Danielle on the Joy of Rereading
Hey there, Book People! I hope that you are reading something awesome, and that the book you are currently spending time with is treating you well.
I was a fiend last week and read six different novels, all in very different genres: three crime dramas, a memoir, a post-apocalyptic novel, and the crazy "I don't know what to call it" book that Dan and I reviewed yesterday. (Don't worry, you'll get reviews of the rest of them soon!)
The point is, I crammed a lot of words into my brain. I like doing that. It makes me happy. Sometimes, though, after a reading binge of all new books, I like to take a break. For me, though, taking a break doesn't mean "don't read anything for a while" -- I can't imagine that. I have to be reading something all of the time in order to be comfortable in my skin. Instead, taking a break means rereading things.
I am a devoted re-reader. Every year, I reread the works of Jane Austen at least once (probably three times, to be honest). I feel like her characters are old friends, at this point. I can slip into the towns she has created with ease and joy and I always, always find something new to be happy about. Every summer, I reread the Harry Potter series. Why? Why not? They are books that I love! Why wouldn't I go back to Hogwarts again and again?
Some of my other favorite re-reads are:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Stand by Stephen King
The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness
The In Death Series by JD Robb
There are people who never reread books. I understand that, and there are books that I am not likely to reread. I think of reading like traveling. Sometimes, you go to a place once and you think, well, this is nice, and I'm glad I came here, but I don't love it; there are other destinations, however, that you fall in love with and want to travel to again and again.
So at the moment, I am visiting with some of my favorite characters. I've missed them, you see, and while I do love meeting new friends, sometimes it's really lovely to check in with old ones.
I hope you give yourself the opportunity to do the same now and again.