Re-Reads


Two books worth multiple reads: The Catcher in the Rye and Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca.

I once read a quote from Stephen King that said something to the effect of life being too short to re-read. Which I totally get – I like to be moving ahead all the time on my huge and ever-growing to-read list. However, there are times when I find myself reaching for an old favorite because it’s tried and true and I’m guaranteed to enjoy it. Let’s face it: every time you start a new book it’s a bit of a gamble. And if it’s bad it’s pretty annoying because you wasted your time (and often, money) on it. So sometimes you just want to read something you know for a fact you’ll like. Often I find myself reaching for an old favorite when I feel disillusioned – ie, when I buy a book with high hopes and it turns out to be not my cup of tea. Also, I tend to forget a lot of what I read, so a re-read usually feels somewhat new to me – yet still familiar. So it’s a winning combination. For some people I think re-reading a favorite can also be comforting, like watching the same classic movie around the holidays every year.

A few that I’ve re-read besides Catcher in the Rye and Rebecca include the first few Harry Potters, The Ruins, A Simple Plan, (if you’re into suspense, thrillers, Stephen King, or anything to that effect, you simply must read The Ruins and A Simple Plan), and The Little Stranger. I plan to (at some point) re-read the rest of the Harry Potters and one of my favorites from Tom Wolfe, I Am Charlotte Simmons.

What are your thoughts on re-reading? Any books that you find yourself returning to again and again?

photos by me

Leave a Comment

  1. I wrote a post on my blog about rereading books last month 🙂 I absolutely love rereading books because I feel like I miss many things the first time I read books. I have read almost all books I like at least twice. Sometimes, when I reach the end of a book, I'll just flip back to the beginning to start all over again! My favorite book, and therefore the book I re-read the most, would be Ender's game!

    Also, those tulips are so pretty!

    Published 3.28.14 · Reply
    • Thanks Alli! I've heard so many good things about Enders Game, I definitely should read that.

      Published 3.30.14 · Reply
  2. Chantelle wrote:

    I've totally re-read harry potter a few times when I was younger. Just too exhilarating.

    Published 3.28.14 · Reply
  3. When a book is so good & had a major impact I tend to reread it from time to time… I have re-read numerous time "Little Ladies" as a young girl & re-read from time to time Jane Austen novels because I like them so much I want to relive the plot even though I know the end…

    Have a great weekend!!!

    xoxo Violeta, your Shoegal Out In The World

    http://www.shoegaloutintheworld.com

    Published 3.28.14 · Reply
    • Yes, I know a lot of people re-read Jane Austen over and over. I might need to do that!

      Published 3.30.14 · Reply
  4. Holly wrote:

    I am pro-rereading. It is super important! (I might just be biased as an English teacher). I'm looking forward to a few rereads this spring break- the Bronte sisters are on deck!

    Published 3.28.14 · Reply
  5. Love

    Published 3.29.14 · Reply
  6. Jen Dang wrote:

    I wish I had the patience to re-read books. I feel like you'd catch things you didn't initially pick up on your second time around. Love Catcher in the Rye though!

    xo Jen
    Skirt The Rules

    Published 3.30.14 · Reply
    • Yup, you definitely do pick up on things that you might have missed or forgotten…but it has to be a book you really loved I think! Hope you had a good weekend 🙂

      Published 3.30.14 · Reply
  7. Agree, sometimes I read too fast and I think I miss out on absorbing everything. I kind of want to read Divergent now, because the movie commercials are making it look really good!

    Published 3.30.14 · Reply
  8. Amanda wrote:

    I re-read as well due to the very same reasons: I forget most of the story over time, and I already know I like it. Also, I re-read because either a specific book inspires what I'm writing at the moment, or it has great examples of what to do right, like metaphors, which I'm terrible at.
    Some of my favorites are Pride & Prejudice, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and Graceling.

    Love your blog and your apartment, btw. Saw the post of your studio on apartment therapy.

    Amanda

    Published 4.2.14 · Reply
  9. I'm not a re-reader but Catcher in the Rye and Rebecca are two of my all time favourites. I remember reading Catcher as a 16 year old in one day because I just couldn't stop. Same with Rebecca I was so engrossed in it I had to take it on a picnic with me so I could keep reading. Very poor etiquette! Another great but challenging read is Shantaram by Geoffery David Roberts. Another one I coyldn't put down.

    http://llibbyslifestyle.blogspot.com.au

    Published 4.2.14 · Reply
    • I'm definitely going to look that one up! Thanks so much Elizabeth 🙂

      Published 4.3.14 · Reply
  10. sandra wrote:

    I used to think that there's so many books in the world to read that i have no time to re-reads, but then i started to feel that i want to meet again with some stories and some characters…. This happen when i love so much a book that i read it so fast, but as i'm reaching the end, i start to miss the characters (i know this sound a bit crazy) and so i start to read real slow avoiding the end… i think in these cases re-reading is good and comforting like returning to a place we love. Theres a book i totally want to re-read and i highly recomend you since you love books: The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I love not only the story inside the book but also the story of the book itself and the author. xo Sandra and good readings:)

    Published 4.23.14 · Reply
    • Thank you so much for the recommendations! I can't wait to read that book, I've always heard that it was good. Now I'm definitely going to put it on my to-read list. Thanks Sandra!

      Published 4.26.14 · Reply