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Books for Thought is where I post a discussion topic related to books, reading, writing, or something pertaining to one of the three. I hope you’ll join in, and discuss today’s topic of

re-reading

Sometimes (or all the time, depending on the person) you read a book and you love this book. Time passes, and for some reason this book pops into your mind when you’re trying to figure out what book to read next, and you re-read it (for the second or two hundred and twelfth time, depending on the person). From here two things can happen:

1 – You re-read the book and you love it as much as you did the first time, or

2 -You re-read the book and find that you don’t love it as much as you did the first time. You kind of don’t really love it at all.

This second thing is why I am slightly terrified of re-reading because it has happened to me several times. I’ll want to relive the joy of book x and then when I get around to re-reading book x I finish with the thought of: why did I love this book so much? And then my old love for it is kind of ruined because the new un-love for it is much more potent.

I have a lot of books I want to re-read because I want to re-experience the characters and the ships and the storylines that I loved so much the first time around. But the fear that comes with outcome number two terrifies me because it’s hard enough to find books that I adore enough to want to re-read without them being tainted by said re-read.

However, when I wrote about what my reading is going to look like in 2017 I said I wanted to re-read more because I used to do it all the time and I miss it. I have re-read one book so far (I am terrible), and it had been around three years since I read it for the first time and I surprised myself by liking it just as much the second time around. Although, this book was never a favourite that I looked upon with admiration and ardent love. So the fear of number two above didn’t really factor all that much into it. That being said, I do want to re-read a favourite series (The Raven Cycle) this year, in which number two will be very terrifying.

All in all, I still haven’t reached a definitive ~feel~ regarding re-reads. I think the fear of number two will always hinder me a bit, but I think I’m just going to bite the bullet because I want to re-experience things and I SHALL, DAMMIT.

(source)

This GIF honestly has nothing to do with anything except this is RIN MATSUOKA AND HE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.

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What about you? Do you re-read? Why? Why not?

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Posted on: February 14, 2017 • By: Chiara

26 Responses to To Re-read or Not to Re-read

  1. Back in the day, I used to reread a lot as a refresher for sequels in a series. But, I really didn’t have the time to do that and if it was a series I wasn’t totally in love with, I had a lot of the “not really feeling it” feels. Now I don’t reread at all. I think I reread maybe one book in the last 2 years and that was just because I had a “craving” for that particular story.

    Later in the future, I’d like to reread some of the series I’ve invested in (ie I have physical copies of). And my memory is pretty crap so I’m hoping I can relive all the feels again when I do!

    • Chiara says:

      I used to do that a lot, as well! I had years where I didn’t do it, though, because I almost felt like it was a waste of time. Why bother re-reading them if I could be reading new books? But lately I’ve been getting back into the series re-read thing and I’m liking it :D It means that I’m not forgetting anything, which I love.

      I feel the same way about physical copies, especially if I buy them AFTER I read them as an ebook or from the library. What was the point in buying it if I’m not going to re-read it? :P

  2. Ahhhh, it really depends? I barely have enough time to read books for fun anymore since I’m so busy with school. So…. I mean, there’s definitely something to be said for returning to old favorites when you’re stressed (and I am very much stressed right now lol). At the same time, I feel like if I don’t have that much time to read to begin with, I’d usually rather spend it enjoying a story that is brand new to me?

    • Chiara says:

      Yeah, I know what you mean! The struggle between re-reading a favourite or possibly finding a NEW favourite is very much real. It’s mainly why I stick to re-reading favourites that are in series that are still going. That way I get to re-experience something I know I love in preparation for something I could love. Though there are definitely completed series I would love to re-read, as well.

  3. I love re-reading. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something that I have always done. I’ve re-read Harry Potter countless times, Vampire Academy the same. There are just points where I am like, I feel like reading this book and I do.

    I re-read more contemporary that I do anything else, but that doesn’t stop me. I normally don’t re-read books that come before a book in a series. But, if I can bang out a whole series oh it fun. Especially NA contemporary

    • Chiara says:

      I don’t think I have ever re-read an entire series! I usually re-read previous books in a series but that doesn’t count because the last book will only ever get one read, haha. I used to have this one contemporary book that I read SO many times, just because the story was so dramatic and romantic and I loved reliving it over and over again :D

  4. Tasya says:

    I don’t really do re-read, but when I do I always love it (or dislike it) the same way. The only reason I don’t do it more often is because there are so many new books I want to read :D I love the feeling of familiarity and seeing the details and foreshadowing when you’re re-reading, it’s like finding a piece of clue and admiring the author’s mind :D

    • Chiara says:

      I do like the new discoveries that happen when you re-read! Especially if the book is really complex and you might have overlooked the smaller things when you first read it. I think The Raven Cycle will be like that!

  5. Claridge says:

    I kind of see re-reading as a test whether you’ve grown as a person and as a reader. If you’ve re-read something you’ve previously loved and found it lacking on your re-read, maybe you’ve just grown as a reader, and that’s not so bad. If you still love it, then that’s great. I think we can chalk that up to the greatness of the book. Maybe. (And now I realize that’s a pretty biased way of seeing the world. Heh.)

    Good luck re-reading The Raven Cycle. <3 I still haven't finished reading the fourth installment, which is sad. I should make time for it.

    • Chiara says:

      I think that growing as a person and a reader can definitely influence the way you see a book when you re-read it. I know that there are some books I read as a teen that I would go back and probably hate because of that, haha. Though, like you said, I think there are some books that simply stand the test of time, as well!

      I hope by now you’ve found time to read The Raven King :D And I apologise for this extreme delay in replying to your comment! It would seem this post made its way into the blackhole of posts and I only just found it again.

  6. I have several books that I have read tons of times, and others that I’ve loved but will probably not read over again. I don’t get as much time to read as I used to, but when I do, I find myself wanting to read something new and explore new worlds instead of ones I’ve already gotten to (with the exception of a few books, like To Kill a Mockingbird, the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard, and Leftovers by Laura Weiss). I used to re-read a lot of books, but now I have so many on my shelves and so many on my Kindle that have been sitting there, unread, for ages (not to mention the ARCs and new releases that take up so much time, too), so I n ever find enough time. There needs to be more hours in the day!

    • Chiara says:

      Some of my all time favourites have only been read once, as well! And some others I have read over and over. And yet I could probably still say I love them the same!

      What are the Pretty Little Liars books like? I just finished the TV show and I kind of want to read the series, but I remember not LOVING the first book >.< I know the feeling of wanting more hours in the day! I kind of wish time stopped when you read so that there would be endless time to read all the books you want to :D

  7. I hope you find the courage to re-read more books. I used to re-read more often but with blogging, I don’t always have the time. I do think the fear of not liking the book the same will always be there, but hopefully it won’t change your thoughts on TOO many books.

    • Chiara says:

      Since I wrote this post I have actually gotten a lot better at re-reading! Mainly previous books in series when a NEW book in a series comes out but I still think that is better than nothing :D Now I just have to move on to re-reading just for the sake of re-reading, and not remembering for a new book in a series, haha. I hope so, too! I think if it hasn’t been TOO long since I’ve read a book I will likely feel the same, but it’s the super old ones I am more worried about >.<

  8. Yeppp rereading is super terrifying, especially rereads of childhood books. I don’t think the fear should ever stop you though. To get the best out of my rereading experiences I never try to think to critically about the book I’m rereading and I also only reread it when I’m in the mood for it. Never force a read (it ends badly for mood readers like me).

    Good luck with your rereading this year!

    • Chiara says:

      The childhood re-reads are TERRIFYING. I have a few that I re-read and hated now as an adult D: But there are some childhood faves that have stood the test of time, like Phantom Stallion. I re-read all of them a few years ago and loved them just as much. I think re-reading at the right time is why I find it so hard to re-read! Maybe I’ve just got to be patient and wait until I really feel like it :D

  9. Valerie says:

    HAHAH THAT GIF okay Chiara XD

    Well anyways, I like rereading. I haven’t reread something and hated it, so that’s good. Though one of the reasons I don’t reread is mainly because I don’t have the time to. Since I want to get to all the new releases or backlist books and just EVERYTHING new. Last year I did reread Sabriel and Lirael, and that was a lot of fun. So hopefully this year I’ll reread maybe one or two? The Goodreads update is a good motivator though!

    • Chiara says:

      That GIF is perfection, Valerie!!

      It’s super good that you haven’t re-read and hated something. It’s an awful feeling D: Yeah, I know what you mean. There are SO many books I want to read that I have never read, but there’s still a part of me that wants to re-experience the books I’ve read and loved before *sigh*

  10. I too have been wanting to reread many more books this year, as I’ve somewhat fallen out of the habit – & now that Goodreads has released their new rereading feature (HALLELUJAH PRAISE EVERYTHING), I’m hoping this shall be just the push I need??? But also I’m under a bit of a time crunch to read all of the books on my shelf before I go off to uni & need to leave the majority of them behind, so I’ve been dithering a bit too much, I think. Goodness, there are so many lovely books out there I need to get my hands on, yet so many old favourites I’d love to reread! I’m unsure where the right balance is, but I know all of us readers do need to find it for ourselves. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, dear Chiara – wonderful post, as ever <3

    • Chiara says:

      I am so grateful for the re-read feature on Goodreads! It has made life so much easier when I DO get around to re-reads (which is mainly manga, haha, or previous books in a series that has a new book out). Oh gosh, it would be so painful to leave books behind! I wouldn’t even know what tot take if I were only to take a few. Probably my top fave series, some standalones, and then a bunch of unread queer books (what a surprise). It is definitely a personal thing when it comes to re-reads, and I feel like I am closer to finding that balance! I am reading more of what I want to read when I feel like I want to read it and I am a happier reader for it :D Thank you, Topaz, you are ever so lovely <3

  11. I try and re-read my favourite books. If I cannot read an entire book again, I’ll go back to my fav parts to fangirl over them because I just need more than one read of my fav books!!!

    • Chiara says:

      I have never thought of re-reading my favourite parts! I do that when I’m reading a book and find a favourite part (like a certain letter in Because You’ll Never Meet Me) but I feel like if I did it randomly I’d probably just sit down and read the whole book again, haha XD

  12. this fear is always with me. i’m actually starting a reread of the raven cycle right this very minute and i’m TERRIFIED that i won’t love it as much, or that my treasured ships have changed. but i’ve reread fangirl 10,000000 times and i love it more and more with each read i do, so i have hope.

    • Chiara says:

      I feel like it would be impossible not to love The Raven Cycle with a re-read? Like, the books are so complex that I am sure I missed things when I read them the first time so I would be discovering new things upon a re-read. That would probably make me love it even more. I hope it worked out for you, Natalie!! And omg I really need to re-read Fangirl. It’s like my absolute fave and I’ve only read it once D:

  13. I used to reread books all the time, but don’t as much anymore because I read more new books, just in general. I am concerned that if I go back to some of my faves, I won’t like them as much because I read them before I started reading diverse books and lost my tolerance for homogenous, non-diverse fiction. For some of my more recent faves, though, I’m not as worried because my tastes tend to stay the same for long periods of time and I’m nowhere near due for another shakeup.

    • Chiara says:

      That’s how I feel, as well! When I was in high school and into my late teens I didn’t read critically so I have no idea if my fave books from then would hold up against the reader I am today. I think I will probably leave those ones in the past, but I definitely want to re-read more recent faves just to be able to feel that love again!

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