I used to be the queen of re-reading books. The queen. It’s why all of the books I got between 2010 and 2013 are practically falling to pieces. (That, and the fact that I also *used* to be a ruthless spine-bender. Don’t hate me!) I would throw my hands in the air in frustration because I could not find a book at the school library either a) worth reading or b) that I hadn’t read. So I’d reach back onto my beautiful, beautiful book shelf (I love it so much, it’s by far my favorite part of my bedroom) and turn the pages of a well-loved, familiar place.
*Happy sigh* Sometimes it’s even better than reading a book for the first time.
But I haven’t re-read a book in a very, very long time. Unless you count last April, in which I re-read the entire Selection series by Kiera Cass, as the fourth book was coming out and I wanted to be refreshed.
But I don’t count that; because it wasn’t a time where I thought “I don’t have anything else to read, and this one’s calling my name, I think I’ll read that” and re-read the book for pure pleasure.
I haven’t done any of that since… well, since I started book blogging.
I have SO many books on my plate. sooooo. many. Every time I say this, I get lots of comments saying what a wonderful problem this is to have, and YES, yes it is, I love having a towering TBR that I’m dying to get my hands on… but… I am a procrastinator, first of all; it takes me forever to get to a book mostly because I don’t really want to read it right then so I put it off. And yet I don’t let myself read a book I do want to read right then because I feel like I have a duty to uphold to that book, and the person who sent/suggested it to me.
And second of all, I am a person who gets stressed out very easily. I am not a “go-with-the-flow” person. I like to think I’m not a bossy or controlling person, but it’s true that I like to be in control. I like to have things done and out of the way – and I know what you’re thinking (“But you just said you procrastinate”), so you see my problem now. I get stressed a lot because I procrastinate and yet I like to have things out of the way. So the problem with having this problem is that I’m always stressed about reading the next up-and-coming book, whether it’s a popular book EVERYONE in the blogging community is reading or a book several of you want me to read.
And I never have time to re-read.
This is a TREMENDOUS problem, dear blog reader. I firmly believe that if a book is great, then it is worth re-reading. If a book is not-so-great, it’s not worth re-reading. My mom always used to ask me why I re-read books so much (she hasn’t asked in a while because I’VE NOT RE-READ ANYTHING IN AGES)… and I always replied “We re-watch movies, don’t we? What’s the difference?” It’s familiar, yet still enjoyable, and sometimes you need a cozy favorite to brighten your day.
As a bookworm, re-reading books is a high priority. Particularly in fall and winter – as Annie put it on her blog, “Something about the Fall season always makes my bones tingle with the longing to read, read, read — more so than usual, even.” And for me, curling up with a welcoming friend you love over and over again is even more enjoyable in Autumn.
As a result, I’m going to make it my goal in the months of October and November – and perhaps in winter, as well – to re-read at least three books. I may end up re-reading more than that, and if I do I’ll lengthen my goal in the winter months as well. I’ll be counting my re-reads towards the books I read in 2015, since they will be books I’ve read in 2015, be it for the first or umpteenth time. If you’re curious, these are the books I plan on re-visiting:
- Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin
- Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words by Rachel Coker
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
I’m not sure if I’ll re-read these books, specifically – the point of this for me, after all, is to get myself to read something I’m in the mood for and let go of my mental list of books to “check off.” So we’ll see!
what are your thoughts on re-reading? do you have a preference in when you like to re-read books? will you be re-visiting any this autumn and winter?
P.S. Short update: Maisy is HOME!!! For those of you who don’t know – my cat, Maisy, went missing when we were on vacation and we just got back Saturday. Last night my dad found her in our driveway and we are all (including Maisy!) so happy she is safe. 🙂