Hey guys, today I am finally back with a discussion! This post might actually be an honest to God, miracle. I rarely write discussions because while I find it easy to think up topics, I find the act of writing the posts to be really daunting. So welcome to one of the only discussions you will see from me ever. Just kidding, I am really hoping to make more of an effort with discussions this year!
Remember to click on the covers to go to the Goodreads pages!
the pros
- familiarity
Re-reading books is something I love to do. Mainly for the nostalgia factor, especially if I’m reading a book from my childhood like the Door trilogy, Harry Potter series or Henry Hory Hobson. When I re-read these books now almost ten years later after having read them the first time I am hit with all these feelings, mostly happiness but, also sadness, they, more than anything else really show me how much I have been through in my life so far. They remind me upon every re-read of how much older I am getting (which should be more obvious, but somehow it’s not) and how bad my memory is lol.
I find that re-reading a book, particularly a favourite really helps me to get out of reading slumps!
- it’s fun
I mean come on, re-reading books is so much fun! You know, that feeling when you pick up an old favourite and you figure why not just re-read the first page for old nostalgia reasons and suddenly you’re 100 pages into The Philosopher’s Stone and why not just keep going? I mean, you can’t wipe that smile off your face so why not just keep going?
- you pick up on more stuff
I’m pretty sure that every time I pick up The Doors trilogy or Harry Potter I definitely re-discover some obscure plot element or I pick up more of the little things in the writing or background of the story and there is nothing more fun than that.
I know that while I read a lot while I was younger I did miss a lot of info from books so when I re-read older books nowadays it’s pretty much like reading a whole new book
the cons
- you could be reading other books
My inner monologue when re-reading a certain series: Why are you re-reading Harry Potter for the 15th time when you could be reading pretty much anything else? You literally have whole shelves of unread books, what are you doing with your life? Get your priorities straight!
- you feel guilty
Ahh, how my guilt shines through in my inner monologue!
I’m coming to terms with my love for re-reading but I often still feel guilty! Usually, it all comes down to whether or not I want to prioritise a book I usually read every 2 or 3 years or whether I want to re-read a brand new 2018 release!
- you might end up hating it
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IF I RE-READ A BOOK OR GOD FORBID, A FAVOURITE AND I END UP HATING IT???
This is my worst fear with re-reading books. I love books pretty intensely so, what happens if I hate a book? How am I supposed to react to that?
oh my god this is the realest post i have ever seen in my young life. i love/hate rereading so hard and this is the PERFECT ENCAPSULATION OF WHY
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Haha, I’m glad you enjoyed it, Emma! I feel the same way. I generally love re-reading but I also always feel guilty because I could be reading a new release or tackling my tbr but no… here I am re-reading Alex Rider again.
Your comment has made my day so thank you! ❤️❤️
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I don’t reread many books but I’d like to get into the habit!
Your post did inspire me to want to pick up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
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You definitely should! It’s always a fun way to get back into a world that you love!
Oh, I’m so glad! I loved it and as soon as I finished it I convinced my mum to read it and she’s loving it as well! I hope you enjoy it!! ❤️
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I still reread a lot of classics that I love, but I reread a lot more modern books, including rereading series before a new book was released, when I was a kid and had fewer books to choose from. My parents took me to the library, but not every week or anything. A lot of times if I wanted to read something, I had to read something I already owned, so things got reread. Now that I can go to the library or buy a book whenever I want, I reread fewer books
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Exactly, I struggle nowadays with longer series, but I do try to read the first books before a new book in a series comes out! Exactly, I was in a similar situation so I read many of the same books over and over. I know how you feel, now that I am able to just take myself to the library or get gift cards from friends I can just buy a book and my experience has shifted pretty dramatically.
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I LOOOOOVE rereading faves, but at the same time, I do it so rarely because I always have ARCs and other TBR books to get around to. When I was younger, though, and just read all willy-nilly from whatever I found at the library and used bookstores and such? Man, I reread stuff CONSTANTLY!
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I know how you feel! As a kid, I used to re-read so many books, but now I rarely fit them in because of arcs and new releases being such a big priority for me now!
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I love rereading! It can be really hit or miss, but even if it’s bad it’s funny to see the kinds of books I use to enjoy as a teenager
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Exactly! I plan on re-reading Twilight sometime in the next couple of years just to see what on earth I was thinking when I first read it!
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I could reread Hunting Prince Dracula forever, I love it so much! I totally get that feeling of “you could be reading new books” too, but REREADS ARE FUN (and sometimes necessary because I forget things oops)
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So could I! I absolutely loved it when I read and then re-read it earlier this year!
Exactly, it’s a sour feeling when you’re reading a fave but still feel bad because you might be neglecting your tbr! Haha, yes, re-reads are fun and that should be all that counts!
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I Loveeee rereading books! Even if I end up with a different view on it, it’s magical that books can do that in my opinion 🙂
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I’m so glad! I think it’s probably a good thing to re-read a bok and end up with a slightly different view on it, it just shows that you’re growing as a reader! I know that every time I re-read Pride and Prejudice I end up with a different opinion on Mr Darcy which is always fun to debate with my mother!
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I haven’t been able to reread a book in a LONG time. But I want to! I just finished reading Obsidio and I can’t wait to reread the Illuminae Files, haha. I also want to reread Simon V.
I did just listen to the Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, which is kind of a reread, since I’d already read it. But listening to it was so different, and I LOVED it.
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Haha, it’s a sucky feeling! I hope you enjoy Obsidio, I’ve heard amazing reviews on it!
You should definitely reread Simon Vs, especially before or after you see the film) if you plan on seeing it), it’s one of my favourites to re-read!
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Great Post! 🙂
I looove rereading and especially Simon VS. is a book I enjoy rereading frequently, as it’s just this good 🙂 However, especially with old favorites I’m always a bit nervous to reread them, as I’m afraid my tastes might have changed and I might hate the book now 😮
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Thank you! ❤️
I’m so glad, I love re-reading too! I try to re-read Simon Vs at least every year because it’s such a fun book! Have you seen the movie? I know how you feel, I always feel so nervous when I go to re-read an old favourite because I don’t want to dislike it, especially since I’m enjoying different types of book genres as I get older!
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