Do you re-read books? I have been on a re-reading bent recently and gone through half a dozen of my favorites: the Fever series, Fate's Edge, The Last Light of the Sun, Sunshine. I am perfectly happy re-reading any book I don't dislike, so if I gave it 3 stars, I'm probably willing to read it again.
However, I realize that's not the case for everyone. I have some friends who will read a book once and then never pick it up again, no matter how much they liked it. That makes me sort of sad. I see something new every time I read a book, whether it's the second time or the twenty-second. Plus, I still enjoy it.
It's not always good to re-read books. The first time I read Twilight, I enjoyed it, but when I went back to re-read it, I felt like Cookie Monster being offered vegetables.
Except that they were vegetables disguised as cookies. And I liked the first one. Um. I think I may have stretched this metaphor a little too far, but you get the idea. The fluffier the book, the fewer times I can generally re-read it.
Before I joined Goodreads, discovered the book blogging world, and started a blog of my own, the vast majority of my pleasure reading was devoted to the same fifty or so books, just because I didn't know what else was out there. I don't think I could go back to that. Re-reading is great, but I've gotten to used to lots of new books in my life, and since they're usually from the library or NetGalley, my wallet is even okay with that. But every once in a while, I need a break from the read/review/read/review cycle, and that's when I pick up an old favorite.
When do you re-read books? Do you re-read a lot of books or just a select few? What are your favorite re-reads?
I like the idea of re-reads! I always say I'm going to..but there are just so many books out there! I always have something new to read that I never have time to re-read.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Tiff. There's so much out there I always feel bad taking a break, but on the other hand, I think I sometimes need re-reads to relax :)
DeleteI feel you on Twilight. I read it when I was a freshmen in high school and liked it. I reread it when I was a senior and was disappointed in my past self. I don't typically reread books. I get bored easily and can't get into it if I know how it ends. There are a few exceptions. The Outsiders, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Ally Carter book come to mind.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who say the same thing about not enjoying books when they know the ending, which I can definitely understand. And you reminded me that I need to read To Kill a Mockingbird soon! :D
DeleteNot all the time but sometimes. I'm re-reading Divergent and City of Fallen Angels before I read Insurgent and City of Lost Souls. Mostly just because I want to refresh my memory. I generally re-read previous books in a series before a new one comes out. I've re-read all the Morganville Vampires books and the Harry Potter books. I've read Pride and Prejudice many times.
ReplyDeleteI'm not likely to re-read a book that I didn't give five stars to. I prefer to spend the time discovering new reads!
Re-reading books right before the next one in the series comes out is a great idea. With authors often having a year or so between books, it's way too easy to forget what happened, and then you're really confused at the beginning of the new one. I do that a lot too.
DeleteI reread a lot when I'm in certain moods - if I'm in a slump, or upset and need a pick me up, I'd sometimes rather go back to a book I know can make me laugh (Terry Pratchett is generally a good fix for any bad mood) than try to get invested in something I'm not familiar with. I also try to reread before reading the next in the series if it has been a REALLY long time (more than 2 years or so). For me it really depends on how good the book was in the first place. I often find myself going back and saying to myself "why the eff did I put up with THAT???" Some though, I could reread millions of times and never have it get old. My copy of The Neverending Story has a cover hanging on by mere threads, and yet I can't bring myself to get rid of it because I love it so much!
ReplyDeleteI think we have very similar re-reading styles! I often re-read books when I've just had a really long week or something and need a book that takes a little less effort, too. I actually had to get a new copy of A Wrinkle in Time because mine literally fell apart :)
DeleteI rarely re-read books. (Except for The Hobbit. That one gets re-read for some reason.) Tyler-Rose, however, is an avid re-reader. :)
ReplyDeleteWe're back from our blog hiatus, by the way! Also: A) I LOVE your new blog design, and B) Cookie monster made me laugh :)
Welcome back! I look forward to seeing lots more awesome posts on The Feather and the Rose :)
DeleteGlad you like the design! Hopefully I'll stick with this one for a while :P
I reread books all the time! Whenever I feel shaky or sad or upset for whatever reason, I use one of my favorites like comfort food. In fact, I choose what to reread based on what caused my foul mood. Sometimes I just get in a reading slump and reread to get out of it.
ReplyDeleteI recently reread the Kate Daniels series (again) just because I felt like it.
I'm kidding, it was because of Curran. :D
That's interesting that you decide what to read based on the source of your mood! Sounds complicated ;)
DeleteAnd you don't need an excuse to re-read Kate Daniels :D
I am like you! I have been reading a lot all my life. But when I found goodreads and started marking all the books I have read, I realized that my list was shorter than it should have been based upon how much I read. The Reason: I literally read the same 50 books over and over. I mean, yes, I would pick up a new book for school, or go to the library and check out new books and read them, but when push comes to shove, I love beautiful stories, and I will go back to what is familiar to me. But I do spread them out haha--I try not to re-read a book within a year and a half time frame.
ReplyDeleteBut this year I have challenged myself to read at least 75 books I have never read (I am currently at 55! Go Me!) And it has been nice and new. But when I need a refresher, I will pick up an old favorite. =)
Haha, yeah, I did the same thing for a long time. A year and a half sounds like a pretty good break – maybe I should shoot for that :)
DeleteCongrats on reading all those new books!
Yes, I love re-reading! Especially the books I love: Harry Potter, Juliet Marillier's books and The book thief are the ones I re-read the most. Every time returning to the worlds and characters I fell in love with, is amazing! <3 I sometimes regret finding Goodreads, haha, because I see so many great books I want to read and I have - sometimes - a frustrated feeling that I can't read everything at the same time :p.
ReplyDeleteLike they say: so many great books, so little time. I wish I had a LOOOOT of money, so I could spend all my time on reading, haha.