrow to pick up my copy.
What are you reading these days? Anything I should put on my to-be-read list?
Two of my all time favs are wisdom of whores and brain on fire.