Original Book List

[Meghan]

I just thought since we don't have shelves up yet to sort through things, it would be nice to have the original RG Book Club list (the club started by the WB) somewhere. I find searching for a book on the shelves kind of tedious without the search feature. And with the additions, it's hard to know what's the original list and what's not. List is by title, then author, not alphabetized.

[Meghan]

001 A Month Of Sundays by Julie Mars
002 The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
003 Small Island by Andrea Levy
004 My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
005 A Quiet Storm by Rachel Howzell Hall
006 My Life in Orange by Tim Guest
007 Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
008 The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
009 The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby
010 How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
011 The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
012 Nervous System by Jan Lars Jensen
013 The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
014 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
015 How the Light Gets In by M. J. Hyland
016 Oracle Night by Paul Auster
017 Quattrocento by James McKean
018 The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan
019 Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
020 Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi
021 Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
022 The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
023 The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem
024 Old School by Tobias Wolff
025 The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
026 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
027 The Bielski Brothers by Peter Duff
028 Brick Lane by Monica Ali
029 Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
030 The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
031 Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
032 The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht
033 Property by Valerie Martin
034 Rescuing Patty Hearst by Virginia Holman
035 The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
036 Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
037 The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander
038 Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito
039 Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
040 Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World by Greg Critser
041 Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
042 Unless by Carol Shields
043 Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
044 When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
045 Songbook by Nick Hornby
046 Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
047 Extravagance by Gary Krist
048 Empire Falls by Richard Russo
049 The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker
050 Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
051 A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
052 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
053 Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
054 Life of Pi by Yann Martel
055 The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
056 The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
057 The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
058 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
059 Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
060 Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
061 The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
062 A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
063 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
064 Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
065 Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
066 Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov
067 The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
068 David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
069 The Lottery: And Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
070 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
071 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
072 Song of the Simple Truth: The Complete Poems of Julia De Burgos by Julia De Burgos
073 The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
074 Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
075 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
076 The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
077 Night by Elie Wiesel
078 The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse
079 Hamlet by William Shakespeare
080 Complete Tales & Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
081 Beloved by Toni Morrison
082 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
083 A Separate Peace by John Knowles
084 Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
085 Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
086 The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
087 The Awakening by Kate Chopin
088 Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
089 Time and Again by Jack Finney
090 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
091 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
092 Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
093 Sybil by Flora Schreiber
094 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
095 Cousin Bette by Honore De Balzac
096 Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
097 Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
098 The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
099 The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
100 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
101 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
102 The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
103 1984 by George Orwell
104 The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker
105 The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
106 An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
107 Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
108 Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
109 Lord of the Flies by William Golding
110 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
111 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
112 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
113 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
114 The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner
115 The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
116 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
117 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
118 Emma by Jane Austen
119 On The Road by Jack Kerouac
120 The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

[M0rfeus]

Jeez I've only read 16 out of 120. I must be more of a "lowbrow" than i thought.

:(

[Arctic]

about half of them are "newer" books, Tom. I'm sure if they were all classics, you'd rank about as high-brow as they come. is that a compliment?

Here's a cleaned-up cache of the WB website as well, which conveniently separates the books into "hot new reads" and "old school faves":

http://ohbuoyancy.net/rorysbookclub.html

[Meghan]

When I was looking at the list, I spotted this one that I just want to read because of the title:

Ella Minnow Pea

I just think that's so cute!

[Meghan]

Tom, have you ever looked at the 1001 books you should read before you die list? Holy moly! I figured out I've read only 30-ish percent. Oy. I need to live a long life to get that one done. Plus, I think they included every book Roth ever wrote, which is really going to kill me if I try to complete that list since I find his writing enormously difficult to get through.

And welcome to the lowbrow world. We're pretty friendly here. heh

[Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical)]

Meghan you are the best! I've been meaning to get to this - but I'm glad you did first. It will be so much easier to search now. Thanks babe!

[Meghan]

Thanks Shannon. I was hoping no one would mind that I took the initiative. :)

[Tiffany]

Meghan, I followed the link to check out Ella Minnow Pea and I really want to read it now. It sounds pretty interesting; about a town that bans the use of certain letters in the alphabet. So thanks for mentioning it! =)

[Liz]

~ Thanks Meghan!! I had been looking for a list like this. This makes it so much easier to view how few of the books i Have actually read. (oops!!). Ella Minnow Pea sounds like a great read. I am going to have to pick it up!!

[Charity]

There is a great site called Lists of Bests that lets you create lists and track your progress. It is a fantastic way to keep a record of the books you have read and hope to read.

You can use it for personal lists (like 'Books I'm Reading in 2008'), definitive lists (like 'Modern Library's 100 Best Novels of the Century'), or awards lists (like 'Pulitzer Prize Winners').

There is already a list for Rory's Book Club, so go check it out and track your progress.

Hope this helps. :-)

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

If you are interested in knowing how many of the 1001 books you've read as well as how many a year you'd have to read to complete the list if you have an average life span, check out this fellow goodreader's site. It's really fun and a good site as well...

Arukiyomi

[Sarah]

Is it sad that I've only read ONE of the books from this century? And that book is Atonement, which I just read with all of you in January.

I have read 35 total of the 1001 books. I have a loooooong way to go, but many of the books on that list don't appeal to me in the slightest.

[M0rfeus]

Ok NONE of the books I've read are in the "hot new reads" section.

So I'm in the same boat as Sarah. However, my percentage for the "classics" section of the list is high enough that I think I now qualify for middle-brow, moving up from low-brow!
;)

T

[Arctic]

Where are the rest of the group's books coming from that aren't on this WB list, again?

WB list: 120 books. Group list: 182 books. they must be from somewhere.

[Charity]

I'm pretty sure that the other books are ones that are mentioned (or referenced) on the show...not necessarily ones that Rory has read herself.

Those could just be called 'Gilmore Girls List'. :-)

[Sarah]

The WB list wasn't complete. Some of it came from listofbests.com, I believe. Some came from another Rory Gilmore book club site that one of our members found way back in September or October. Some are "companion" books that we've read that weren't on the list. Some came from members watching episodes and pointing out a book referenced or shown that wasn't on the WB list.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Oy with the lists already! LOL

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Meghan... it was only when I was at the bookstore tonight with Tom (Mofeus) that I, well really we, realized the play on words that the title Ella Minnow Pea is. As in "LMNOP." Tom spoke the title out rather fast and it hit us both at once. So cute and so clever! I felt rather dense at that moment for not having caught that sooner!

How amazingly sweet is Tom?? He bought it for me! Our Morfeus is the best!

[Meghan]

Michele - That's pretty funny. But yeah, unless you actually say the title, I suppose you may miss that. And yes, Tom, very nice! Considering March 8 was International Women's Day, that would be a great new way of celebrating. Buy a gal a book day! heh

[Sarah]

Yes, men who like Gilmore Girls and reading are indeed the best sort! Tom rocks.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

I just showed my mum the book before logging on. I told her to read the title, and she did. I then asked her to read it out loud. She didn't get it either until she spoke it. It's quite cute.

I've started it - I couldn't resist! And anyway, I'm going to loan it to Tom afterwards!

[M0rfeus]

Oh Pshaw. It was only a ploy, so that I could BORROW it!

heeheehee!
;)
T

[M0rfeus]

By the way, isn't *every* day Women's day? (Can't comment on the International aspect of it...)

T

[Alison, the guru of grace]

If it's not, it should be.

[Sarah]

Do you guys think that maybe Rory was going off of the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" list? There seems to be a LOT of crossover.

[Meghan]

I don't think so. Both lists recommend reading that most college-level literature classes would recommend. They're just considered good literature that everyone should have read.

[Sarah]

I think the 1001 book list is a little biased toward certain authors, though. I mean, sure, maybe everyone should be sure to read some Roth and Chandler and McEwan, but EVERY book by those authors? Please.

I really need to get the book that spawned that list so I can find out the reasons he says these books are must-reads.

[Meghan]

Yeah, I know. You can't tell me every book that Roth wrote was something I HAVE to read. I mean, Mailer has one, maybe two, on that list. Don't try to convince me that Roth is better than Mailer.

[Sarah]

Exactly. It's so subjective, isn't it? I mean, There are three Steinbeck books on that list, but not East of Eden which is my favorite. Every Austen book is on the list. I'm a huge Austen fan but why does he consider all six books must-reads? I'm just really curious to find out why the author of that list chose some books and not others.

[Meghan]

I know. I find it interesting that for a list that should include over 1000 books, he picks a LOT of authors' entire career. I mean I can see, for some authors, more than one of their works, but I would think there are probably 1001 authors you should probably read.

[Meghan]

Although, then again, the book title would be 1001 authors you should read. So maybe that's why it's so weird. And why is this dude think he's the authority on what's good to read? heh

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

I think it had to do with the influence they had along with the caliber. I mean I'm just guessing here, but I liked the discussion so I wanted to get involved... if, oh, five days late.

[Meghan]

Michele - You just made me laugh out loud. But I'm glad you got involved. I think you're right. I also think this group needs to write its own book. We have far better taste and wisdom!!

And speak up girl! You're too quiet!! hehe (And yes, I'm exclamation point happy at the moment!!!!!!)

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

I agree about the book... we could write a great book for the "real" women that recommended all these fantastic books and why... so they'd know if it was for them or for them in that moment.

I like to make people laugh! :D Glad to oblige, Meghan.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

The only books I've read on the "hot new reads" side were digested after joining this group... though I've done some without the group. Have I said that before?

Hey, do you guys remember that episode when Michel returns from California? He gives Lorelai a copy of He's Just Not That into You... and they already had several copies on the shelves at the Inn. She and Sookie had one of their quirky discussions about it. Should we add it or no?

[Meghan]

Oh yes! I think we should add it. It's one of the funniest books ever...if you don't take it seriously...although knowing some of my girlfriends, they should take it seriously.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

I read their second book It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken, and you know what? It really helped because it got me laughing in a really dark time, reminded me of my strengths, and gave me some good insight. I'd read their other one just for a laugh... although perhaps I should pay attention since I'm still dating!

[Meghan]

I do have to say, I thought it was pretty funny that the show had them picking up several copies that guests had "traded" for their better reads! Plus, out of the two ladies, it was funny that he got Sookie, the married one, the book. Lorelai might have found some use out of it at least! heh

[Meghan]

Oh and the movie version is suppose to be coming out sometime in August. Drew Barrymore is producing. Not sure if she's starring too.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

A movie of it? Odd.

I agree that it was funny that that was what he brought back from LA for the married friend... so silly and typically Michel... because they can't get books there, too, right? Ah, he was sporting "eye wear" in that scene. He was so enamored with all things LA. Too great.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

No, I must amend that. He was enamored of himself in all things LA.