Re-reading is an interesting phenomenon. What motivates us to read something that no longer offers the element of surprise or suspense or novelty or newness?
Tell us what book (or series) you've re-read and then offer a thoughtful reason for your decision to do so (beyond "I really liked it"). Then tell us how the second reading experience was different from the first. Did you react differently? Notice different plot elements? Pay more attention to things previously overlooked? Enjoy it more? Enjoy it differently?
Since your chosen book is unlikely to be one of our course texts, you don't need to cite pages or include specific quotes, but include enough details to make your point clearly. Avoid broad generalizations (which are such a bore to read and say nothing in the end except blahblahumblahblahwellblahblaherblahblah). "I noticed more scenery details" is one such yawner-of-a-statement.
If you have never re-read a book, tell us what book you might consider re-reading and why, based on our classroom discussions about fiction, narrative, characters, donegality, and more.
Comments are due by midnight on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14th.
I think what motivates us to re-read a book even if it no longer gives us a surprise is because it speaks to us personally, or in other words, creates an emotional response from ourselves because we have personally connected with the book.
ReplyDeleteA book that I have often re-read (4 times!) is Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I always love re-reading this book whenever I have the time, or even just re-reading some of my favorite chapters because I always find a personal connection with the main character, a boy who basically begs his parents for two hunting hounds. It’s not because I want hunting dogs too or the fact that dogs are my favorite type of animal, but just the adventure that this boy goes through with these dogs and the friendship he builds with them too. I really admire the way the character treats his dogs and the bond that he has with his two pups. It’s so heart-warming and very touching when it comes to the family relationships of the main character and his relationship with his grandfather too. Near the end, there is such a sad ending and a sad farewell between the boy and his dogs. I think that is also one of the reasons why I loved this book so much because it was such a bitter sweet ending.
The second reading experience is definitely different from the first. The first reading was mainly just me following the plot of the book and wondering what would happen next, and being very joyful when good things happen, or even feeling upset due to circumstances in the book. However, the second time reading the book, I feel like that is when I really could enjoy the book without ever wondering “oh, are the dogs going to be okay? Is the grandfather going to die? Etc etc”. The second time reading the book I felt that I could tie it to my own experiences of when I felt the same way as the main character. For example, I feel like I can really connect with the main character. I’ve never had my own puppy before and have always wanted one since I was young. I remember begging my parents for one but because my sister is allergic I could never have my own. In the beginning of this book, I remember the narrative (main character) describing his desire for hunting dogs as well. He was so obsessed at one point, he would even dream about the dogs. Reading that struck me because I felt the same way, maybe not as much as the main character, but I knew how he felt as well. As for noticing different things in the book, I did notice many references to Indian History and many recurring themes such as friendship/family, Man’s relationship to dogs, dedication and loyalty. I definitely enjoyed the book more after the second reading because I feel like, during the first reading, I was constantly worried about what was going to happen next.
In general, I have a great affinity for Fantasy books. I reread these sorts of books all the time. I've reread the Harry Potter series countless times. A few other books that I always go back to are the Inheritance Cycle, Eon, Eona, Percy Jackson Series, and the Chronicles of Narnia. Why do I go back through the same books over and over again? Sometimes, it's really just for comfort. I have certain connections with certain books based on what was happening in my life when I was reading them. The first time I read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, it was over the summer, and I was taking care of a 62 year old lady who had terminal brain cancer. Really I just hung out with her during the day and made her lunch and helped her to the bathroom, while her roommate was at work. We had a lot of down time though, so I would read aloud to her. Sometimes she couldn't remember what had happened, so I would have to go back a few chapters and read through it again. Now, when I reread that book, I see Judy, and I remember quirky comments that she would make after certain sections, or how she laughed at nearly everything Ron said. (He was her favorite character.) That book is never just about the magical wizarding world for me.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, when I'm rereading a Fantasy book, it's just because I want a thrill. There are a lot of times that I feel like there has to be more to this world, and Fantasy books are a great way for me to escape into that kind of world where good always wins, and there's never a boring day. Eon is a great book to read when I'm feeling like this. It's about a girl who everyone really thinks is a boy. She's only about 12 in the book, before puberty has hit, and she has a gimp hip from getting hit by a cart early on in life, so nobody looks at her too closely. She is chosen as an Ascendant Dragoneye, which is basically to say that she is chosen to take on the power of one of the 12 dragons. She feels trapped though, a feeling that I think a lot of us can relate to at one point or another.
Each time I read the book, I catch something new. The culture described within it is very like the Ancient Chinese Dynasties. There are a lot of references that are connected with Chinese culture. Colors are a huge theme! The twelve dragons are all modeled after the Chinese Zodiac (Rat, horse, ox, dragon, tiger, etc.) If you do any research into the Chinese Zodiac, you can see certain characteristics from the Zodiac show up in the Dragoneyes. The first time you go through and read, you get too wrapped up in all the plot and excitement to really notice all the small details from Chinese culture in general. As you read more and more, these details pop out at you and give you a much greater insight.
There are almost always more aspects and angles to a story than you see at first glance. When you go back and reread, even if it's just to feel that same thrill of adventure, you gain deeper insight into the characters and understand themselves, as well as their desires, much more thoroughly. Besides, when you're reading for the second time, you are less worried about your characters not surviving and able to bask in the radiance of their moments.
I am a giant fan of Stephen King books. I have read most of his novels and short stories. I enjoy his storytelling just as much as the horror genre. He is key holed as an author who only writes scary novels and that is not true. However it is his horror novels that I enjoy reading more than once. The first thing I noticed about rereading his books is he often gives you little hints about what is going to happen. When you don't know where the story is going it is much harder to pick up on these. The second thing I pick up on is a lot of Kings books make reference to other books he has written. So since the first Stephen King book I read was a collection of his short stories titled "Everything's Eventual," he made several reference to some of his popular novels written before this was published. There were hidden extras that made reference to books like "The Shining" "Salem's Lot" and even to his pen name "Richard Bachman." So the second time I read "Everything's Eventual" was after I read many of his other works so I got a lot more out of it. That is one way King rewards his "Dear and Constant readers." I also will make sure to read one of my few favorite horror novels by King, around this time every year. I like getting into the Halloween spirit and no matter how many times I read a book like Salem's Lot, despite knowing what is going to happen, I still get the same feeling I got the first time. These books continue to give me the creeps and that is why I really enjoy reading them over and over, especially around Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI believe that re-reading a book is beneficial even if you are aware of what is to come because each time one reads a book they pay attention to different details. It is the same as getting to know a person. Just because you’ve met someone doesn’t mean you know everything about them, therefore you continue interactions with them to learn more. This is the same for books. It takes reading a book two or three times at least to understand everything happening in it, obvious details or not.
ReplyDeleteThis was the case for me and The Silver Chair. Though I was required to read this book for this class, I thoroughly enjoyed more the second time around. When I first read it I didn’t like it in the slightest but I think it’s because I didn’t understand it like I do now. I do think a big part of it was that I was younger when I read it the first time therefore I looked over many important details. This time I understood a lot more because I was older and I caught more of the references to the other Narnia books. Honestly I didn’t remember much about this book other than not liking it, but I definitely noticed hidden significant moments such as the interactions with Aslan and the symbolism behind them. Before I never would have thought anything of the scene where Aslan has a rock pierced into his paw or the resurrection scene. Especially after our class discussions I want to read this book yet again and see what details, references, and symbolism I can pick up for myself, as well as re-read the rest of the Narnia books in the right order to see what I get out of them.
I do not typically re-read books. The only books I can think of that I have read more than once is the Harry Potter series. I had no reasoning behind reading them again other than simply because I thoroughly enjoy reading them. I never failed to get caught up in the suspense and magic of Hogwarts. I was definitely one of those children who anxiously awaited an owl bringing news of my acceptance to Hogwarts.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I feel like the list of books I want to read is endless and continually growing, so I would rather experience new books than go back to the same ones. With this class, however, I feel that I have been introduced to a whole new way of reading books. It is rare that I read books and analyze the deeper meanings and connections that are just beneath the surface of the text. Given what I have learned so far this semester, I can see that reading a book just once is really not enough to take in all the book has to offer. When re-reading a book you do so with new eyes. You have a general idea of the characters and the plot and thus you can delve deeper into the other ideas the author wanted to get across. I have come to realize that good authors are nothing short of brilliant. C.S. Lewis, whether you like his novels or not, builds layer upon layer of intertwining ideas about humanity, society, religion and much more. Before, I avoided re-reading books, but now I feel that it is essential. There is much more to a story than just words and now that I know how to look for it, there are quite a few books I can see myself reading again.
There are a great number of books that I have reread, and I’m sure will read again and again. I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult, so pretty much anything she writes I read a number of times, because every time I read it I get something new out of it. Of course while I was in high school I was a huge fan of the Twilight series and I found myself after watching the newest movie that was out, wanting to reread the series because I was reminded just how much I enjoyed the books. However, the books that I have read the most are the Harry Potter series.
ReplyDeleteI have read the first 4 books in the Harry Potter series probably about 5 times because every time I read them it takes me back to being younger and being so inclined in the magical world. The first 4 books are happier books and have a great deal of wonderful adventures. The last few books I’ve just read a few times because they aren’t as happy, but more dark. I know for me when I start reading Harry Potter I feel a great comfort and feel as if I’m returning home, although unfortunately I will never be able to be a student at Hogwarts, the world created seems so real and welcoming. While reading a book for the first time I feel that the reader is more focused on the event and the actual story but the second time through emotions are ignited and that causes the reader to savor these emotions. Reading a book for a second time can allow the reader to uncover new ideas that they didn't see the first time around.
I reread books more than I read new books. The Harry Potter series are my favorite books and that’s a bit cliché, but it’s true. I have reread each one about eight times. My other favorite series to reread is called Pellinor (The Naming, The Riddle, etc.). There’s also probably about 20 books that I reread on a regular basis – my go -to books when I have nothing else to read at the time.
ReplyDeleteOne main reason I love to reread books is because I love the characters so much. You go through triumphs and struggles, get to know so much about them, and get so attached to them when you read books. As cheesy as it sounds I almost feel like I am close friends with them. And the only way to go ‘hang out’ with the characters again is to reread the books. On the same point kind of, I reread the books to revisit the places where they take place. I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy fiction, and you have to go back to the book to go back to those amazing other worlds/places. I find that reread especially has purpose in series books whenever new books are written. I always have to reread the previous books in a series when a newer book is coming out, so that I don’t forget anything that happened before and I am ‘ready’ for the new adventure. I did this just this last summer when the last book in the Inheritance Series came out. When I reread I am never bored. Even though I already know what is going to happen, I still go through all the same emotions that I did the first time I read. Maybe even more so because I have a larger attachment to it/realize more than I did the first time. I don’t really think it’s very different from rewatching a movie that you really love, or listening to a song more than once. Even though the element of surprise is gone, it doesn’t change the fact that it is an amazing movie or song. And if something is amazing and you love it, why wouldn’t you want to enjoy it for a second or third or 12th time?
I think it’s a different experience each time I read a book again. Depending on what is going on in my life at the time, I relate and find different meanings within the text. My feelings about certain people and events change too as I reread. Especially books with plot twists at the end; once I finish it, rereading it knowing the secrets I do now makes the book completely different. There’s also the added benefit of noticing really awesome things that I didn’t before. I pick on character traits or foreshadowing that I didn’t before. There’s also some hidden cool things like when Rowling mentioned in passing the locket or the diadem in earlier books but they didn’t come into play until the end.
Though I have considered it on many occasions, I have never re-read a book. In general, I read books for the ‘page turning’ story quality, and once I have heard how the book ends all the interest in it is over for me. That being said, I have re-watched movies I hadn’t seen in a while, and often rediscover forgotten plot details, so perhaps I would get some enjoyment out of re-reading a book that I enjoyed in the past.
ReplyDeleteIf I had an unlimited amount of time, I would absolutely love to re-read the Harry Potter series. When people ask me what my favorite books are, I mention Harry Potter. However, now that I think about it, I probably forget a large percentage of their content! What a shame.
I remember when the Harry Potter movies were coming out, and the books were still relatively fresh in my mind that I would often say “the books are soooo much better than the movies.” This is because reading a book allows you to visualize the details the author provides in any way you choose. This makes for a much richer story than if you are viewing the details on the screen. When watching a movie, you focus so closely on the plot and the suspense, that you easily miss the subtle details of the characters personalities, or the scenery, architecture, etc. in the story. These details are what made the Harry Potter series great, and therefore made them my favorite books.
Nobody can argue that the Harry Potter series are incredible works of fiction. The characters are relatable, but fantastic and magical, which allows a reader to escape from their daily life. I would love to revisit this magical world.
I have tried re-reading numerous books before, but I have never managed to finish re-reading one. I become bored because I already know what happens, and I am primarily interested in reading a book because of the adventure and excitement taken from them. I struggle re-reading books because I do not care that much about finding details, or experiencing different emotions not discovered the first time.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose, I would consider re-reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. I remember reading this series back in middle school. These books were the first series I have ever read and they were amazing. Something about the unique stories drew me in. Snicket writes about very depressing events that happen to three siblings. The characters in her books are young children, but they are brilliant. They find themselves in many predicaments and always seem to solve their problems, but run into more troubles.
I would also consider re-reading this series because of the descriptive details put into the plots. Snicket has a “page-turner” talent. Each of these books took me no more than a few days to read. The excitement of the plots in these books would encourage me to re-read them.
I have never re-read a book; it is a miracle if I read a book all the way through the first time. With so many other things to do now, I have gone away from reading books like I did in my childhood. I think the main reason I have never re-read a book though is because of the lack of suspense that was mentioned in the blog prompt. I love reading mystery books and books with good adventure storylines and it ruins it if I already know how they are going to end. With that being said though, I would consider re-reading The Silver Chair. This book, along with many books I have read for classes over the years, I really liked but when I am put on reading schedules of so many chapters per day it ruins the flow and excitement of the story. I could read ahead, but I don't have time with classes and I don't want to bring up something that is in a later chapter and ruin it for those that haven't read ahead. Really getting into the story and reading for hours on end because I am so engrossed in it is something I would love to do if I had the time.
ReplyDeleteThe qualities that make The Silver Chair an ideal candidate for a re-read, besides the fact I only read it for a class, are the fantasy world it depicts and the colorful characters. Fiction, first of all, is so addicting to read about for me because it takes me away from the real world to a world where anything is possible. That is done beautifully in The Silver Chair with its descriptions of Narnia and believable accounts of the giants and gnomes. Puddleglum, as was mentioned in the prompt, along with Jill and Eustace are great, deep characters and I think would keep my attention enough despite some of the suspense missing. So for right now I would consider The Silver Chair at the top of the list of books from classes to re-read. We’ll see if I actually have the time to re-read it in the near future.
One series I would like to re-read again is the trilogy of The Giver, Gathering Blue and The Messenger by Lois Lowry. After I originally read The Giver, it took me a few years to read the sequels. By the time I got around to the second and third book, I already forgotten important details from the previous ones. What makes me want to read this series again is that, there is that when reading, each book felt like its own individual story. Each of the books focused on one village and their way of life. It is not until the end of the series did I realize how much the three books are intertwined with each other. When I first read The Giver I was about 10 and did not have any appreciation for books. Looking back at it now, I think its fascinating how each of these books describes an “ideal” community, though as the reader I was disgusted with disbelieve, and wondered how such a community would even exist. I want to re-read these books because I think that with the knowledge I have gained over the years, re-reading would allow me to understand and open my mind to parts I missed the first time around.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, I think that this series of book would make for a fantastic movie. I do understand though, why film markers would have a hard time producing it. The content of the movie would be hard to put in a PG-13 movie, and be aimed towards a wide age rage.
The book I’ve probably re-read the most would be To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. My grandmother gave it to me when I was about 12 for my birthday and the first time through, I hated it. The plot didn’t pique my interest or my pre-teen taste in books. So back it went onto the shelf, until I was required to read it again for my English class my freshman year of high school. By then, I had developed a slightly better taste in literature and the second time around was much better. Even then, the book didn’t quite excite me. I then read it my own for a third time and was hooked; now I reread it about once every year. Knowing the end of the story allows me to better focus on plot as it is laid out. Slowing down my reading pace gives me the benefit of better analyzing relationships, like the mother-daughter one between the black maid, Calpurnia, and the storyteller, Scout. Reading a book more than once also helps to bring out little details. For example, Miss Maudie Atkinson, who is a friendly neighbor, is proposed to every Christmas time by Scout’s uncle. It wasn’t until about the fourth read through (and even then, someone else pointed it out to me) that I realized Miss Atkinson had been married in the past. She is a young widow. The plot never mentions any of her background, but it is little details like that that help make all the characters feel more real for me. In my eyes, To Kill a Mockingbird is a lot like an onion. I peel back the next layer and see something new every time I read it. The story has a strong message about justice and how people perceive others. I like that I know where the story is going and I can ride out on the adventure with Scout knowing how everything will turn out in the end. I re-read because I like the feelings a book with a strong message can give me, over and over again. Even if they are not good feelings; I feel embarrassed right along with Scout when she is scolded by her teacher Miss Caroline or when she discovers the truth about the (supposed) town drunk Mr. Raymond.
ReplyDeleteI am a major fan of re-reading books. I love to read in general so just getting a chance to re-experience the excitement within a book makes me very happy. One of my favorite books that I have re-read was a book by Sharon Draper called The Battle of Jericho. This book is about a group of high school students who are on a pursuit to join a prestigious group called the Warriors of Distinction. This group was the group to be apart if you wanted popularity at their high school but it was a very rigorous process to join. This book brings to light a lot thing that go on in high school such as peer pressure, the desire to fit in and young love. This book is the first in a trilogy.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why I love this book so much and have re-read it so many times is because of all of the action going on within the story. Every time I re-read this story I find a new fact that alludes to some of the things that are brought to light in the later books in the trilogy. It has a truly surprising and sad ending that kind of makes me cringe every time I come to it. This book keeps you on your toes throughout the entire story. Another reason I really love to read this book is because I can relate to a lot of the things going on in it even as a college student. It’s an awesome read and I will definitely recommend it to anybody.
I have never been much of a reader do to the fact that it takes me much longer to read than other people. So, I have never re-read a story. There are multiple books that I enjoyed reading for school and on my own that I would like to revisit if I had the time. Many books that I like to read are girly books or books about the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteI would re-read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because there are four different characters that each has their own personality. It is easy to get caught up in their lives and see what will happen next. My favorite character in this book is Bridget just because we have similar personalities. Also, I am part of a group of girls that is separated but still we remain best friends. I think what would draw me to read the story again is that I can pick out parts that happened to me and my friends as well. It is like the book is about us; when we all went away to school but still come home on breaks and have sleepovers. In the book the girls separate for the summer to do different activities, but come back home and have a sleepover and nothing has changed between them. Also, in the book each girl meets a boy that they start to like and each person has a different outcome. I think being a girl and reading about a summer fling is fun because I wish it could happen to me. When a person knows that only those special romantic boys happens in books that is why they want to get lost in a book. They want to be that character one day.
I feel that watching a movie over and over again is the same thing as reading a book over and over again. Each time you see something that you did see before. Or you hear a funny line that you didn’t catch the first time because you were laughing. Just because the suspense is gone doesn’t mean a person doesn’t enjoy it. They are still getting lost in the plot and still finding all of the characters attractive. Also, each time you re-watch a movie or re-read a book it is easy to spot something new. Maybe how a character is saying his/her lines; before you may thought it just to be normal conversation but as a person looks at it again they may see that it was intended to be sarcastic or sad or dramatic. There will always be a reason as to why a person wants to get lost in a good book over and over again. Maybe they want to escape their bad life, or they just want to pretend they are the hero. No matter what the case is, re-read a favorite book over and over again is nice because you will always know the outcome and don’t have to be sad. You know it will end the way you want it to end, happily ever after.
Redeeming Love is a book I have read seven times. Francine Rivers writes this book as a modern day story using ideas from the Bible story of Hosea and Gomer. There are a few reasons I have reread the book so many times. The first reason is because of the impact the story had on my life the first time that I read it. The truths of true love shown throughout the story altered the way I viewed myself because of their extreme and repetitive nature. The basic story is of a girl who was abused and left to a man who sold her as a high priced prostitute, she grows up and a noble man comes and takes her away from the brothel. She runs away multiple times and refuses his love simply because she won’t allow herself to be vulnerable. She has a misconception that so many women have of themselves, she doesn’t believe she is worthy and cannot except that he would do something for her without expecting something in return. Although my circumstances were not as extreme as hers, I could relate with some of the feelings of unworthiness and hurt. The first time I read the book I had a revelation that no matter what my past is I am loved unconditionally by my Creator and that someone will be able to love me despite my flaws. When doubt and lies started creeping back into my head I often go back and reread this book because it still offers those same truths of grace, mercy, and redeeming love.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read the book I experience the same revelation of God’s relentless love and redemption. I had read the book multiple times and gained all of these truths but each time I read it the truths sink deeper into my heart and soul. There are some great literary qualities of this book that I could break down, like her use of description and vocabulary, and use as one of the reasons I read this book multiple times, but that is not the truth. I continue to reread this book because of the truth that it offers in a tangible real world way. I can relate to the feelings and lies that this world tells us as women and through reading this book I am shown truth and life that squashes those lies. This book remains my favorite because it provides truth which is the best thing a book can offer.
One of my favorite authors is Chuck Palahniuk, and I have read many of his books more than once. He has a way of including plot twists and unexpected elements that surprise me every time. One book that especially stands out is Invisible Monsters. Invisible Monsters is written in a unique way, like a fashion magazine where a story or article starts on one page and continues many pages later, with other stories in between. It is not chronological, but Palahniuk was able to introduce past, present, and future events with perfect timing to keep me captivated. The first time I read Invisible Monsters, I finished the entire book in one sitting. It was unexpected and original, I had never read anything like it, and the twists were shocking. I read it a second time within a week and was almost just as stunned by the level of insight and precision that I realized must have been involved in planning this book out, and by how details I assumed were insignificant and unrelated were actually intricate hints about the plot twists. The second time through, the element of surprise was still there but it was in a different form.
ReplyDeleteThere are also several other reasons that would motivate me to reread a book. I'm always sad when I finish books or series that have good, quality character development because I don't want them to be over, so sometimes I will reread a book just because of the simple fact that I enjoyed it, or so I can pick up on all the details I might have missed the first time. I'll also reread books when the authors are skilled with their words and include philosophical elements with an almost poetic flair that have meaning beyond their immediate context. Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, and Oscar Wilde are some of my favorites in this case, and in their books I always notice fascinating little quotes that say a lot more than they initially seem to.
I don’t re-read books very often, but I do have a favorite Harry Potter fan fiction I do reread from time to time. In a way I read all the Harry Potter books when I read it with a twist of course it is a fan fiction. It is called The Visitor. It pulls a young teacher from our world into the books of Harry Potter. When I re-read this story I would notice the foreshadowing and some jokes I didn’t get before.
ReplyDeleteI first read I get over excited and I want to get to the end to find out what is going to happen but when I re-read it I see the well placed hints. Sometimes when I do re-read it has been a sometime and I have forgotten parts and pieces to the story. I have re-read some of the Harry Potter books but not all. I remember that I didn’t like the 5th book so I have never re-read it but I have re-read the 3rd one about 5 times which for me is a lot. Sometimes I re-read because I read the books out of order (on accident most of the time) so I re-read the book I read out of order again to see if I get some of the things that where mentioned in the book.
-Paige Landis
I have been an avid reader since sixth grade so I have reread many books for different reasons. One of the main reasons I reread a book is because I like where it takes me. Maybe I just need to get away and in reality it isn't possible. If that is the case I turn to a collection of books. Depending on the reason I feel like I need to get away that will influence which book I turn to for another time. One series I have reread many of times is the Harry Potter series. Some of the books in the series I have reread more than others. When the newest book would be set for release I would find myself going back to the beginning of the series to relive and refresh the journey of Harry Potter thus far. Especially after the final book was published I went back to the beginning to look for clues and connections that had remained oblivious to me before the final book. JK Rowling in the final Harry Potter connected so many things through out the series in one book. A few of them changed my whole experience. For example Snape loving Harry all along. I had to go back from the begging and analyze their relationships to see any foreshadowing. I am not sure if I actually saw any or I just reread it with new eyes. There are many reason I reread books but the main is to re-experience the magic all again.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons that I read a book is to slip into a world that is different than my own; the reason that I re-read a book is because I really enjoyed slipping into a “new world.”
ReplyDeleteI am a typical girl who loves reading love stories; I especially love Nicholas Sparks’ books. The book of his that I find myself re-reading most often is A Bend in the Road. The reason that I find myself enjoying that the most is because of the characters and the “new world” in which the book takes place. Sparks portrays a small town city, of which I can relate to because I am from a small town, and two people whose lives have crossed before their first meeting. Though the book is extremely predictable, even while reading it the first time because of the three-act structure, I still enjoy the book just as much as the first time I read it. I still get lost in the book while I am reading it because of Sparks’ detail in the characterization; they are people in which anyone could meet on any given day that have faults just as everyone does. The fact that I can relate to the characters brings me back to the book each day, because I can be a part of their world without being the person going through the pain. It is the same reason that people watch movies over again, because it is something that evokes an emotion, but it is not one that they have to experience. I also notice many more details the second time reading the book, but the reason that I go back to the book is to go back to that “world,” in the case of A Bend in the Road, it is the characters’ love that brings me to re-read the book.
I love rereading books. The second time you read a book you see so many things that you missed the first time, so it feels like you are reading the book for the first time. I have reread numerous books in the past, but the one book that I have reread over and over again is the Twilight series. These books are either hated or loved and I love the books. I love the books, not so much the movies. I have read the whole series four times, maybe even more. The twilight serious is about a self-conscious young girl who falls in love a vampire, Edward. Bella has to try her hardest to keep this a secret from all of her friends and family. The twilight series has vampires and werewolves. Vampires and werewolves are enemies in the majority of the books. There is a love triangle that goes on during all the books.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I keep going back and rereading this series is because I feel like I can relate to Bella at times. Most people make fun of how weak Bella is. The reality is that most girls feel that way and when reading this series the reader can see how strong Bella becomes throughout all of the books. The Twilight series also takes you to a whole new world. The book might take place in Forks, Washington, but it also takes place in a fantasy world. Every time I reread this series I find out something new. When reading a book for the first time you miss a lot of details because you just want to know what happens in the end. When rereading them you can catch the details you missed the first time. I feel a different emotion every time I reread the series. The first time I read them I felt sad and jealous of the relationship Edward and Bella had. When I reread them I felt happier because I was truly happy with my life. I try to reread the book before the movie comes out. This isn’t always the best idea but I wanted to be reminded that the books are a lot better than the movies. Although these books are hated by many, I love to reread them over and over again.
There haven't been many books in my life time that I have really deemed needing to be reread more than that of Christopher Pike's series The Thirst (originally called The Last Vampire until Pike extended the series a few years ago with a new title). No book in the past has grasped me more into its meaning and relativity. Reading through it the first time I was more driven by the plot line and knowing the end event of each book. The second time I was reading I realized that there was more details that I didn't pick up on the first time or perhaps even forgotten. Especially about bits of information that I wasn't mature enough at the time to even pick up on.
ReplyDeleteDuring the second read through I picked up on all these things that I passed up the first time that made me realize that even though it was written as fiction that much of what was being read almost felt factual (or what I wish to be true). There is one scene that speaks of the seriousness of what HIV had on the Roman Empire and that the virus went away because it wiped out the population that contacted it. Relevance of serious problems in modern time was also suggested as one in the past. This scene had me extremely intrigued. It’s not recorded in history but felt like it could have been real. I think that another thing that makes this series such a good reread is that it's almost like that of child films (like Shrek) that become so involved with side bits of information that captivate every reader differently. It talks a lot of the main character’s life in history as a vampire living for centuries. Each separate story relates to her modern day experiences on the west coast of the United States.
But the overall theme of the book is of good over coming evil usually with the power of love. The main character herself is defined as an evil creature but overcomes who she is through good acts. This is perhaps the most captivating thing about the book for me; a vampire leads a life of good deeds with love always giving her the grace of God (with a bunch of kick-ass, thrilling, killing scenes thrown in.)
I really do not like reading in the first place, so to re-read a book seems boring to me. Once I have read a book I already know what is going to happen so I do not feel like I need to read it again. If I actually find a book that I am interested in I can not put it down, but that rarely happens. When I read a book I only look for the plot line and what will happen next. It is hard for me to see what the author was really meaning or if there is some hidden message.
ReplyDeleteIf I would re-read a book it would probably be Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. This book is a very simple read but it is such a true story. I feel like that an event like what happened in this book could happen to anyone, any day. It is so real that it made me see what could really be lost in every day life. It is a book that needs to re-read so I do not forget to appreciate the small things in life.
A series that I have personally gone back and read is the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Why do I rereading these books? I could say that it is because they are great books (which they are!), but I think the biggest motivation for me to do so is because I am in love with the characters. I love the quirkiness of the dragon, Temeraire. I love Captain Laurence's sense of honor (clichéd, I know). I also love Iskierka's literally fiery personality. Those are the core reasons why I love rereading these books. Sure, the story is interesting and the places they explore with people (and dragons) they meet are extraordinary, but I come back for my favorite characters of all time.
ReplyDeleteHow was my second reading of these books different from the first? Well I knew what was going to happen. That’s a given. However, for me, the best parts of the book that stood out become so much better. For example, when Temeraire is separated from his captain, Laurence, I still feel so sad for the suffering that he goes through. It may sound generic, but the feeling of sadness is so much more intense because I know how much they love each other. I know what they have yet still to experience, and it just plain saddens me to even think about them being separated.
I enjoy books differently compared to the first time versus rereading it. When I first read a book I have the experience of getting to know the characters, and learning their personalities. On the other hand, when I reread a book I do so to again experience the feelings that I developed for the characters. I think the difference between knowing the characters and meeting them for the first time makes has a huge impact when reading and rereading a book or series.
I have never read a book all the way through a second time, instead I find myself going back and reading certain parts that really stood out to me the first time. One of the books I find myself going back to a lot is Sherlock Holmes. I love Sherlock Holmes and all of his mystery stories. They really bring me in because they are suspenseful. The book I have is a collection of his stories and is HUGE, I have not ever gotten all the way through it. It is probably the hardest book I have ever read, because the dialogue is so confusing to follow. They talk like very intelligent people and are from a different era. That is another reason why the book is so good to me, I don’t fully understand it the first time I read it. I find myself spending a long time reading one page because I have to re-read it just to understand it. The language is so clever it really adds to the stories. It makes them more believable. The stories are so clever and keep you guessing the entire time you are reading them. I never fully understand what is going on until I get to the end. Because the stories are so detailed and hard to read, each time I go back to a certain story that I really liked, I notice more clues that I never picked up on the first time, or even second or third time around. I know that I will eventually finish reading all the stories, I just have to have time to do it because it does take me a very long time to get through one. Even though they are time consuming, I feel like I connect to the characters in a certain way, which makes them so enjoyable to read. I feel like I know Sherlock Holmes! It sounds funny, but when I am reading them I find myself thinking like Sherlock Holmes in everyday situations because I am so used to reading it!
ReplyDeleteRe reading a book is something that I love to do. While I mostly read fiction my favorite book that I have re read is the Stephen Ambrose book "Band of Brothers". Each time I read this book I seem to connect better and better with a different character then I did the time before. Don't get me wrong I have my favorite people in the book and they never really change but I find myself changing my opinions on others in the book. The other thing that I like about reading Band of Brothers again and again is that the battle scenes get clearer and clearer and more and more stressful for me. Reading it for the first time many details of what's going on during the fighting can be lost but the second time it's easier to follow and let your mind look at other things that are happening.
ReplyDeleteThe first time we read a story, we tend to race through it because we simply can’t restrain our anticipation to find out what happens. Subsequent re-readings are an opportunity to zoom out and see the big picture, the story as a whole--to notice relationships and symbols and pick up on less obvious connections that we didn’t notice the first time when we were powering through to reach the grand finale.
ReplyDeleteI think we come back time and time again to revel and bask in our favorite books predominantly because of our emotional ties to the books. We are drawn to books that we can learn something from, and stories about love, wisdom, strength, and the struggle of good and evil add rich layers to our understanding of what the human soul is made of. We develop bonds of loyalty to our favorite characters, and often we re-read because we want to know and understand these beloved characters on an even deeper level. Sometimes, we just love being in their presence. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of “The Catcher in the Rye”, is one of my favorite literary characters, even though his pessimism can be overpowering at times. Holden’s quest to sift the real from the phony and find a purpose in the often-confusing journey of life are something I can truly relate to, and I simply love his voice, his dialog, and the way he describes things. I’ve read the book at least three times now and his lines (especially some of the early ones from his conversations with Stradlater and Ackley, and about the hunting hat) can still make me laugh for five minutes straight. In a way, as with all people we admire, we also want to be like our favorite characters. I love and re-read “To Kill a Mockingbird” because I deeply respect Atticus Finch’s courage. I wish I could be strong enough to stand up in the face of injustice whenever its ugliness surfaces, even when that means standing alone.
Sometimes we re-read because the atmosphere we crave can only be found between the covers of our favorite books. I read “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe over and over, especially at this time of year, because the rhythm of the words and the eerie atmosphere they create literally make chills run down my spine. I keep coming back to the chapters about Lothlorien in The Two Towers because I love the purely magical setting that Tolkien creates in my mind as I read about the refuge of the elves….there’s not much I wouldn’t give to visit Lothlorien and board in a beautiful, golden-leaved mallorn tree.
I would argue that only certain books are re-readable. Only stories that provide readers with something more enduring than suspense will be reached for repeatedly. The authors of modern paperback thrillers (I don’t mean to disrespect these authors, and I truly enjoy reading their works, but I’ll call some of them out: James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark, and Dan Brown) seem to write to meet the demands of their audience, not because they have something deep within that they need to say or want to convey. In this sense, books by authors such as these are not “true” fiction. Modern authors of “rocket-fast reads” fill their books with psychologically deviant subject matter, sensual characters, and violence because they need to resort to the shocking, disturbing, and sexy to sell their stories as they are unable or unwilling to create more enduring emotional elements. And as their weeks at the top of the New York Times Bestseller List and multimillion-dollar earnings show, they definitely succeed at achieving their goal: the public is satisfied and constantly demands more of the same…for a single read-through, at least. When we already know the ending, these books no longer hold a charm for us because the immediate gratification of suspense is the only real merit they have. When an emotional connection with a book is missing, it will not be loved, craved, and re-read.
Interestingly enough, I do not recall ever re-reading a longer novel. It has crossed my mind to do so but I believe that the reason I have seemed to hold back on actually going through with it is that I find that if I am going to take the time to read a novel, it should be a new experience. Despite this, as I said before, the thought of re-reading a longer book has crossed my mind on a select few books. One such book I am greatly looking forward to reading again is The Hobbit. I was quite excited to learn that we would be reading this book during the course of the class because being able to re-live the adventure that Bilbo takes is something that I had wanted to do since I read it the first time. A book that I actually would like to re-read more than the Hobbit though, is a book titled, “An Island to Oneself.” This book is a true story about a man who decided to ditch his material possessions and the modern world in order to live on his own on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean with no real way to contact the outside world. Not only is the story true, it is written by the man himself, Tom Neale. A main reason I would love to re-read the book again is that it is quite a novel thought, to voluntarily leave the world you know behind to find adventure. The idea is something that I believe I would one day like to do, if only for a few weeks or so. It is a refreshing idea and novel that is filled with quotes that have stuck to me to this day. I also know that many quotations from the book I would love to write down because I did not do so the first time and is something that I like to do when I read now-a-days. For these and many other reasons, “An Island to Oneself” would most definitely be a book I would love to re-read again sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteIt is a rare occasion when I reread a book. I enjoy the element of surprise; of not having foreknowledge of what befalls our protagonists in their future. One I have revisited was The Silver Chair through our class. It had been over ten years since I last read the book, and I had read all the Chronicles in rapid succession so the plot of The Silver Chair had almost completely faded from my memory. I feel that I enjoyed it so much more the second time through. This last read through allowed me to appreciate The Silver Chair as almost a stand-alone story due to the time that had passed. The original children from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe were caricatures as I reread this book. I no longer cared about the fates of the original children; I could only focus on Jill and Eustace.
ReplyDeleteThere is one other possible circumstance in which I will reread a book. Books such as the A Song of Ice and Fire series are complex knots of plot points and self-references. Catching all of the foreshadowing or double meanings is simply not possible on the first read through. I plan to reread this entire series when the series is finally completed or if the waiting periods between the next few books are long enough.
Rereading books has only occurred a few times in my life. Perhaps not enough time has passed between books for me to reread them yet. I am sure nostalgia will win out and I will feel the nudge to reread some of my favorite books from Stephen King or maybe Dune by Frank Herbert as time passes.
I've read many series over again, and a quick skim through my Kindle will show over a dozen series that I keep close. A series that stands out here is Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, though there are many others, such as Rick Riordan's three separate series of ancient gods, Inheritance (Christopher Paolini), and the Gatekeepers and Alex Rider series (Anthony Horowitz). The Mortal Instruments stand apart from other series in how it's a very dark series. In this world, there are demons and other creatures from lore that exist and a group known as Shadowhunters exists to ensure they don't harm humans. Hunting monsters, much of the story occurs at night. But more than that it's just the tone is very dark in some places, as the characters' lives are in jeopardy more than once. I love reading this series because it shows a lot of the human character, even from the characters who aren't human. I feel like it teaches me more of how people react to situations and gives me a different view on life. The characters are all totally real people. Emotions run high, tempers flare, curveballs are thrown at the characters at the worst times and the reader is right in with them as they try to work through it.
ReplyDeleteThe supernatural aspect pulls me in almost as much as the characters and plot does. There's magic, angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, pixies, and many other creatures from popular lore. The main characters all have larger than life powers that develop more as the story goes on, and the bad guys get stronger and smarter through each book.
Most of all it's just a great story and pulls me in every time so I can never say “oh I'll just read for like an hour.” I lose track of time and just keep reading. I lose myself in the pages and live among the magic and danger for as long as I can before the real world calls me back.
• Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, the “Great American Novel” is one of my favorite books of all time. Even though it is the longest book I’ve ever read, I’ve re-read it several times over, as I pick up on new plot details every single time. To be honest, the first time I read it was simply to prove to my mother that I could, as she didn’t think I would like something so “deep.” Even though I was only reading it to prove a point, I found that I genuinely liked it. About a year later, when my history class was studying the Civil War, I decided that I would read this book again, so as to maybe get some more insight into the subject. I found that reading this work of fiction really helped me to understand the culture of the time represented in the text, and it helped me in my school work, too.
ReplyDeleteI also started noticing new things about the symbolism of certain aspects of the book, such as how Scarlett O’Hara’s resolve and determination to survive seemed to represent the persistence shown by each side fighting in the war. Despite everything that was happening in the war, people dying, losing family members, the North and South continued to fight for their respective sides. Scarlett showed the same persistence. Though her husband died, her mother and father died, and her family was nearly starving, she remained determined to keep her family’s land and house and not let anyone or anything take that away from her.
The strength shown by the main character in this book was very admirable to me, and I think is what caused me to re-read Gone With the Wind so many times.