Books for the Belchers

The Belcher family from Bob’s Burgers is an interesting collection of people. Though they are by far the most unique family on television right now, they are possibly also the most loving and accepting group of people. Bob and his wife Linda have three kids who push the boundaries of unconventional, as Bob has said, “You’re my family and I love you, but you’re all terrible.” It has become clear over the years that the Belcher children are highly intelligent. As for Bob and Linda, they are clearly fairly literate. This is a Burger joint which offers a burger of the day called, The Sound and The Curry Burger. Here is a reading list to add to the Belcher’s already literate tendencies.

Bob: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Bob is a pro at grinding the meat for his own burgers. Every day, he makes his own proprietary blend of meat and fat to provide his customers with the juiciest most flavorful burger on the market. In the first ever episode of the show, Bob was accused of serving human flesh in his burgers. After some serious work, he was able to prove that those accusations were false, but no doubt something has fallen into Bob’s meat at some point unbeknownst to him. Upton Sinclair’s novel about the meat packing industry led to reforms in the meat inspection industry. Bob would love to read about his own industry and get an idea about how human flesh really gets into a burger. 

Linda: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel tells the tale of woman who’s only real ambition in life is to go with her husband and children to the Lighthouse near their home. The constant denial and drudgery of domestic life eventually leads to the death of Mrs. Ramsey. While Linda hardly has a dull life, it is made clear from time to time she and Bob go through lulls. In the long run, Bob and Linda’s relationship is strong in large part to their drive to keep things exciting.   

Gene: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett  

Gene is a walking non-sequitur. If there is anything even slightly out of the ordinary, it is likely to set the Belcher’s son off on some insane tangent about a two butted goat. Gene’s humor is incredibly broad and more than anything, he is seeking to have a good time. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett takes all of those bible stories everyone was taught as a kid and turns them on their heads. This tale of an attempt to avert the apocalypse would have Gene rolling in the aisles.   

Louise: American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis

The youngest Belcher is also the most violent. Louise is more likely than not to recommend some type of horrific act to solve a problem. She is responsible for the rumor that Bob was serving human flesh and on one occasion she recommended that Bob kill a capoeira instructor using either a cheese grater or a whisk. If not put in check, it is conceivable that Louise might turn into a female Patrick Bateman, the lead of Easton Ellis’s American Psycho. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine an adult version of Ms. Belcher chasing someone with a chainsaw.  

Tina: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion  

The Eldest Belcher child is in the throes of puberty. Everything that Tina thinks about revolves around boys and butts, except of course for her zombie erotica. That’s right, Tina writes Zombie romance novels. It is a shame that she was already beaten in by Isaac Marion. Warm Bodies is the story of a zombie who falls in love with a living girl and does his best to protect her from harm. Tina would instantly fall in love with the lead character known only as R.