The Golden Girls has had incredible staying power as a cultural phenomenon because the characters are truly iconic. The humor holds up surprisingly well and the show did not shy away from a thorny topic making it incredibly rewatchable. But really its the characters. They are so well-developed that its easy to imagine what they might read. My first instinct is that they all should read Little Women. Thats because I always have fun mapping quartets of characters onto the Little Women. Sophia is Meg Dorothy is Jo Rose is Beth and Blanche is Amy. Kind of perfect, right?
So what else would they read? I paired two books per character mostly fiction. I would like to think these characters all have broad tastes as readers but I endeavored to find the books I think would really be in their wheelhouses. I hope some of these appeal to you too. Might I suggest taking a Which Golden Girl are You? quiz and starting with those selections? I am a Sophia apparently. Then you can put on your best fashion jogging suit or opulent besequined caftan. Cut a slice of cheesecake for yourself. Read out on the lanai. And do not forget to sing that theme song, because its an all timer as is the gospel remix.
Is it too obvious to pair Sophia with a memoir about Sicily? It’s not, because she’s so truly invested in the Old Country. This memoir, about a Black American actress who falls in love with a Sicilian chef from a traditional family, is delicious and at times, devastating. Author Tembi Locke lost her husband to cancer, but this richly-told tale of big love, family, and food will make you long to visit Sicily.
More Sicily? Yes, more Sicily! You know that Sophia would absolutely eat up a historical novel about her homeland. If you love a sweeping family saga like I do, here’s your book. It traces the rise of the Florio family from humble spice shop owners to powerful shipping magnates. This story dramatizes the actual story of the Florio family in all its naked ambition, revenge, and romance.
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