If you love Gilmore Girls like I do, then you know the time ahead is “Gilmore Girls Rewatch Season.” I’ve always been on Team Jess, I mean, come on, who could resist his smart, bad-boy charm? Gathered here for you now is a list of books we know Jess would recommend reading this fall season, or would just read himself. Yes, some of the books mentioned are also within the show!
Death on the Installment Plan by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
This 1930s novel is one that, like Jess, shocked the world’s consciousness. The tale of the 18-year-old Ferdinand and his life of rage and hate is something to be captivated by. Ferdinand struggles as a shopkeeper while also enduring the hormones of a teenage boy. Lust, violence, romance, and good literary moments run wild through his mind. While he attends Meanwell College in England, he finds only boredom, agitation, and a sense of failure, until he meets a “scientist.” Ferdinand realizes that his new friend is a con man who has a project to grow large potatoes using electricity. This book will throw you into all sorts of twists and turns, but it is one you won’t forget reading.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
This philosophical novel brings a modern classic to a new level. Young Architect, Howard Roark, is desperately and passionately in love with Dominique Francon. Unfortunately for him, Dominique loved him right back but married his very worst enemy. As enraged as he is, Howard has another thing coming as he furiously battles the pressures of conformity while having a mindset of individualism and integrity. Is it his ego that stands in the way of the one he loves most, or is it society? Will Dominique choose the one she loves, or be smothered by expectations? Find out in this gripping fictional tale from the past.
Inferno by Dante Alighieri
If you don’t know much about Jess Mariano, here is one major thing: he is a complicated guy, which makes Inferno one of the best recommendations. The first part of Dante’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy, follows Dante’s adventure through the levels of Hell with his guide, Virgil, a famous poet. Dante travels through each level learning new lessons, teaching others, meeting famous and infamous people, and having complete awestruck moments. With graphic descriptions of Hell, Dante gives an eerie feeling throughout the entire story, but it is a classic that I know Jess would want anyone to read. With so many different translations, you can choose the one you like best!
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Santiago, a fisherman, falls on hard times. He no longer his a hand to help him, but he goes into the Gulf to fish anyway. He endures a fight with a huge marlin and falls into a stream of conscious meditation. Santiago must hone his strength and intelligence in order to capture this giant fish. He has no food, no water, and little left in his might, but even as his muscles scream and his hands are burnt with the rope, he holds tight and does not relent. This vintage story is one you’ve probably heard of, or may have seen on a school’s required reading list, but for Jess Mariano, it would be an easy late-night read. Jess, like Santiago and the marlin, is relentless, unwavering, and stubborn to no end.
Emma by Jane Austen
Anyone who has seen Gilmore Girls knows that Jess isn’t just a black and white character. He secretly cares, loves, and is just an old vintage novel waiting to be read and understood. Due to this, I feel he could absolutely, secretly, recommend and read Emma. The book follows the wealthy and smart noble Emma Woodhouse. She is a matchmaker through and through, and matches her friend Harriet with a Mr. Martin. As love grows for the couple, Emma finds herself annoyingly attracted to Mr. Knightley, who challenges her in ways she never thought anyone could. As she attempts to push back, the attraction only grows, and her ‘match-making skills’ are forever altered. Filled with misunderstanding and a realization that one cannot always depict others’ feelings, Emma makes sense for our beloved Jess.
Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg
This iconic book of poetry by a man of vision and fearlessness pushed boundaries of 1950s society and culture. With its dark and rhaposidic appeal, it matches Jess’s aesthetic almost like a puzzle piece. Topics such as mental illness, drug use, and conformity are all included in this timeless piece of literature. I could see it as if it were in front of me: Jess reading this book, putting notes on the pages, and truly finding himself within these deep words.
Ulysses by James Joyce
James Joyce’s classic novel explores the events of a single day: June 16th, 1904. It follows three Dubliners: Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, and Stephen Dedalus, who are based on characters from The Odyssey. The book takes a journey through their inner thoughts and monologues, as they navigate the city of Dublin. The characters, while fictional, are all going through real-life challenges and encounter various types of people, situations, and struggles, which only enhances the story’s beauty and realism. This is one of those novels that makes you feel a little less alone in a massive world. I would assume Jess would read this and find solace within the characters, knowing for just a moment that he isn’t alone in his struggle.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
This fascinating and dark novel of evil and adversity takes you to a different place. After running away from the workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist finds himself with a band of thieves, with vivacious names and personalities. The novel combines gothic attributes and romance, gilling readers with a melodramatic society of mystery and thrill. If Jess Mariano could reincarnate as a book, it would for sure be Oliver Twist.
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Franny and Zooey may be a hard sell on a recommendation from or for Jess, but it has the perfect two-story combination that he would find interesting and a little enlightening. From mindset alterations and early adulthood, this book has it all. Franny Glass has one of those relationships that you look at and wish you had, but as college students, both Franny and her boyfriend, Lane, struggle with communicating about things they truly care about. As time goes on, both Franny and Lane’s feelings about certain topics bubble to the surface. This then brings us to the second story of the novel about Franny’s older brother, Zooey. He offers her brotherly advice, and we get to see an inside look at the sophistication of their family. This novel provides a perspective on relationships, both romantic and familial, while remaining entertaining and captivating.
Scattered Poems by Jack Kerouac
Last, but not least, the scattered and spontaneous book of poems is one Jess would certainly be found reading by a tree. With vivid language and words drawn from the concepts of everyday life, Buddhism, artists, intellectual figures, and jazz, this mighty book can be infused in one’s soul. Jess has an artistic mind and a complex way of thinking, and this set of poems would speak louder than his uncle Luke’s screams. These words of emotion and uncommon features would have him see into another world. I hope it does the same for you.
Fall, as I said, is a huge time for the Gilmore Girls fans. Even if you haven’t seen the show yet, now is the perfect time! As a massive fan of the franchise and a member of Team Jess, these are the books I know Jess would recommend to others and read himself. I hope you agree, and get to enjoy them just as much! Happy Fall!
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