Fangirlish writers adore their fictional characters. We all have our favorites from a variety of television shows especially. So in a fit of genius or insanity because we are all fannishly busy stressing over making sure readers have preview guides, recaps and a multitude of opinions on these television universes; now we’re going to combine our passion for reading with fangirling TV — by figuring out what our favorite characters would be reading and why you should be reading those books. Not only that, Fangirlish created a Goodreads account and we will be opening up the discussion there and taking suggestions for which fictional persons you would like bookishly profiled.
So, to kick off this series, we’re going to give the devilishly handsome Captain Hook some love, and profile some of the books we think he would be reading. Because he’s a reader. Remember all the books we saw in the Jolly Roger? I do! They weren’t just props, I’m sure. And ever since we got our first glimpse at them, I wondered, what exactly would Captain Hook read? Nothing modern, of course, this man is over 300 years old. But would he read about love or would he read about adventures? Would he read to forget or to remember?
I’m still not sure, but here’s my best guess at what Captain Hook would be reading:
- Captain Blood: His Odyssey, by Rafael Sabatini. Because pirates, swashbuckling adventures, and a great love sounds just like the thing for our Captain to immerse himself in during the long, lonely nights at sea. Besides, this is an easy book to read if you want to save face with your fearsome crew – it does, after all, feature a menacing pirate on the cover!
- Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The most famous pirate book ever written would have fallen into Captain Hook’s hands at some point, right? Not much of a romantic element to distract from the adventures here, either, just a tale about friendship and the fine line between good and evil.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. A tale of the romantic, passionate and ultimately ill-fated love between two people would be just the thing our favorite pirate would torture himself with, wouldn’t it? It’s like watching a train-wreck. You know it’s coming and you can’t still can’t look away.
- Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Because this is a man who knows not only seduction, but love. And what better way to feel the love, to live it, than with this collection of some of the best love poems in the world?
- Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. The sense of impending tragedy that permeates this book would be right up our favorite pirate’s alley. And, maybe, just maybe, he would also appreciate the sliver of hope that comes with it.
Agree? Disagree? Have any other books you think the resident pirate captain of Storybrooke would be reading? Join us on Goodreads as we discuss this exact thing. And, of course, check out our profile and be sure to let us know what character you want to see profiled next!
READ OUR OTHER ‘WHAT’RE YOU READING’ ARTICLES
- What’re You Reading: Damien Darhk from ‘Arrow’
- What’re You Reading: Simon Lewis From ‘Shadowhunters’
- What’re You Reading: Octavia Blake from ‘The 100’
- What’re You Reading: Cat Grant from ‘Supergirl’
- What’re You Reading: Felicity Smoak from ‘Arrow’
- What’re You Reading: Jessica Jones from ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’
- What’re You Reading: Matthew Murdock from Daredevil
- What’re You Reading: Hook from Once Upon a Time
