Did you know that this year marks the 15th anniversary of The O.C.? I was in high school when this show premiered, and I did not realize it had been that long!
If you’re like me and are missing the quick quips from Seth, the spunky comebacks from Summer, the stunning clothes from Marissa, and the way Ryan could convey his thoughts with just a glance, you’ll enjoy this list!
Fifteen years later…I still love this show.
This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.
Ryan Atwood:
Ryan was considered the brooding bad boy for much of the series, but Sandy could see that he was a good kid trapped in a bad situation. While Ryan didn’t seem very bookish, he did enjoy comic books, architecture, and fighting. He and Seth both enjoyed reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon in the first season. Which leads me to believe that I could catch Ryan flipping through The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem in his own fortress (the pool house) as well.
A New York Times Book Review EDITORS’ CHOICE. From the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Motherless Brooklyn, comes the vividly told story of Dylan Ebdus growing up white and motherless in downtown Brooklyn in the 1970s. In a neighborhood where the entertainments include muggings along with games of stoopball, Dylan has one friend, a black teenager, also motherless, named Mingus Rude. Through the knitting and unraveling of the boys’ friendship, Lethem creates an overwhelmingly rich and emotionally gripping canvas of race and class, superheros, gentrification, funk, hip-hop, graffiti tagging, loyalty, and memory.
Marissa Cooper:
Marissa was the ultimate It girl, had the most fabulous wardrobe, and was the most popular girl in school, but that all changed when it came out at her cotillion that her dad had stolen money from half the city. Things only got worse for Marissa as the series progressed. Marissa had plenty of secrets that she hoped nobody would ever find out. She likely could find herself relating to Ani in Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive.
Ani FaNelli is the epitome of young, modern women. And that’s not a good thing. Image-obsessed, cruel, and deceptive, Ani isn’t crazy so much as extraordinarily damaged from two traumatic high school events that are expertly revealed, piece by piece, in this masterful debut. I loved the anger in this political, well-observed novel, made more powerful by the reveal that Knoll’s own sexual assault contributed to its creation. Contemporary and timely: believe the hype.
Crazy like: Carrie Bradshaw with a cleaver.
Best crazy moment: Ani’s choice of porn. (Ouch.)
MENTIONED IN:
Seth Cohen:
Seth was a huge fan of comic books and video games. He also wasn’t that great with the ladies (remember the Seth, Summer + Anna love triangle?). Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a book that Seth Cohen would surely love. It has all the action and adventure that Seth craves along with a ton of great ’80s pop culture references intertwined.
The bestselling cult classic—now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
Summer Roberts:
In the early episodes of The O.C., Summer was portrayed as quite shallow, but as the show progressed, we learned that there was more to Summer than meets the eye. In later seasons, she became passionate about saving the environment and politically active. No doubt, Summer would now be attending the Women’s March and would be leading the charge on climate change. She would enjoy reading The Revolution Generation by Josh Tickell.
From the activist and Sundance Award-winning filmmaker of Fuel and Kiss the Ground comes an ambitious book showcasing the captivating stories of Millennial change-makers in order to empower and motivate today’s young adults to rise up to their potential for greatness.With eye-opening research and inspiring interviews, The Revolution Generation is the first in-depth exploration of the world-changing activism and potential of people born between 1980 and 2000. Labeled Generation Y or Millennials, theirs is the first digitally fluent generation. From sex and dating, to parental relationships, to jobs and the economy, Millennials live within a dynamic interplay of technological advances and real world setbacks. Their connectivity and global awareness have created astonishing new opportunities, but have also come at a time of peril. According to the United Nations, today’s youth face the ten largest global crises in human history (including the sixth major species extinction, a rapidly changing climate, and a worldwide refugee crisis). In no uncertain terms, the future of humanity rests on their shoulders. While these challenges may be daunting, Millennials are part of the largest, most educated, most digitally plugged-in generation to date and The Revolution Generation elucidates their often-overlooked strengths and shows how they can build a brighter, more sustainable and democratic future for themselves—and all of humanity. The Revolution Generation is also soon to be a full-length documentary featuring Bernie Sanders, Shailene Woodley, Rosario Dawson, and more.
Anna Stern:
While Summer and Seth were a fabulous couple, Anna gave Summer a run for her money. Anna and Seth had a lot in common—including a love of comic books. Anna even wrote a comic book herself, which she gifted to Seth, reminding him that the first step was “Confidence Cohen!” She would definitely love Bad Girls by Alex de Campi.
