Ashley’s Comments (group member since Sep 06, 2022)

Ashley’s comments from the The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge group.

Happy to have you Kappy!

Excellent nominations so far!

I have read through the visit from the first spirit, and considering I've read this previously, I don't always have a ton to say here.

But I did laugh out loud at this bit:

"Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?"

"It isn't that," said Scooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. "It isn't that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."

He felt the Spirit's glance, and stopped.

"What is the matter?" asked the Ghost.

"Nothing particular," said Scrooge.

Ok Scrooge - way to call yourself out! 🤣👀

You don't have to nominate a book someone else has already nominated!

Gary wrote: "Didn’t know there weee different versions! I’m only aware of the muppets movie version (from when I was a kid!)."

Haha! 🤣

I'm reading slowly to keep up with the kiddo - but I just got to the part where Marley's ghost is about to share the bad news about these 3 ghosts. Honestly, I think the junior version was scary compared to the original!

I'm nominating The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay! The paperback is 639pgs and it won the
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001!

The Blurb:
Joe Kavalier, a young Jewish artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-invaded Prague and landed in New York City. His Brooklyn cousin Sammy Clay is looking for a partner to create heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit America - the comic book. Drawing on their own fears and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. With exhilarating style and grace, Michael Chabon tells an unforgettable story about American romance and possibility.

Natalie wrote: "Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey"

Thank you Natalie, but the only book on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge by Ken Kesey is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest!

Deb wrote: "This is a fantastic idea. I would like to host July. Thank you so much! It's wonderful to see the activity with this group."

That's great Deb!
If you can, please make a note of that somewhere on your end. With the new Goodreads changes rolling out in the next couple of weeks, I won’t be able to DM you to remind you!

Haha!

The temptation was not vanquished and I did indeed start the original (again). I read to the point the Junior edition ended Ch 1, and really liked reading the differences, so I'm going to continue.

There were some excellent bits here at the very beginning!

But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time ... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

Just lovely.

So, I have read the original already, but my 7yr old has not, and I have an adapted version for slightly younger readers and thought it was a great opportunity to read it with her, so I'm reading that version.

We finished Ch 1 and discussed how Scrooge doesn't love anything but money 🤑 hah!

I'm tempted to do my own reading alongside with the original, so I can see what's really missing with the adaptation!

Going for the BIGGEST your can find Gary! Excellent!

Gary wrote: "Tough call choosing a month I don't really understand the rubric lol. Do the books have to be on the Rory Gilmore reading list?

I would choose May because it's my birthday month and the theme for..."

Yes, each month, we’ll have a Group Read from Rory’s list. There is a nomination period and group member nominate based on the theme, we then have a poll to choose the book. You're more than welcome to wait and see what the book for each month is. Polls are usually finished around the 27th of the month (give or take a day), so you'd have at least a few days before the discussion began to decide if it's a book you'd like to read and lead the discussion.

Thanks! If there is a month in particular you are interested in, let me know!

Nominations
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Leaves of Grass

Nominations: The 2026 Big Book Challenge – "Oy With the Tomes Already!"
Duration: 1-Jan-2026 to 31-Dec-2026

A Year-Long Literary Voyage for the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge Group

Remember that feeling? You glance at your shelf, and a spine thicker than a Stars Hollow phone book seems to whisper, "You lack the constitution for me." That ends in 2026.

We're launching our next year-long adventure. This is your invitation to finally cozy up (or wrestle valiantly) with one of the monumental books from Rory's list over the course of a full, forgiving twelve months.

Think of it less as a reading assignment and more as a low-key literary companion. A year to savor the prose, discuss the tangents, complain about the digressions, and celebrate every 100-page milestone with virtual coffee and camaraderie.

The Rules (They're More Like Guidelines):
• Nominate ONE epic book (typically 500+ pages, or of significant density/repute) from The Rory Gilmore Reading List.
• Include the page count and a one-sentence pitch (the sassier, the better).
• Nominations begin NOW and will run through December 20, 2025, at which time a poll will be posted to pick our official 2026 Year-Long Read.
• We start together on January 1st, with quarterly check-ins, themed discussions, and all the support you need.

Ready to nominate? Channel your inner Lorelai, Paris, or even a patient, book-loving Luke. Give us a book worthy of our time!

Nominations
Empire Falls
To Kill a Mockingbird
Wuthering Heights
On the Road
Franny and Zooey
The Outsiders

January 2026 Book Nominations: "Townie vs. Yalie" Theme 🎓🏘️
Welcome to the official nomination thread for January’s Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge discussion!

This month’s theme:
The “Townie” vs. “Yalie” Divide
Books that explore the dynamics of insiders vs. outsiders, tradition vs. ambition, or the culture of a specific community. This can be set in a small town, an academic institution, a corporate office, a theater troupe, a religious community, or any setting with its own unspoken rules and social hierarchies.

Nomination Timeline:
• Nominate a book in the comments that fits the theme between NOW and December 20th.
• Feel free to comment about nominations you’d love to read and discuss.
• A poll will be posted for voting shortly after nominations close.

Interested in hosting the discussion?
We’re always looking for volunteers to host! You don’t need to be an expert — just someone who’s excited to guide the chat, ask a few questions, and help keep the conversation going. If you’d like to volunteer for January (or a future month), drop a comment here! 📖💬

Please include in your nomination:
• Title & Author
• A sentence or two on how it fits the theme
• (Optional) Content/trigger warnings if you know them

Nominations are open until December 20th!

Happy nominating, fellow book dragons! 📚✨

The 12 Monthly Themes:

January
The "Townie" vs. "Yalie" Divide: Books that explore the dynamics of insiders vs. outsiders, tradition vs. ambition, or the culture of a specific community. This can be a small town, an academic institution, a corporate office, a theater troupe, a religious community, or any setting with its own unspoken rules and social hierarchies.

February
Reputation & Rumor: Stories where identity, perception, or legacy is central. This includes narratives about personal/brand reputation, the power of gossip and secrets, the weight of family or historical legacy, or characters living under assumed or mistaken identities.

March
A Rapid & Total Change of Fortune: A story catalyzed by a sudden upheaval, unexpected inheritance, major loss, or a life-altering discovery that forces the protagonist into a completely new reality. This can be personal, financial, societal, or even apocalyptic.

April
The Found Family Table: Stories centered around chosen family, supportive crews, or tight-knit groups that provide belonging. The "table" can be literal or metaphorical—a shared home, a workplace, a group chat, a team, or a regular meeting spot where bonds are forged.

May
Literary Offspring: A book that is a conscious descendant or conversation with another story. This includes retellings, spin-offs, works inspired by classics, or books that directly engage with the themes of a famous predecessor. It honors the original while creating something new.

June
The Ambitious Woman's Dilemma: Focus on any protagonist (of any gender) navigating ambition in the face of systemic barriers, societal expectations, or personal sacrifice. The central tension is between their drive and the costs, internal or external.

July Hosted by: Deb
Books About Books (But Make It Meta): Stories where a piece of art, media, or creative work within the narrative acts as a character or pivotal plot device. This could be a cursed film, a revolutionary recipe, a viral social media account, a controversial play, or a legendary musical composition.

August
The "Friday Night Dinner" Dynamic: Stories that powerfully capture the complex, messy, and binding ties of family (biological or chosen), especially through gatherings, rituals, or shared history. High drama, deep love, unresolved tensions, and revelation welcome.

September
The Gilmore Girls Gap: Discover Rory's Hidden Canon. This month, we dig into the Rory list to find books from translated works, non-Western settings, genre fiction, and unique formats that are already there, waiting to be highlighted. Let's read the Rory books that expand our worldviews beyond the typical classics.

October
A Grand Tour: A narrative where physical, emotional, or metaphysical travel is essential for change. The journey could be a migration, a quest, a descent, a return home, or a passage through different states of being.

November
The Fast-Talker: Books celebrated for their unique and captivating voice or style. This could be whip-smart dialogue, immersive first-person narration, clever epistolary format, or prose that is simply unforgettable in its rhythm and energy.

December
Stars Hollow Eccentric: A book where a memorable, quirky, or uniquely passionate character (main or side) elevates the entire story. They might be an oddball, a zealot for a niche interest, a stubborn romantic, or a charmingly unpredictable force of nature.

Hello! And welcome to the 2026 Official Book Discussion Themes thread! I'm excited to see what books we nominate from Rory's List!

Want to help lead the conversation? You’re in the right place!

We’re always looking for volunteers to host the discussion. You don’t need to be an expert — just someone who’s excited to guide the chat and help keep the conversation going.

What a discussion leader does:

• Leads a discussion thread for the monthly read!
• Posts a few questions, quotes, reactions, or prompts to get the conversation rolling
• Checks in now and then to reply or nudge things along
• That’s it! Super low-pressure. No pop quizzes. No Lorelai-level speeches required.

If no one signs up for a given month, the discussion thread will still happen — it’ll just be open forum style instead of guided.

📅 To Sign Up:
Just comment below with the month you'd like to lead. Once we finalize each month's title, I’ll confirm with you before assigning.

You’re welcome to sign up for more than one month, or for backups if you're flexible!