Because sometimes I forget even my own name, I’ve decided rereading books is a fantastic idea.
No really, I typed my name as “Kate” once and then got confused because it didn’t look right + followed that up with an identity crisis + decided to forever change my name to Nick so I can just be the Fury we all know could lead the Avengers just fine. So that’s the story of how I’m ABOUT TO CHANGE MY NAME.
But that aside, we need to talk about rereading. And also how I very nearly have no memory of this place, or that place, or any place whatsoever. And while you’re probably sitting here, picking raisin toast crumbs off your shirt while you read, and thinking, “Ok so you reread books, Cait. I clap for you. This post is going to be very short because it’s done now.”
Well NO! Because why write a simple statement when I CAN COMPLICATE IT X 62. (I’m so excited. We all love my blog.)
I want to talk about the pros vs cons of rereading books. Because trust me: there’s a gnarly dark side.
And even if there wasn’t a darkside, I’d find one, because I’m dramatic. #AM #A #WRITER
TOP TEN TUESDAY: Books I Could Re-read Forever
I’ll also include some of my favourite rereads at the end because I’m a little goblin rebel but I TRY to behave with the prompts once every 56 working days.
1. IF YOU HAVE THE MEMORY OF A HOLEY TEA KETTLE = IT’S LIKE READING A WHOLE NEW BOOK ANYWAY.
I love this because I unfortunately remember nothing about anything. I will literally go to the bathroom to put on my watch and then go clean the bathroom instead. But HEY! A memory like this = you get to live so much cheaper! I can amuse myself endlessly with the same books, the same 3 foods, and have the same songs on repeat since 2013. Are you even meant to remember anything in life?? Haha. Silliness.
2. IT’S ACTUALLY COMFORTING BECAUSE IT’S LIKE VISITING OLD FRIENDS.
I mean if you find visiting old friends comforting, because sometimes that’s terrifying, especially if they’ve taken up living in a gingerbread house and eating small children. What?? I’m sure we all have old friends like that??? But regardless: KNOWING (a little haha; bad memory remember) what’s going to happen is comforting! It’s nice to know you’re for a good read. Also can be good if you’re very stressed or anxious.
3. FEELINGSSSSSS
When a book really REALLY means something to you, rereading it just dredges up all those feelings. And who doesn’t want to lose themselves in 10 buckets worth of eMOTIONS over characters of your past!?? Some people probably have emotionally-stable hobbies! But that’s funny! Why would you want that!
4. IF IT’S PART OF A SERIES, IT’S HANDY TO REFRESH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST BOOKS.
Which is basically me, every single time a series comes out. And I know some people say “Oh I’ll wait until all the books are out and then read them together” which is a GREAT idea. But publishers will actually cancel series if they don’t get the sales. So like???? Buy them when they’re new too haha. (I mean, obviously if you have the funds! Not everyone does.) ANYWAY –> I love doing a series marathon before a next book comes out. You can watch all the little babies grow up PLUS actually admire the author’s foreshadowing.
5. IF YOU’RE A WRITER, YOU CAN FOCUS MORE ON LEARNING FROM THE BOOK AND PASS IT OFF AS “WORK” WHILE YOU EAT 18 CUPCAKES.
Writers = MUST BE READERS. And books are our best teachers. I go into books with that perky idea of “Oh! I’ll take mental notes and learn as I read!” and then 6 seconds later I’m emotionally devastated by some ship and I’m putting characters in Hogwarts houses and I’ve speed read the finale to see if my babies died or not. In other words: I’m a useless hedge.
Rereading —> you know what’s going to happen (vaguely?!) —> you can focus on gleaning writing tips.
1. YOUR TBR PILE WILL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP.
Nothing makes a TBR’s day than you delicately balancing two newly bought tomes on top of the 3989 already there…and then rereading Harry Potter. LIKE SLEEP WELL TONIGHT, FRIEND, BECAUSE YOUR TBR IS SHARPENING KNIVES OFFICIALLY. Rereading obviously takes away from reading new books and how. are. we. supposed. to. read. them. all.
2. YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY HATE IT THE SECOND TIME ROUND.
Which happens to me for books I’ve read 4+ years ago. WOW my tastes have changed. And then suddenly I realise something I loved is heckin’ problematic and it’s like a truck just backed over my heart and I’m an emotionally wounded pancake. ThaNKS for tHAt. So do you risk a reread??? Or keep your fond memories???
3. THE FAMILIARITY CAN ACTUALLY BE BORING SOMETIMES.
Because “been here, done that”…you know that dull boring middle bit is coming so you’re in no rush. And then suddenly you only read 1 book this week because you weren’t desperate to know what happens and YOUR GOODREADS GOAL STARTS SCREAMING AT YOU AND YOU PANIC AND FLEE TO ICELAND AND BECOME A SHEEP INSTEAD. (This isn’t hyperbolic. I’m sure it happens.)
4. YOU JUST DON’T HAVE THE TIME ANYWAY BECAUSE TIME DOESN’T GROW ON TREES, MATE.
Rereading would be NICE but also owning a pirate ship would be NICE and we don’t always get what we want. If you only have time to read, say, 4 books per month…it’s stressful rereading and knowing you’re missing out on new books.
5. THERE CAN BE A WAR OF EXPECTATIONS AND WHO WANTS TO FALL INTO THAT MARMALADE JAR OF DISAGREEMENT?
Full disclaimer: Marmalade is gross and don’t fight me on this or I’ll bring a bread and butter knife and we’ll duel. It’s just gross. Everyone who loves it:
OK MOVING ON —> There can be pressure to reread before you consider yourself a “true fan”. Like some people reread a book 10+ times and I’M IN AWE and then I remember I call Patrick Ness a “favourite author” and I’ve NEVER reread any of his books. At all. So am I a fan??? Crisis intensifies???? Leave me alone with my raisin toast and my nightmares???
So now that we can all thoroughly panic because my pros vs cons list was even!
Self-five, me, I did a good job.
Obviously the ultimate thing about rereading is: DO WHAT YOU WANT, LOKI. But I love it. I’ve started loving it last year and now my list of things I want to reread is so crushingly long that my TBR has actually hired a hitman. Which won’t help the situation at all? But you try talking sense into it. Our relationship is on the rocks.
Because I obviously have NOTHING TO DO THIS YEAR with my book coming out + edits for my next book + blogging + a TBR with already 50 million books on it + life in general haha. No, let me add REREADS TOO.
Oh Cait…oh Cait haha you ridiculous creature.
I love re-reading when my TBR allows it! It’s so relaxing and comforting to re-visit old favorites, honestly. My most re-read book is Simon VS ahaha no surprise here. And The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue too. Aside from HP of course but that one is obvious. I really should re-read Locke Lamora soon and Crooked Kingdom (and Six of Crows too obviously. AND I need to re-read at least Gemina before Obsidio arrives on my doorstep. I also should re-read The Foxhole Court so I can finish the series and I need to get to Autoboyography for the first time SOON. AACCKK I need more days in a week. XD
I was going to say…yOU’RE GOING TO MENTION SIMON VS AREN’T YOU.😂 I know you too well!😂 And I read The Gentleman’s Guide TWICE last year so I hear you. It’s so excellent ajfdkslad and I need to reread Locke to help me survive the fact that the author’s taking forever to write the second.
Zomg. You’ve read The Foxhole Court?! *SCREAMING* IT’S MY FAVOURITE BEE I’M SO DEAD I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
MARMALADE IS AMAZING YOU FOOL. Okay, now we have that our of the way, I’m absolutely a rereader. I especially like it when you can see new depths in a book and get more out of it each time round, all of the books I reread are hopefully like that, and if they stop being that way I stop rereading them. There are some books that I’m sure I’d hate now, but I don’t want to reread them because I don’t want to diss my previous self and her opinions, which were valid at the time. Like Jay Asher, who is a terrible sexual abuser, but I quite liked 13 re the first time because I’d never read anything like it before. I also reread The History and liked it more then reread it again and liked it less.
Also I have totally misleltp (intentional) my own name lol it happens to the best of us.
NO YOU ARE WRONG MARMALADE IS OF THE DARKNESS AND SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED IT IS DEATH.
Okay yes I am also good. We can continue!! And I’m glad you’re a rereader! Don’t you have a whole month on your blog you dedicate to rereads?! That’s so awesome. 😀 And yeah I’m super frustrated at books I used to like but have now realised are problematic. Although I always hated 13 Reasons Why, but the author is so disgusting.
Eh do we even need to know how to spell our own names? Pfft, we’re fine. My name is CASFJLAD.
One of my reading goals this year is to let myself reread! It’s definitely comforting and nostalgic. But yes, my tbr screams at me every time!! So I’m only rereading one or two books a month.
One book I’ll definitely be rereading this year is The Scorpio Races – read it for the first time last year and loved it!!
I totally understand the mixed feelings for rereading! I feel guilty but then like…why!? Reading is supposed to be fun I NEED TO JUST LET IT BE FUN. (Also The Scorpio Races is AMAZING to reread. I want to do it every November for aesthetic.)
I totally agree with all the points in this post. Cait you are a genius. I love re-reading books actually cause most times at first I just breeze through a book cause it’s so good. Then I calm down and read it again if I have time.
Yes I have misspelled my middle name a lot of times, so I know the struggle. I’m like should the a be before the I or the other way around. Lol. Great post
N’aww thank you.😂 And then the second time IS so good for calming down and actually taking it all in right?! I always read too fast the first time and miss details hehe. Also glad I’m not alone in misspelling my own name. SPELLING IS HARD.😂
Hating a book when you reread it is the worst thing ever, and one of the reasons I find it impossible to reread some of my favourite books of all time (especially Looking For Alaska, because I haven’t liked any of John Green’s recent releases and I don’t know if that means I’m also not going to love that one anymore 🙁 )
But I also have a terrible memory, so rereading is a necessity for me when it comes to books in series. I either wait for the entire thing to be released or I reread before each new release – that’s why I’ve read Red Rising so regularly, and that also never disappoints me when I reread it!
It’s sooo nerve wracking?! I’m scared to reread some old John Greens because I know he has a lot of manic pixie dream girls and sometimes I love them and sometimes I don’t.😂 So I don’t want to risk it haha. And agh, who needs a memory when rereading feels like reading . it for teh first time.😂
(I LOVE RED RISING!! I’m rereading Morning Star right now!)
Aaah Yess accurate post!
It totally depends on my mood I guess. I’ve re-read every book of the Harry Potter several times, though re-read it in the correct order? Only twice. Idk why. I’ve tried re-reading it in the correct order so many times, but I always end up thinking nvm I’ll skip to Order of the Phoenix or maybe The Deathly hallows, and then I end up picking up some other book. Don’t get me wrong here, Harry Potter will always remain love.❤
Heyy, you have All The Bright Places on your list! That’s on my to re-read list too! Gosh it’s such a beautiful book❤
Also, I loved all of the points you mentioned here, totally relatable!
Great post!
Ohh I totally understand rereading out of order! Sometimes that’s super fun too ahh!! (I need to reread HP also because it’s only been 2 years but I remember nothing.😂) And AHH! I love All The Bright Places so much. <3
I AM A PROUD REREADER. I have a memory of a teaspoon so I NEED to reread. I’m re-reading Harry Potter now (for the third time) and I’m planning to re-read Percy Jackson (and basically the whole Riordanverse) after HP. I’m not afraid of not loving a book after re-reading because that has never happened yet. Let’s pray it will never happen.
And yes I’ve misspelled my name already. Spoons forget their names so that’s understandable.
I can’t believe I haven’t been able to comment in two of your blogposts but I’m so busy with school right now you might mistake me as a walking corpse. I don’t have time to read too. My books miss me now 😭😭😭
*hi five* for our teaspoon memories!😂I mean we suffer but at least it makes rereading more fun?! Also I need to reread HP. It’s only been 2 years but I haven’t a clue what happened tbh.
Honestly spoons also just get to lie around all day so at least we have great role models.
*sends you cake* STAY ALIVE, RAIN, DON’T LET THE SCHOOL SYSTEM EAT YOU.
OMG YES I HATE MARMALADE TOO
Now that I got that aside, I don’t re-read much. I only re-read books if-
a) it was adorably fluffy and I need something to lift me up rn aka Carry On
b) the movie us coming so refresh your memory or you’re committing a crime aka Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda
c) the next book in the series is coming and I remember nothing aka Shatter Me series but I’m so lazy I might just end up reading the summaries lol
d) I really ship those two so I’ll re-read the whole series for them aka TMI for Malec
e) there is no other book and I’LL DIE IF I DON’T READ RIGHT NOW
OH GOOD. YOU CAN STAY. MARMALADE IS NOT RIGHT FOR THIS WORLD.
Omg I want to reread Carry On now, why did you say that.😂And I also need to reread Simon…OMG CHARVI YOU’RE INCREASING MY LIST NOW.😂
IT’S WEIRD AND STICKY AND DOES NOT TASTE LIKE ORANGE
Haha sorry? I am re-reading Carry On right now. Reminds me of so much like JEANS. And Snowbaz being adorable 😍
And it has all those like little floaty bits of orange peel in it and grosssss. Like who thought that was a good idea. #DownWithMarmalade
😂 hehe I was teasing you! I’m adding Carry On to my list of rereads though!
I reread a lot. I think that the first time that I read a book is for plot. I am so consumed with what is going to happen that I miss out on really appreciating the details of the writing and characterization which are my favorite parts of reading. When I am in a slump I almost always reread. There haven’t been a whole lot of books that I have completely hated that on reread. There have been books that are just not for me anymore. I also reread book series before every release. It is quite an effort if the series has like, ten or more books to get through. So much work! Good thing I read fast.
YES YES EXACTLY! I always find myself reading so faaast just to find out, and then in the second time round you can actually appreciate the writing.😂 I mostly haven’t loathed a book for a second time round, but I’ve found myself feeling it isn’t any good or noticing something really problematic. Life is cruel.😂
I think I might make a month for rereading this year because normally I don’t have the time and my tbr is holding my family hostage unless but maybe I can put it into a coma for a month
Honestly you just need to pause time, like every weekend?? And then use that for rereading and then let time speed back up so your TBR doesn’t know. :’) This plan is PERFECT.
Yes! But unfortunately I lack that technology and I use weekends to burn down villages.
It’s just SO HARD to fit everything in these days. Like do you learn how to stop time??? Burn down a world??? Take a nap??? The weekends are insane.
I don’t re-read books that often, most of the books I read are new reads. I have many favourites I’ve not re-read (yet anyway!). I can’t re-read a book too soon, or it’ll seem too familiar to me (even if I couldn’t tell you what happened, in actual words). I generally need to wait at least a few years (I get bored if it’s only been a few months since I read it). I think usually about 10% of the books I read are re-reads, the rest are new reads. I have loved a book again upon re-reading, but I’ve also had times when I re-read a book and was disappointed (ie. with a book from my childhood, though I can’t remember what it was!). I’ve recently begun to re-read one of my all time favourite adult fantasy series, The Wheel of Time (it’s got 14 books + 1 prequel). I re-read the prequel and book 1 in 2017, and then I took a break; last month I read book 2. So I suppose it’s time for book 3 soon but I found myself wanting to read some newer and other books instead. So, maybe in March.
Excellent lists by the way, I fully agree with them!
That’s fair! I usually wait a least a year, although last year I read one book I loved twice…probably like 6months later.😂 AND I LOVED IT. So I kind of feel it depends on the book almost?! And agh I hate being disappointed by rereading childhood loves…it feels like such betrayal to grow out of them. 😭😭
I am a rereader, I JUST LOVE IT. I love reading the books I love over and over and over and over… ‘cuz that’s what life’s all about right? Besides, yes, I do forget… everything. Except that I like it. My fav series to reread is The Lunar Chronicles bc that’s the meaning of my life, apparently. I reread all the time. I mean, seriously, I can be reading a new book and at the same time rereading Cinder or anything else. I’m a huge fan of rereads (it’s too obvious), no matter the costs. And ’bout my name… I haven’t misspelled my own name, but I do change sometimes on purpose. Because Jeanny sounds exactly like Ginny, so why don’t we just pretend it’s spelled like GINNY and everyone starts to call me Ginny Weasley? I just?! Maybe I’m not red-head, but I do love Harry Potter, that should be enough
Yes exactly!! Like what’s the point of reading if we’re not having a good time?! Also I never got to reading Stars Above and now I feel like I should reread the whole Lunar series before starting it.😂
Ooh so basically your name says you BELONG IN HOGWARTS FOR SURE! 😂
Casually scrolling through this post – YES! THIS IS SO TRUE. THOU SHALT REREAD EVERY BOOK YOU LOVE. AND EITHER FALL DEEPER IN LOVE OR LOSE THY MIND.
Also, Cait really loves Maggie Stiefvater. So many Maggie books on that reread pile 😂
Right now, I want to reread some of my favs (insert Infernal Devices trilogy and SIx of Crows) BUT I DON”T HAVE TIME. This is a crisis 😳
Anytime I do have to read, I’m dutifully attacking my TBR pile. Which is a GOOD thing because that pile is MASSIVE. (((ALSO, I finally read Cinder last night and you & 1001 of my friends were right. It’s so good and I should have kept reading)))
But I may give up soon because my friend borrowed my copy of Six of Crows and she’s returning it and now I really, really, really want to reread it. Because I need some of the Dregs in my life. Also, it’s torture to see her enjoying Kaz and me not being able to fully love him all over again?
Though all your Maggie pics remind me how much I need to start on the Raven Boys???? SO CONFLICT and I don’t know what to do 😳
CAIT IS A LITTLE BIT OBSESSED WITH STIEFVATER BOOKS. JUST LOOK AT ME GO THERE’S NO STOPPING ME NOW.😂 And also it’s so hard not to want to reread favourites?! Like bring me back to that moment when I read them the first time and lost my mind in silent screaming appreciation.😂
Yaas that you read Cinder!! I hope you like the rest! Scarlet is my favourite. 😀
*quietly piles the Raven Boys on your head so you read them*
*collapses under the weight of all the Maggie Stiefvater books I need to read*
I actually own the Raven Boys and the Raven King. I just need to sit down and start reading. haha. Also, new books need to just go away until I’m done with my skyscraper TBR pile.
I wish I had more TIME to re-read, but yeah, it’s difficult. I do want to re-read Illuminae and Gemina before I read Obsidio though. I’d love to read Timekeeper again, but alas, I’ll probably just read Chainbreaker soon. One of these days I’ll add in more re-reading!
-Lauren
Omg I MUST find time to read Illuminae and Gemina ahhh!! But I have to reread Timekeeper because I have no freaking clue what happened in it now.😂
I’ve spelled my own name correctly and thought it looked wrong. So there’s that.
I want to reread several of my favorites basically all the time, but then my TBR Mountain is over there, looming threateningly. I don’t think it’s sharpening its knives per se, but it’s definitely thinking about toppling over and smothering me in my sleep. So while I’d LOVE to go reread all of Mercedes Lackey’s 500 Kingdoms and Elemental Masters books, I need to do it sneakily so my Book Mountain can’t see.
Your point about not loving a book as much on a reread is so spot on. I live in fear of this, especially with books I loved 10+ years ago. I love you forever, Tamora Pierce, but the Song of the Lioness series does not mean the same thing to 32 year old me as it did to 12 year old me.
Excellent *hi fives* We can be embarrassed about not even being able to spell our own names together.😂😂
Agh the TBR mountain is definitely a terrifying force.😂 I kind of hate the fact that rereading makes me feel like I’m getting behind!? But then what’s the point of reading if we’re not having fun and doing what we want?!
I’m a fan of rereading, both for the same reason why I’ll watch an entire season of a tv show I’ve already watched before the new season comes out, and for comfort. I like rereading either the entire series or the last book in the series before the new book comes out, and also because sometimes it’s comforting to reread a book you know and love.
But there are sometimes books that you reread and it’s disappointing because they weren’t as good as the first time you read them.
I find it waaay less stressful knowing what’s coming, that’s for sure.😂 And refreshing oneself before a new series is excellent because you suddenly pick up all the foreshadowing and cleverness the author has put in and I’m like??? Such a fan of that.😂
I love rereading, but I always feel guilty because my TBR pile is so giant. Every time I reread a book, I see some small detail that I missed the first time. Also, I have misspelled my own name, which is embarrassing because it’s only 2 letters.
Agh I feel guilty too!! But I’m trying not to let that stop me anymore.😂 I mean reading should be fun right?!
I once added an extra ‘l’ to my name while typing it, and had to take a couple of seconds to stare at it, wondering if that was an ‘l’ or an ‘i’. 😂 (Because the ‘i’ does follow the ‘l’ in my name)
I love rereading my favorite series, but I try not to reread them TOO much because that’ll make them seem boring. So I limit myself to once a year. I honestly think my bigger problem is finding NEW books to read, actually.
Omg it’s the moment when you’re actually staring at your own name going: why doesn’t this make sense…tHAT’S THE SAD PART.😂 I do it too much. (Also with my blog name, the amount of times I’ve typed Paper Furry…)😂
Seriously… your con list is why I don’t reread everything every day!!! I mean the fear of it not living up to my rosecolored memories… and yet… they call to me… oh the struggle
Honestly the bookworm life is full of struggles.😂
I’ve only read and re-read And I Darken because I love my blood thristy child, Lada. And fingers crossed I never find a book I re-read boring, hasn’t happend so far!
I LOVE AND I DARKEN! I reread it last year and probably will reread it this year too before the last book comes out. *cries because doesn’t want to say goodbye to Lada*
I remember back when you never used to reread! I’m glad you’ve started to more lately. You’re 100% right about the pros and cons!
Sidenote: Whenever I click on your posts from Bloglovin’ lately, the format doesn’t generate correctly. I have to go to your main page and then click on the post from there. Not a big deal, but just thought I’d let you know!
Omg Emily you’ve officially know me forever.😂😂 (Which, may I just say, THANK YOU for sticking around this long!) haha But yes I used to avidly NEVER reread?! I don’t know what happened last year, but I’ve suddenly turned into a rereading machine.😂
Ohhh, that’s so weird about the bloglovin’. I would have no idea how to fix that though. :O
I’m not a great re-reader, unless it’s a book I love 1000% and then I’ll just graze through once or twice a month/year/when I find it, and reread all my favorite bits. This includes Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw, and all six of my own books. (Because, ya know, I write series, and I have to keep them refreshed for ME, too. Can’t have inconsistencies, ya know.)
But actual rereading? I think the only time I’ve done that is the Makilien Trilogy by Molly Evangeline, and that was because I was doing a thing called IndieFan where I’d pick an Indie author and fangirl over them for a month. She was the only one I actually managed to do. I need to bring that back. I’m planning to do Sarah Holman’s Destiny Trilogy next, but I’ve heard that she’s revising her books, so I’m waiting until then. Also, time is a precious commodity that I have little of.
I don’t think I’ve ever misspelled my name, but I do frequently forget my last name. Like, it’s Ardnek for all my public writing gig stuff, but for all business and personal stuff … well, Ardnek is just my first name turned around backwards. It’s not my real last name! And since I sign it both ways semi-frequently, I sometimes forget which I’m supposed to be doing.
(Fortunately, the way I rwrite A’s and R’s are similar, so I can usually catch it….)
I totally get rereading your own books! I always used to think I’d *never* do that but I actually did quite a lot last year.😂 Also it helps with revisions?! The better I know my book the easier it is to edit it.
Ohh I didn’t realise Ardnek was your name backwards!😂That’s kind of clever and fun for a pseudonym. Everyone else misspells my last name (Drews) and just calls me Drew. NO I AM NOT NANCY DREW.😂
I do love rereading, I actually used to do it all the time before I started blogging, but now I feel like I can’t take time out for rereading because I have so many new books to read and if I’m not going to review it then I feel like I’m getting behind on my blog, which is ridiculous! I’m kind of scared of rereading The Book Thief in case it’s not as amazing as I remember, but I’d still really like to read it again. I have not misspelled my own name, but to be fair, it only has two letters so if I did, it would be a new level of low for me! To be fair, that hasn’t stopped other people spelling my name Joe, and I’m like, ugh no….you just made more effort for yourself there!
Sooo much relate. *weeps* I ALWAYS feel guilty if I’m not getting through my TBR at a steady pace, which is a bit ridiculous because reading is supposed to be fun!! And if I find rereading fun then I shouldn’t feel guilty!?
Ah haha I’m very glad you haven’t misspelled your name.😂 And omg other people misspelling our names…that’s a whole circus.😂 I get my name spelled a million different ways. I even had to keep reapplying for my bank card because they misspelled my name TWICE.
I’m not a rereader. It’s weird because I can watch TV shows and movies over and over, but have no desire to reread most books. I will however, sometimes reread before a movie comes out or if it’s been ten thousand years since the last book came out (fantasy authors are the worst).
Fantasy authors are totally cruel.😂 I mean I GUESS it’s hard work creating a whole world but pfft. Give us books a year apart instead if 248 years between.😂
Lies of Locke Lamora is an excellent reread. And I really want to reread this random French book I loved in grade 3 but I also keep on avoiding it. And I’ve never spelled my own name wrong, but Autocorrect butchers it so much it’s basically the same thing.
Omg I need to read Locke again because I MISS THOSE BOOKS SO MUCH AND IT’S GOING TO BE FOREVER BEFORE WE GET BK 4.
I definitely am not a re-reader. The only books I have re-read on a regular basis are the Harry Potter books. I tend to notice that `If I re-read a book I remember liking a long time ago, It’s usually not as good because I can faintly remember what’s going to happen, and I tend to not get AS hooked as I was when I read the book the first time.
Ahh that does make sense though. Like I think there’s less urgency for rereads?! Which can be comforting and nice buuut also be a bit anticlimactic.
I LOVE the idea of rereading but it gives me serious anxiety. I buy books constantly so I never feel like I can justify rereading!! eep! But despite all of that I spent the better part of Christmas break rereading ALL 13 of The Series of Unfortunate Events collection because I really just wanted something I knew I loved and would take me away from all of the stress that comes with the holidays!
But zero rereads since. because AH.
I tooootally understand! I always feel bad because like I’m never going to get through my TBR as is?! How can I reread? BUT THEN ALSO: reading is supposed to be fun and not full of pressure, so I try to remind myself of that.😂 And I’m rereading the Lemony Snicket books too as the series comes out on Netflix!! (Do you watch it?! It’s so good. :D)
Reading is supposed to be fun and relaxing and there should be no rules because we’re just doing something we like doing for the hell of it!! RIGHT?! Then why am I so guilty???
I have not started watching the Netflix show because although NPH is absolutely amazing and can do no wrong, JIM CAREY DID SUCH A GOOD JOB IN THE MOVIE I COUDLNT IMAGINE ANYTHING BETTER! I’ve relegated myself back to the books until I muster the courage to try the new TV series.
I totally understand about the movie vs the TV series! I reeeally love the movie, but I thought the TV series was excellent too?! I can’t pick a favourite though. The movie soundtrack is A++!!
Not a rereader, no. I did reread the first Harry Potter book as an adult though and the way J.K. Rowling structured it is honestly genius. There’s not a scene in that book that doesn’t do SOMETHING.
I’ve heard that about the Harry Potter books and I kind of want to reread them to see?! I also remember nothing and I only read them all 2 years ago.😂
I haven’t read too many books more than once, but when it happened, there was usually 10 years between the readings…
Some books (mostly Stephen King) i read twice not only because i love the way he writes, but the first time around i didn’t read them in english so now that i can, i wanted to see them in their full glory 😀
Ohh that does make sense! Also I’m in awe that you read in multiple languages!!
I love rereading. Before I got into YA, that’s just about all I did. Probably also why I can sit here and quote the entirety of the stories of Wraith Squadron from teh Star Wars X-Wing series or sing the songs from Lord of the Rings and Redwall. .-.
Truthfully, I kinda hate new books for taking that away from me. Rereading has always been such a great time for me because I speed read through the first time and get the main plot, but then the second, or third, or seventeenth time, I’m still finding new things that make me sit back and say HOLY CRAP THAT’S WHAT SKYWALKER WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. It soothes my nerd heart.
YES YES I GET THAT TOO!! Like I always read too fast the first time because I’m anxious to know what happened?! But then the second time I actually take in the details.😂
I’m in awe of readers that can sit down with the same book twice. I’m Dory the Fish 🐠, distracted by all of the shiny, new books that float by me on a daily basis. The only exception I may make, when my TBR is more under control (AKA NEVER) might be to read a few that I read when I was very young such as The Chronicles of Narnia.
Ah hahah! I do understand! Although my Dory-memory makes rereading fun because I totally forgot everything the first time. (I’m currently rereading Morning Star and the plot twists are STILL shocking me…even though I’ve read it before.😂)
I do reread sometimes. Harry Potter rereads are tradition! I want to reread The Book Thief this year.
When I was five I was using a guide to spell my name because I didn’t know how, and my teacher laughed at me for using it and took it away. Like hello I’m five, if I’m using something to help me do something I don’t know that’s an achievement. This event might be why I suck at asking for help now.
Aww that’s so mean of your teacher.😭 That totally plants such horrible ideas when you aren’t even allowed help at 5?!? I’m sorry that happened to you.
I think we learnt at the same time that re-reading is actually really awesome! My favourite thing to do lately is to re-read books before picking up the new sequel in a series. But yes, I’m terrified of rereading something I loved and finding it problematic because memories?! Great post Cait!
YAS. We were enlightened together. *hi fives* And also the actual terrible pain is rereading a book and finding it problematic. It’s such betrayal. We don’t deserve this pain. 😭😭
I relate so hard to #1. I remember NOTHING, but at least that means I can re-read again and again and it really is like reading a whole new book! Bad memory = more fun. 🙂
Also #2. The thing I tend to remember most is how a book made me feel….but don’t ask me why because that’s asking me to remember too much. Did it give all the good feels? YES…why?…uh…don’t ask me hard questions :p
For the cons
#1, i’m sure my TBR is plotting my death anyway for continuing to add more books faster than I can possibly read them. But yes, there are so many new shiny books it takes away from wanting to re-read but like…i want to re-read some books…
i’m so scared of #2, like…what if I don’t love it this time?
I don’t think i’ve ever re-read a book since becoming a huge bookworm. BUT I WANT TO. Oh wait, no i’ve re-read one book…so I could read the sequel haha :D. I have a list of books I want to re-read though, yay for re-reads counting on Goodreads now! ^_^ Now to find a way to re-read them without my TBR pile coming for my head…
I don’t think i’ve ever misspelled my own name but I did forget my age once…I was 8…even as a young child my memory sucked :p
Exactly right?! We’re actually saving a ton of money by having terrible memories because one book is eternally new.😂😂 And YES I remember feelings over like specific details a lot?! But then it’s weird when I reread and those feelings change. Like who even am I anymore.😂
So basically why can’t we just have more time in our days to reread + be able to keep up with our TBRs.😂
Oh no, I wrote this long comment and it vanished!
Ink and Bone as well as And I Darken are on my TBR as well as rereading Shatter Me since this new book that is coming, has already came out — is everywhere. It’s been years and though I remember MOST of it, I don’t remember all. Eh maybe I’ll just skip on over to the second book lol!
As much as I enjoy rereading books, I also don’t. Cause it gives me anxiety. Lots of other books are waiting to be read. THEY DESERVE TIME TOO.
Omg I’m so sorry your comment disappeared!! I hope my blog isn’t mucking up, gah.
I seriously need to reread Shatter Me since I remember NOTHING and Restore Me is like right around the corner.😂 I don’t own them though so this is a problem haha.
I reread on occasion, but *very* selectively. And I don’t mean only certain books. Only certain passages.
Seriously, I’ll get home and be like “Hmm, I want to reread that one scene from that one book where this specific event happens.” and then grab it off my shelf, read it, and put it back.
I have issues.
Especially when the book I need to read from is one I don’t own.
That hurts.
A lot.
Honestly, I have Thunderhead coming in in, like, a week, and I want to re-read Scythe even though I just read it… last week… So it’s not so much as I’m scared I won’t like it as much (although that’d definitely a factor), but “I just read this book, brain, why must I read it again?”
And yes. I have misspelled my name. Both purposefully and accidentally.
It’s not issues!! That’s REALLY awesome! Plus it means you remember certain scenes.😂 I totally have no memory of anything of ever lmao. But I do get hit with the desperate need to reread books I don’t own…life is a fantastic tragedy.
I NEED TO READ SCYTHE THOUGH WHY HAVEN’T I YET.
Haha yess that’s a perfect description of life. “A fantastic tragedy’.
SCYTHE IS AMAZING YOU SHOULD READ IT, LIKE, RIGHT NOW!
I EVEN HAVE IT ON MY SHELF WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET. SHAME ON ME.
SHAME ON YOU
I LITERALLY READ IT LAST WEEK AND I ALREADY GOT THE SEQUEL
*THAT’S* HOW GOOD IT IS
Cait I just reread THG when I have 9 ARCs and my effing TBR just looking at me wishing they could kill me 😛 I read Harry Potter all the time?? I even reread books from my childhood when I’m just so done with current books 😛 I think I might now enjoy Narnia as much as before if I reread it! It’s kinda sexist??? Also yes I HAVE WRITTEN UMA AS OMA AND AMA so yeah 😛 😀
RELATABLE.😂😂 I reread The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue twice last year while my entire TBR screamed at me so. *shrugs* Hopeless here and not ashamed.😂 (And agh yes I agree about Narnia. I don’t want to reread it because I have GREAT childhood memories, but there’s a lot of awful undertones in there in retrospect.)
I’m an avid rereader! I don’t know exactly why, it’s just the way I’ve always been.😂Maybe because, like you said, it’s comforting and familiar and I’m a big fan of the comforting and familiar. Great post, Cait!
Yesss relatable!! I just love knowing I’m in for a good book and it kind of lessons the anxiety because you already know what’ll happen.😂
Hahah I agree about all of these, ESPECIALLY the time part. If I had all the time in the world, I would be rereading ALL my favorites. I think my favorite part about rereading is expecting my favorite scenes 😀
WE NEED MORE TIME, WHY DO BOOKWORMS GET DENIED OUR NEEDS SO MUCH?!😂
Well….one time in 2nd grade for a project we made pillow cases and took fabric paint markers and signed all our names on them…and I forgot the second h in my name so now my name is Heater. :/
I WAS SEVEN! XD
And I reread Peter Pan when I was in elementary school so many times the spine literally ripped clean in half. XD But other than that, I don’t reread books, and I used to be really against it because there are too many books that I haven’t read that I need to get to, but now that I see all of these posts about rereading, I started making a list of some that I would want to (but realistically probably never actually) reread; like Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, The Hunger Games, Peter and the Starcatchers series by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, The Mother-Daughter Book Club series by Heather Vogel Frederick, The Chronicles of Narnia…and UGH NOW I HAVE TOO MANY LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!!! D:
THAT’S SO ADORABLE I LOVE IT.😂😂 I’m sure you’ll make a lovely Heater too.
And it’s really hard not to feel guilty about rereads when there are sooo many new books there, agck. I hear you! I reread about 20 books last year though and totally fell in love with it again?! I’m going to keep it up.😂 It’s nice to know there’s a good book coming. And YES I want to reread The Hunger Games too!! It’s been so long I don’t even have reviews of them because it was like my pre-blogging era.
Awesome post as always Cait!! I must admit, I have a bit of a confession to make: years ago, I thought that rereading books would be a VERY BAD IDEA, especially with so many new book sitting on my shelves, collecting dust. But then (starting this year), I started to get a HAPPY TINGLING FEELING in me when I started rereading books because it feels like I have been reintroduced to an old friend after all of these years! Now, I just need to reread the Harry Potter series and my life is complete!!
I’M EXACTLY THE SAME THOUGH. I never reread much up until last year and I reread about 20 books…which is probably small?! But it still made my heart so glad and I’m just going to keep it up!
I’m not lucky, books are save in my brain like all these scary old lullabies we sing when we are kids. I still really love re-reading though, like you say, it’s like seeing old friends, then next you drown your tears because you are so happy to be there with them! Also, it’s so fun to re-read a serie and see all the foreshadowing, right!?
But, yeah there is always the risk that you don’t like a book anymore, which is really depressing. Like I liked The Maze Runner, but when I re-read it in January, it felt, I don’t know, cardboard? 😕
Anyway, I’m trying to read new books this year because I’m more drawn to old things, it’s less scary. 🙃
That means you are lucky though!! At least you don’t forget everything by the sequel comes out.😂 But YES exactly! I love the foreshadowing and being like “ooh that was clever.” It’s like we get to appreciate the author’s craft now instead of just the story.😂
I think I’ve only ever misspelled my name when I was typing really fast. So… do typos count?
I’m not really a re-reader. At least, I’m not a recent re-reader. Last year, I tried re-reading Anne of Green Gables because I hadn’t read it since I was 8. I didn’t remember much at all! (I didn’t finish the book, either, but that’s beside the point.) I think I might like to revisit some old favourites that I haven’t read in many, many years. Fire and Hemlock, The Thief, I Capture the Castle… On the other hand, I have so many books that I haven’t read for the first time in my TBR pile, and not enough time to even get to all of those, so…
I used to re-read a lot when I was a kid. But that was when the novels I read were under 200 pages and I could whip through them in an afternoon. I have a harder time getting enthused about re-reading long books when I know there’s that TBR pile sitting there waiting.
Typos totally count! I keep calling my blog Paper Furry if that helps.😂
Revisiting books has so much nostalgia to them though! I am still kind of terrified I won’t like them the second time and it’ll ruin fond memories, but also?! It’s so fun to remember the books that made us fall in love with reading, eep.
I’ve always been a rereader. When I was younger I had access to a very limited amount of books, so it was either reread or NOT read a lot of the time. So rereading has just always been something that I’ve done. It never really occurred to me not to. And I still don’t always have access to a TON of books, so I often reread because I have nothing else around anyway. Or at least that’s the excuse I use. 😂
And hahaha, I’ve never misspelled my own name, but I once got a birthday card that said ‘Happy Birthday Ipis!’ And it was like… What? How did you mange to not notice that…?
Yayy another rereader!! *hi fives* And I did reread a lot of books as a kid too due to just having them around so why not?! But I’m glad rereading is a big thing for you and not having tons of books hasn’t dampened your love of them!
Omg Ipis.😂 When I sign my name in cursive I always get lost with how many sticks there are (lots of l and i and t’s) and by the end no one knows what I’m trying to do.😂
As a child, I would reread the books I owned ALL the times in between the times we went to the library (because back then, life was simple enough to allow reading all the books I got from a library trip in between trips), but then growing up hit and that doesn’t happen anymore XD. Now, I only reread when I read the book the first time so quickly that I need to read it again to remember anything. Which is often, because my memory and my lack of attention span and reading speed often cause me to not remember anything I read. #oops.
Honestly, now that I’m thinking about it, I have a BUNCH of books I want to reread, but just haven’t found the time to read. Also, I’ve reread a lot of books because of my siblings’ reading lists in school but never kept track of it because Goodreads didn’t have the capability at the time. Interesting.
Ahh I relate?! Somehow reading wasn’t such an intricate complex thing for me when I was little. I reread a ton of books, a ton of library books, I had no TBR…ah. The simple childhood.😂 But omg the memory + lack of attention span + read too fast = ME 100%.
I love this list!! Normally I’m not really a rereader, but lately I’ve really had a jones-on to reread a lot of my childhood favorites?? I blame the Wrinkle in Time movie because I reread the book for that and now I’m obsessed. I started rereading The Mortal Instruments to kill some time before Queen of Air and Darkness and I WANT MORE! I’m already thinking about rereading the Raven Cycle (which I read for the first time last summer). Young me was also obsessed with Sarah Dessen and the book This Lullaby, so I want to reread that too. But I’m also terrified it’s gonna be TERRIBLE. What if young me had awful taste in books?? IS MY WHOLE LIFE A LIE??? *Has break down & existential crisis*
I have no clue when I’m going to have the time to reread all these books, but IT’S GONNA HAPPEN. With enough snacks, I can do anything. Lol.
AHH I want to reread A Wrinkle in Time!! I just found out my little sister didn’t even know what it was, so basically I have failed in life and am leaving to live in the corner of shame.😂 (And omg I want to reread all the Shadowhunter books while I wait anxiously for QOAAD but also: time.😂 I want more.)
I’ll Give You The Sun is on my list of top three favorite books. I love it. So. Much. But I haven’t reread it because WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE IT AS MUCH THE SECOND TIME?! AHHHHH WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!
SAME THOUGH.😂 I want to reread it this year but I’m a bit scared!
True story: I spell my last name in my head when I write it so I don’t misspell it. It’s so… long. And Polish. So even though I’ve been spelling it since the womb, I still spell it to myself because… you never know.
Ahem. So I only reread The Hunger Games, like once a year or so. I also only rewatch The 100, every spare moment basically. Everything else… I am too scared, yeah. I sometimes say I want to reread some of my faves but then NOPE- I think I have lost some of my emotional edge since I read them, and so perhaps my newfound unfeelingness would dampen my love for the books? Or maybe I am lying to myself because TIME. I especially think I want to reread series before a sequel comes out but guess what? I never actually do and then I spend half the new book like “WHAT IS THIS PLACE!? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?” so that’s fun!
I feel that’s fair. My nephew has a super long last name and I can’t spell it so when we were at the library trying to get him a library card I ended up going, “Ya nevermind I have no idea what his name is.” I’m the kind of capable aunt everyone wishes they had.
I completely admire your dedication to THG!! I plan to do that with The Raven Cycle.😂If I get my act together with reading this year because omggg I have been slack.😂 Forgetting everything is GREAT though. We can save so much money! Who needs new books! We remember nothing! (Ok fine we want new books too.😂)
There are so many novels that I’d love to reread some day – I’d love to experience some of them from the very first time. 🙂
I actually almost prefer experiencing them from the second time round because I get so much more out of it.😂😂
I have actually misspelled my name before oops. I mean, most people irl call me Cathy which I have accidentally spelt Kathy before (a long time ago). As for my nickname Cas, I used to spell in Cass until I decided that removing an s was way cooler (not sure why, tbh).
I’m not a fan of rereading books, mainly because like you said; no time (SO MANY BOOKS!!) and the familiarity can be boring. However, the one book I’ve ever reread is Divergent (this reread was quite a few years ago though). I managed to get through a reread of Divergent and Insurgent, but just couldn’t deal with the feels of Allegiant. For some reason, I’ve decided in order to improve my chinese vocabulary I should read Divergent a third time in Chinese (the familiarity in this scenario actually helps). But I know that when I decide to read a book in Dutch or Spanish I won’t pick Divergent!
Cas is actually SUCH a cool name!! And I’m glad I’m not the only one with a C name who’s spelt it with a K and gotten confused.😂 Aren’t we clever.
Agh it’s so hard when your TBR is looming over your head and you feel guilty if you reread!! But that’s actually such a cool idea to reread in a different language you’re learning. Totally take my hat off to you for learning so many languages!!
Ahaha I actually like the letter K better but prefer spelling these names with C (with the exception of Katherine/Katharine/Kathryn)
I don’t really re-read much (too many new books to read, not enough time), I tend to read a book once and that’s it, I don’t feel like reading it again… however I do occasionally pick up a book I read a while back and flick through it, reading a few paragraphs here and there, to remind myself of what happened in it 🙂
That’s totally fair!! There are WAY too many new books that I want to read too, so I feel guilty for rereading. But then I think…books are supposed to be for enjoyment right?! So I’m gonna enjoy them. 😂
Loved reading all your thoughts on re-reading, Cait! Some of my fave books to reread are the Harry Potter books and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Also my memory is like a sieve, so it it like reading a totally new book sometimes!
Awesome post, lovely! <3
Megan @ http://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/
Yesss we are twins in our sieve memories *hi fives* 😂 Although it totally means we’re more easily amused right?! Because we can just keep reading the same stuff ah hahha. (LARA JEAN IS SO CUTE I WANT TO ALWAYS REREAD THOSE BOOKS.)
Okay, funny story (I think). Last week a friend called me and asked if I might be interested in seeing A Wrinkle In Time on opening weekend. I immediately said yes and then told my friend I had been considering rereading the novel anyway as it was a childhood favorite. After I got off the phone, I went hunting through my bookshelves and found my beloved copy–the one with the bodiless head floating in space with the creepy red eyes. I wandered back to the office, proudly announced that I was rereading this beloved classic to prepare for the movie and I was shocked it was only 190 pages. (Most books I read are 300+.) Anyway, he wasn’t interested in my excitement.
Fast forward to Tuesday night, I’m laying bed reading A Wrinkle in Time. My husband wanders in the bedroom and notices that I’m rereading a book when I own 100s of books I have read and promptly asks, why are you rereading that? Then he observes that it isn’t very long and that he thought it was longer.
And rereading is good and find. My favorite reason #2 on your pros list. I like revisiting old friends.
Omg a Wrinkle In Time is only THAT BIG?!??? I seem to remember it being huge too.😂 But I also read it…omg maybe even 10 years ago?! Sheesh I need a reread (and I’m so excited for the movie eeep). But I figure: Hey if reading is supposed to be our enjoyable hobby, we should just read whatever we want. No shame or guilt!😂
Haha relate on the forgetting everything and being like reading a new book xD I love rereading and finding new things/foreshadowing you missed the first time 🙂
Noticing the foreshadowing is EPIC. It makes me appreciate authors’ talents so much more.😂
The accuracy of this list hit me right in the feels … and the TBR pile. Whyyyy do you have to remind me of that? Ugh. I don’t reread books as often as I’d like, even though I see them on my shelf and think, “Hm, I’d really like to reread that.” Probably because I have a memory the size of a thimble and conveniently, just like a thimble, it’s also full of holes. Yay!
There are two books I really want to reread this year. One is the Sea Wolf by Jack London, because I read it when I was, like, 12. What, is it not totally normal for a 12-year-old to read that?! (Ha, actually, I wouldn’t recommend it. It was pretty … erm … adult?) I also really want to reread Song of Fire by Joseph Bentz because I loved it when I was around 12 and I have no idea why. Also, The Giver is actuay a series! Did you know that? I totally did not until one of my Goodreads friends recommend it, which means I now need to reread the first two books (yes, two, because I apparently read the second one without even realizing it was part of a series or related in any way to The Giver because I’m oblivious).
Also, now I feel I should go work on either gaining nine lives like my cats or figure out that time tree thing…
I REMIND US ALL CONSTANTLY OF OUR TBR PAIN. IT IS OUR AFFLICTION TO BEAR. *sobs with you* And omg I’ve given up on actually conquering my TBR so right now it’s just about how much I can read before it kills me. 😂 Logical for sure.
I read some Jack London book when I was around 12 too, but I have no idea what it was…Call of the Wild?? It was about a wolf?? Lmao. Who needs to remember things. YES I LOVED THE GIVER! But I didn’t know it was a series until recently (the rest of the books are so good right?!)
I used to be hesitant to re-read stuff, but I noticed that whenever I was struggling with my anxiety, I tended to gravitate towards comforting narratives I had already read before. I say, read whatever makes you happy, regardless of what form or length it takes. On the other hand, I will point out that your re-read list is suitably ambitious, I mean, I’m sure you’ll pull it off, but try not to push yourself too hard 🙂
Absolute agreement! I had a super anxious/stressful 2017 and coincidentally that’s when I started really adoring rereading. I know I’m in for a story I enjoy and I don’t have to stress about not knowing what’s happening. (But lmao my reread list is ridiculous.😂Someone is operating as if there are 19 more hours per day.😂)
I misspell my name (especially my last name) all the time, unfortunately. Which then makes it difficult for me to get others to spell it correctly since my last name isn’t the easiest thing to spell.
I am 100% a rereader. I love rereading. But it stresses me out with so many books to read that I just wind up putting it off… I’ve been meaning to reread Game of Thrones for a couple months now!
RELATE. 😫 My nephew has a hard last name to spell (it’s German haha) and I was trying to sign him up for a library card, but between the two of us we couldn’t get it so we’re like “oh well, we’ll try again later”. 😂😂
I’m so glad you’re a rereader too!! (Also the Game of Thrones audios are fantastic if you’re into audios!)
My last name is German as well! People come up with some crazy spellings of it, especially over the phone. At least it’s entertaining (although slightly annoying when I’m in a rush)!
I am nowhere near patient enough for audios most of the time, but those might be helpful for long drives… and I would finally learn how to pronounce some of the names!
Ah, those fun German names.😂It’s funny because my last name is also German but super simple and then my nephew over there has like 50 millions vowels and I don’t even know what order it all goes in, SOMEONE SAVE ME.😂
(Also I listen to audios on 2 x the speed.😂 I’m not patient enough for any slower.)
I would like to reread some of my favorite books but I do have the fear that I won’t love it as much and that my other TBR will kill me XD But I do love it so I hope to fit in some this year!
The fear is a big problem blehhh. 😂 I have SO many books I’d reread that I used to love in my wayward youth, but I’m too worried.😂
I’m making it a goal this year to reread at least one of my favourite books. I don’t usually reread books because there’s sooooo many new books to read for the first time. Maybe I’ll let myself reread a book after I’ve read a bad one.
I know right?! The agony of to-reread-or-not-to-reread is real!!
So this debate has been going in my head and outside my head for close to a year now and has literally halted all reading altogether because I can’t make up my mind if I’m losing time rereading but I don’t want to read the newest book in a series, because, like you, my memory is very holey even if I use synopsis finds on the web to review what’s happened part of me just wants to experience all those little moments that cause feelings that you won’t get from a freaking review. And then I realize that instead of this year-long debate that is still going on I could have been reading this entire time and probably reread those plus some making my argument nil that rereading takes away from new books time.
So I google “Should you reread books?” and I find this amazing blogpost! Firstly I realize I’m not the only one out there struggling with a faulty memory. I beat myself up about this all the time! How can I, as a chemistry researcher and professor survive with such a memory?! I loved your post and it’s bookmarked!
Now should I reread? Haha! I’m always telling myself to do what I want and not worry about the rest but even in videogames I can’t do it. The current series I’m debating is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I had read up to Queen of Shadows before the rest came out. Now I own all 7 books in the series for close to two months and I just can’t bring myself to start. I like how you said that rereading is good for anxiety. My anxiety has been off the charts this month, which this probably isn’t helping, but I forget that years ago I reread this one series I loved like 6 times in a row because it was safe and comfortable and I needed to remember that! So THANK YOU!!!!!