“To quote French author Francois Mauriac, ‘Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are’ is true enough, but I’d know you better if you told me what you reread.”
~ Sarah Wendell, American author and reviewer
Do you ever re-read a book? Sometimes when I admit this out loud, I get the same reaction as if I'd said, "I haven't washed my underpants in three weeks." Yep. That combination slack-jawed frowny face type of look. But come on, folks, I can't be the only freak out there.
Turns out I'm not. In fact, there's an entire page on Goodreads devoted to books recommend to re-read. What's up with that? With all the bajillions of books out on the market, why pull an oldie off the shelf?
One study based on interviews in the U.S. and New Zealand reveals that a 'second run' (techno term for rereading a book) can offer "profound emotional benefits." But that warm and fuzzy feeling isn't the only reason why people pick up a title for the second or third time. . .
TOP 5 REASONS TO RE-READ A BOOK
1. To Run Away
Everyone needs to press the eject button now and then and escape from a nose-diving schedule. When you open a favorite book, it's like running away to Happy Land because you know exactly what will happen with characters you feel safe with. . . which can be the polar opposite of reality.
2. The Movie Version is About to Hit Theaters
You remember loving the story, but you want to make sure you don't sound like an idiot when you tell your buddies how Hollywood got it all wrong. Think of this as the research approach to re-reading.
3. It's Tradition
My girls, though they're now in their twenties, still read The Christmas Puppy every Christmas Eve. It's for preschoolers. Sheesh. But they can't have a proper Christmas unless they read it together.
4. Go Deeper
Maybe you missed a theme the first time around. Even if you didn't, there are always nuances and things you didn't notice before because guess what . . . you're older. You're not the same reader you were the first go around. You're bound to get something different out of a re-read.
5. You Don't Like a Particular Author's New Style
Writers change over time, but that doesn't mean you'll like the changes. Some fans are die-hard, old school, gotta-have-the-same-old-same-old. And that's okay.
Some of my favorite titles to re-read are Jane Eyre, Lisa Mangum's Hourglass Door series, Robin Hardy's Streiker's Bride trilogy and L.A. Kelly's Tahn books. What are some of yours?
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7 comments:
I'm definitely a re-reader! I've got some books I've read so many times, they're held together by rubber bands.
I am a major rereader! People always look at me weird, like "didn't you get it the first time around?" I discover something new every time I reread a book - the first read through I'm usually trying to keep up with what's going on, and if it's a mystery, trying to guess whodunit, but the second time I already know all that, so I'm free to pick up the extra details my brain skipped before.
My favorite books to reread are any by Dee Henderson, specifically her O'Malley series - I've read them 5 times, now, I think - Irene Hannon's In Harm's Way, also 5 times, Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones (3 times), Jen Turano's books (because they are so funny!) and Becky Wade's books. I'm also planning to reread Ronie Kendig's books, mostly because they are so suspenseful, that I know for a fact I missed a lot of stuff. Also Lynette Eason's Women of Justice and Deadly Reunions series, for the same reason. :)
I'll admit it, I'm part of the freak-show. I LOVE to reread books. For me it's like go through layers of an onion. I love the new things I discover as I go through the book again and again. Plus, I really like revisiting the characters in my favorite books. They become like old friends and I miss them if I go too long without stopping by again!
Awww...thanks for joining the freak fest, ladies . . . though we all secretly know it's the non-rereaders that are the real sketchy ones.
I've re-read a few.....for some of the reasons you mentioned above.
I don't re-read often, not because I wouldn't like to, but there are so many new books out there that I need to read for the first time yet! I've always wanted to re-read Steven James' Patrick Bowers series before his next book comes out but haven't managed to do so yet. Maybe for his book that comes out this fall ...
That said, I have read Jane Eyre a number of times (I'm in the middle of it right now!), and I've read Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lions series numerous times. Love that they both have an atypical heroine.
I definitely re-read! I have many favorites that I just love going back to for pure pleasure.
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