The Books ‘White Lotus’ Characters Are Reading Are Hilarious

For the past two seasons, The White Lotus has been giving watchers who are also readers fun ‘lil clues into the characters via a simple prop: the pool-side read. This season has been peppering in more literary winks, and the latest episode, the sixth of the season, showed us some new titles that (hilariously) say more than words about their readers.

Thank you to Jack Edwards, self-proclaimed “internet librarian,” for his research into past books this season. His eagle eye has helped identify some of the harder to spot titles, such as Lochlan Ratliff’s Hunger by Knut Handsun, which I have not read but which Edwards says is about a “young man desperately trying to establish himself.” That tracks, especially after this week’s upsetting reveal about what went down on that yacht.

Piper’s book choice is Love and Kindness, which is a fictional book written by the monk at the monastery where she wants to study, as confirmed by prop master Michael Cory to LitHub. Of course Saxon doesn’t plan on reading on his vacation and even makes fun of his brother for cracking a book. Natch.

Timothy Ratliff, like his eldest boy, isn’t hitting the books either, but his wife is reading The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which is fitting based on the title alone. Also, the plot is about the idle rich, a marriage falling apart, and addiction. Poor Victoria. She and her scents deserve all the happiness.

Some of the book choices are so on the nose it’s funny, including this week’s additions. In the past, we’ve seen Belinda reading Surrounded by Narcissists: How to Effectively Recognize, Avoid, and Defend Yourself Against Toxic People (And Not Lose Your Mind) by Thomas Erikson. For our dear Belinda’s sake, let’s hope she takes the book’s lessons to heart and also survives her past—Narcissist Greg might be gunning for her —literally.

Chelsea—what big eyes she has; the better to read with, my dear—has had TWO books this season. In previous episodes, she was seen poolside with Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron. My therapist told me to read the author’s other book, When Things Fall Apart, but I misheard, accidentally read Things Fall Apart, and was confused since it’s about the intrusion of British missionaries into turn-of-the-century Africa. It still had therapeutic value.

Chodron is the kind of wise, Western-friendly Buddhist people who mean well love to tell you to read when you’re spiraling—I’m sure Chelsea has tried to get Rick to read it. Sunday’s episode, however, featured Chelsea poolside with The Essential Rumi, whose poems are about life, love, spirituality, and purpose. As she says in this scene when discussing Saxon and his BROTHER’S sexytimes, she doesn’t judge, a practice she may have learned from all this spiritual literature.

My favorite telling books this season, however, are the ones read by the three friends whose alliance is quickly disintegrating. Actually, Kate hasn’t read anything all season—MAGA knows books are evil.

In this episode, we see Laurie reading Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. Every description I’ve read of this book includes the phrase “beach read.” It’s almost like busy, single-parent Laurie googled “best vacation reads” before buying for the trip and then decided Straub’s The Vacationers sounded too obvious. However, Modern Lovers is also about old friends grappling with aging. I honestly can’t remember if I read this book or one of Straub’s others. Like Laurie, I picked it up before a vacation and failed to absorb any of it.

The best character commentary, however, comes in the form of Jacyln’s pick. She’s poolside reading My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand. This expansive, 970-page memoir is in hardback which makes me wonder if Jaclyn packed the tome or if she somehow procured it on the way into the White Lotus. I’m sure it’s in every airport bookstore.

In her defense, it can double as a free weight or yoga block. TV-star Jaclyn reading up on the diva of all divas, Babs herself, makes me think Jaclyn is trying to emulate the icon, which may include her latest adulterous behavior—Barbra Streisand “probably” slept with Warren Beaty and had other affairs throughout her life. However, maybe Jaclyn just wants to be as successful as Barbra, who is one of the most awarded humans in history. But can Jacyln sing?! Where’s the karaoke bar in this joint?

Whether they’re reading for their own edification, as a way to show off, or not reading at all, the White Lotus characters’ book choices (or lack thereof) are illuminating and, as someone who loves a good lit fic, classic, or nonfiction about narcissists, I’m having fun with the self-satisfied “ha!” I get to have when I recognize a title.