A few of the staff here at the library, and we know many patrons, are big Downton Abbey fans. Some of us eagerly await each week's episode, while others, knowing it's aired and then released overseas before here, binge watch entire seasons at once. You can reserve our copy of Series 4 on DVD by clicking here! We decided put together this list of reading recommendations for some of our favorite - or least favorite - characters:
Character: Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Book: Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Diamandis and Kotler
The Dowager Countess is well known for having a firm grip on matters and getting her way. However, modern technology is not one of those matters. From telephones to swivel chairs, any newfangled creation seems to discombobulate her - that's why we'd recommend Diamandis' and Kotler's Abundance. The authors consider human need by the categories water, food, energy, healthcare and freedom, and present several innovators who are making great improvements in each area. Though the Dowager Countess would probably take this title with a huge grain of salt, its positive outlook on the future, technology and innovation just might be enough to convince her thing's aren't so bad.
Character: Lady Edith Crawley
Book: The Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz
Poor Lady Edith, living in the shadows of the head strong Mary and the fair Sybil, she has such trouble determining what to do with her life. And forget love. It seems that any man she expresses interest in is uninterested, too old, or outside of her father’s approval. Our first instinct for Lady Edith was Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, but we felt that might have been a little too obvious. Aiming for something a little more modern, we think she’d benefit from reading Laurie Horowitz’s The Family Fortune. Central character Jane, like Lady Eidith, is terminally single and nearing middle age. However, she devotes her time to the Fortune Family Foundation, a philanthropic institution that helps aspiring writers, including Jane’s first and only true love, Max Wellman.
Character: Beryl Patmore
Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollen
Mrs. Patmore is conscious of making sure that the family upstairs always has something good to eat, whether they’re entertaining or just sharing dinner together. She runs her kitchen like a battleship, ensuring everything is perfect and presentable, and, not to mention, done the old fashioned way. In his book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen attempts to answer the important question, “Where did our food come from, and how did it get that way?” He looks at the moral and ecological consequences of the food we consume and examines them in detail. We think Pollan’s book could further inform Mrs. Patmore’s decisions about the food she prepares for the household.
Character: Thomas Barrow
Book: How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide by Meghan Doherty
Thomas is probably our least favorite character on the show. We find the way he behaves pretty terrible. How Not to Be a Dick is actually aimed at teenagers as they make their way to adulthood, explaining how to be a half decent person. It’s filled with expert advice alongside illustrations of two young people who mean well, but don’t always behave so. They confront moments of potential dickishness throughout their normal day. Perhaps if Thomas read this book he’d learn a few lessons, but then again, that could make his life a lot more boring.
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