Growing up I was only allowed half an hour of TV a day, which at the time felt like deprivation. It did however force me to choose my shows very carefully, and to be honest I am not sure how I managed to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which from memory was at an ungodly hour, but I did. And let me tell you, I loved it.
My fascination with vampires was originally sparked by the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With a Vampire. After seeing the movie (again, I am not sure why I was allowed as a 12-year-old, but I am not complaining). I then devoured the original books and soon Buffy filled that blood sucking gap with quick witted banter, close friendships and a strong female lead that literally slays. I admit, I don’t remember the ending to the series (don't come for me), though I know I finished it, but my love definitely began to wane when Riley and Dawn arrived.
So, in what seems to be my fashion, I am ignoring the later years, and sticking with the core Scooby Gang (plus a few other pillars of Sunnydale's antics) as I suggest what they would be reading if they were their 1997 selves, now.
Buffy Summers | The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
What was not to love about Buffy, she was witty, gorgeous, down-to-earth and strong. AND she loved literature. I admit, this is something I had forgotten when I was starting to write this and almost had Buffy dipping into a PD book at night, because really did she have time to read? It appears as though she did though. Not only did she read, she read Burroughs, Beckett and poetry, so I stand by this choice!
Xander Harris | The Art of War by Tzu Sun
He was a funny fish, wasn’t he? A bit of a bro, a bit of a geek and just kind of awkward? I knew boys like him growing up and they were strangely obsessed with the military tactics.
Willow Rosenberg | The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Willow, what a character arc she had. I am not going to lie, she annoyed me at times, but she was consistently herself. Incredibly smart, loyal and intuitive. I think she’d read to escape and to empower.
Cordelia Chase | I Don’t by Clementine Ford
Oh Cordelia, how we loved to hate you. The obligatory mean girl who rules the school and has depths undiscovered (until they are).
Giles (Rupert Giles)
I like Giles, but I am not sure I care about what he is reading.
Angel | Beowulf
Does Angel read or just brood? I imagine he’d have a perpetually half-finished copy of Beowulf by his bed.
Spike | Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis
Spike, the Sid Vicious of the vampire world. He wants to remain angry, informed and unpredictable. I think he’d watch cat videos.
Joyce Summers | The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Joyce was a good egg. A bit bland, and unaware, but ultimately a good egg or at least a solid one.
