The Gilmore Book Club Blog
A start guide for the Rory Reading Challenge
““… I have studied and taught the great literature all my life, and those stories are replete with characters that let opportunities slip by. But what I teach is more than just literature. It’s lessons and life. If I don’t follow the tenets of those lessons, I’m not the man I thought I was. The man I want to be.” ”
Bookworms Unite: How The Gilmore Book Club Fosters a Sense of Connection and Belonging
Welcome to the world of the Gilmore Book Club! In an age where technology dominates our lives, finding a sense of connection and belonging can be a challenge. But fear not, because our book club is here to bridge that gap. We believe in the power of literature to bring people together, sparking conversations that transcend time and space. Whether you're a seasoned reader or just starting to dip your toes into the literary world, the Gilmore Book Club is a haven for like-minded individuals craving intellectual stimulation and meaningful discussions. Join me on this literary journey as we explore the pages of captivating stories, dive into the depths of complex characters, and uncover the hidden treasures of the written word. Bookworms, unite! Together, we can forge connections that last a lifetime.
“’…for you do not yet know the strength of your hearts and you cannot forsee what each may meet upon the road.’” - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
“Yet by a sense other than sight Pippin perceived that Gandalf had the greater power and deeper wisdom, and a majesty that was veiled.” The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
“’The truth,’ Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.’”- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“’Now, if there’s no counter-curse, why am I showing you? Because you’ve got to know. You’ve got to appreciate what the worst is. - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
“’But you didn’t see a monster in your closet, not a real one. There are no monsters, Tad. Only in stories and in your mind.”’ - Cujo
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“‘I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband…’”- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“‘I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons they teach.’”- A Christmas Carol
‘You’re an elf and you’re going to wear panties like an elf.’”- Holidays on Ice
“’Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps… means a little bit more!”- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
“‘You actually went to that bizarro town meeting? Those things are so To Kill A Mockingbird.” - Jess Mariano, Gilmore Girls
“Well I think the point is that every town needs as many Boo Radley’s as they can get.” Rory Gilmore, Gilmore Girls
“I live in two worlds. One is a world of books." -Rory Gilmore
"She was made up of more too. She was the books she read in the library…"- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
“…and, considering these things I felt the sinister force of Harmon’s phase: ‘Most of the smart ones get away.’ But if that were the case, how could any combination of obstacles have hindered the flight of a man like Ethan Frome?”
“She had learned to say ‘I won’t think of this or that bothersome thought now. I’ll think about it tomorrow.’” - Gone With the Wind
“Scarlett wanted to be home. She wanted Tara with the desperate desire of a frightened child, frantic for the only haven it had ever known. Home. "- Gone With the Wind
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…” - A Tale of Two Cities
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”- A Tale of Two Cities
“She did not think herself a genius by any means; but when the writing fit came on, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather, while she sat safe and happy in an imaginary world, full of friends, almost as real to her as any in the flesh. ” - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
“‘There is truth in it, Jo, that’s the secret; humor and pathos make it alive, and you have found your style at last. You wrote with no thought of fame or money, and put your heart into it…’”- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
… a bride, especially, is never to be neglected. More is avowedly due to her. A bride, you know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who they may.” -Emma
“It was Miss Taylor’s loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend, that Emma first sat in mournful though of any continuance.”- Emma
“‘You are strong, but there is a flaw in your strength, and unless you learn to control it the flaw will prove stronger than your strength than your strength and defeat you.’”- In Cold Blood
“She had two children who were like the two rose trees, and one was called Snow White, and the other Rose Red. They were as good and happy, as busy and cheerful as ever two children in the world were, only Snow White was more quiet and gentle than Rose Red.”- “Snow White and Rose Red
“Very suddenly there came back to my soul motion and sound- the tumultuous motion of the heart, and, in my ears, the sound of its beating.”- “The Pit and the Pendulum”
“In my dry season, when I froze in the face of love, my mother did not abandon me."- The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
“It’s life Sidda. You don’t figure it out. You just climb up on the beast and ride.” - The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
“’Fishing is nonsense,’ said Frederick Harrison. ‘If you catch a snailfish what do you do with it? You can’t eat it…’” - To Have And To Have Not
“…and before Kitty knew where she was, she found herself not merely under Anna’s influence, but in love with her…” Anna Karenina
“’Do tell me something amusing but not spiteful,’ said the Ambassador’s wife, a great proficient in the art of that elegant conversation called by the English ‘small talk’. - Anna Karenina
“It is impossible that a town will not play a part in your life, it does not even make a difference whether you have more good or bad things to say of it, it draws your mind to it, by a mental law of gravitation.”- Out of Africa
Up in this air you breathed easily, drawing in a vital assurance and lightness of heart. In the highlands you woke up in the morning and thought: Here I am, where I ought to be.” - Out of Africa
“…and she wasn’t sure this girl Amy didn’t need money more than anything, especially since all she talked about was getting hold of some velvet.”- Beloved
“…when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification.’”- Frankenstein
“Ordinarily the sound which escapes from Paris by day is the city speaking. By night, it is the city breathing. In this case, it is the city singing. Lend an ear then to this concert of bell towers.”- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“It was one of those moments of absorbing, exclusive, supreme enjoyment, when the artist sees nothing in the world but his art, and sees the world in his art.” - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“When looking at the lives of great women, we continue to divide the world into Saints and Sinners…- Eleanor Roosevelt: The Early Years
“She continues to haunt our memories and inspire our days because she never gave up on life; She never stopped learning and changing. She worked to transform our world in behalf of greater dignity and more security for all people, for women and men in equal measure.” -Elenor Roosevelt: The Early Years
“The pages of a recently finished story seemed to vibrate in her hand with all the life they contained.” - Atonement
“By means of inking symbols onto a page, she was able to send thoughts and feelings from her mind to the reader’s. It was a magical process, so commonplace that no one stopped to wonder at it."- Atonement
“But to her unaccustomed vision the stretch of water behind her assumed the aspect of a barrier which her unaided strength would never be able to overcome.”- The Awakening
“To be an artist includes much; one must possess many gifts-absolute gifts-which have not acquired by one’s own effort. And moreover, to succeed, the artist much possess the courageous soul.”-The Awakening
“I closed my eyes and thought of Rosa: her perfect face, her milky skin, her mermaid hair, her honeyed eyes that caused such havoc…”- The House of the Spirits
“The girl’s strange beauty had a disturbing quality that even she could not help noticing, for this child of hers seemed to have been made of a different material from the rest of the human race.”- The House of the Spirits
“The courage to face the trials and to bring a whole new body of possibilities into the field of interpreted experience for other people to experience- that is the hero’s deed.”
“And the one who had this psychological experience, this traumatic experience, this ecstasy, would become the interpreter for others of things not seen.”
“‘I will yet win back the happiness of which I have been deprived.’” - The Count of Monte Cristo
“What a fool I was, said he, not to tear my heart out on the day I resolved to revenge myself.” - The Count of Monte Cristo
The importance of reading and its impact on personal growth
Reading is more than just a hobby; it's a transformative experience that can shape our perspectives, expand our knowledge, and ignite our imaginations. Books have the power to transport us to different worlds, introduce us to diverse cultures, and challenge our existing beliefs. When we read, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. By delving into the minds of fictional characters and exploring the depths of their emotions, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Reading also enhances our cognitive abilities, improves our vocabulary, and hones our critical thinking skills. It allows us to explore complex ideas and engage with different perspectives, fostering empathy and understanding. Moreover, reading has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and enhance overall well-being. It's no wonder that avid readers often have a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for intellectual stimulation.
Joining a book club can amplify the benefits of reading by providing a supportive and engaging community of fellow book lovers. In a book club, you have the opportunity to discuss your thoughts and interpretations with others, gaining new insights and perspectives that you might have missed on your own. It offers a platform for intellectual exchange and personal growth, enriching the reading experience beyond the pages of a book.
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