I read Gone with the Wind for the first time in the seventh grade. Then I reread it in the eighth grade. Daddy fussed at me for this. “Why are you reading the same book again? You should read something else.”
I know he had a point, but I consumed it a second time, all the way to the ambiguous, 1,200-page end.
Because. I. Wanted. To.
By the way, the unsettling ending is probably one reason why I love the certainty of romance novels so much today! But Gone with the Wind is so all-absorbing and Scarlett so well drawn that I felt I knew her better than I knew myself. The second reading assured me that I hadn’t missed anything the first time. As you might imagine, because they had to leave out so much of the story, I found the movie to be a bitter disappointment.
I recommend revisiting books because in doing so, you learn much about yourself. A book that seemed incredible at one point in your life might sound silly, dated, and trite today. Or you might find that the book’s wisdom and/or story holds true.
You may have trudged through assigned reading for school with little care except to write the report or to pass the quiz. How about today? Would the same book bring you joy, or at least appreciation gained through maturity?
A man in my hometown, now deceased, read the Bible every year, well over 35 times. He said he never felt he read the same Bible twice. Why? I suspect that he was a different person each time he approached it. I notice when I read the Bible, verses that didn’t necessarily pop before jump out at me, begging for contemplation. The Bible has not changed, but I change over time. I hope for the better!
Your turn:
Other than the Bible, what book have you read more than once? Why? Were you glad you did?
What book would you like to revisit?
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There are so many new books to read that rereading doesn’t happen for me as often as I’d like! But Narnia has been an often-visited friend. I see something new in it each time I return.
I read Hamlet twice in high school, the first time voluntarily, the second time for an assignment. Upon rereading, I appreciated the inevitability of its ending far more. (The first time, it seemed senselessly tragic.)
Well, Tamela, you did it again–motivated your readers to post things that challenged me: obviously, the big hole in my life as a writer is my practice as a reader! I write every day, but other than the Word, I don’t read every day. In the past, I reread a number of of Robert Ludlum’s high-action, complex mysteries, and unlike others’ book/film experiences, was NOT disappointed in the films based on the Bourne trilogy. The one book that I have read multiple times is Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. I integrated it into a college strategic learning course I taught and I gave away numerous copies. I know of two women who came to know the Lord through reading their gift of that book and another Christian who told me it was life-changing for her. But today I need to compile a new reading list from these posts and go find my library card! 🙂 Thanks!
As an English teacher, I never tired of reading and teaching books like Cry, the Beloved Country, or To Kill a Mockingbird, or The Joy Luck Club. I have re-read Pride and Prejudice and The Chosen. Timeless messages and writing that grabs me make me want to go back and savor them again and again.
I’ve read countless books over and over. I’m wired that way.
The Left Behind series, the Chronicles of Narnia, but I’m not limited to the great others. Lol I read simple romance novels over and over as well. Why? Because, as you said, I can. It’s amazing what I miss the first, second, even third time around. Keep reading!
I read To Kill a Mockingbird once a year and The Last Juror by John Grisham.
These are my favorites with endearing characters that I see plainly in my loved ones and co-workers.
I’ve read Pride & Prejudice a few times and the A&E version of the movie probably over 50 times (Truthfully probably more than that). I’ve read The Hunger Games twice and watched the first two movies in that series multiple times. Catching Fire is my favorite. I’ve read and recommended The Hawk and The Dove series by Penelope Wilcock many times. I actually have 3 sets of the first three books in the series just in case I allow someone to borrow it and they don’t return it.
I’ve read Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, a few times – had to read it in the original unabridged version at university (which I wouldn’t recommend), and then in French for another class. I’ve also seen various versions on the stage and in film. I love the story of amazing mercy and grace.
It strikes me as odd that someone would discourage rereading. There is no reason to purchase a book unless you are going to reread. If you aren’t, just get it from the library. Often, I have read something at the library and then realized that I loved the book so much that I would reread it. Then I made the purchase. I reread often. The Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice, The Gallagher Girls Series, Lori Wick romances that just make me feel safe and happy. I love rereading!
I have read Gone with the Wind twice as well as its sequel. As an English teacher, I read a number of books with my classes two or three or more times to make sure I remembered details. Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, The Scarlet Letter, P & P, Emma to name a few.
For my own pleasure, I read Little Women and Little Men so many times I lost count. I dreamed of being Jo and having a place of my own to write. I have re-read it as an adult and still love it.
Oh, and I’ve read a number of different versions of A Christmas Carol, but still like the original the best.
I’ve read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader approximately fifteen times, all the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia an average of five each, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness about ten times each, and The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings twice.
But that was all in high school and college. I don’t really have time to re-read books now unless I’m reading aloud to my children which is the best excuse I’ve ever had to revisit favorite books.
Here are a few I read many years apart. As other people mentioned, more and different takeaways the second time.
Memoir: The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Fiction: Cat’s Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
As for the Bible, well, that particular anthology is in a class by itself, isn’t it? Here’s a pithy one-liner from it: “I will open my dark saying upon the harp.” Says it all: Writing that opens a mystery to the reader and is lyrical to boot. Hmm hmm good!
I devoured Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly series as a teenager (they were the books that first made me aware of the inspirational genre), and have recently been re-reading them. One of the books has a few scenes where a white character falls in love with someone of a different race, and all the other characters are staunchly opposed to the match. I had forgotten about those parts until I reread them, and while in the context of the time period, the objections make sense, to my modern eyes–even in my teens–I thought it was silly. I laughed when I came across those scenes in my recent re-read, because now I’m married to someone of another race, and we are blessed that where we live, in the time we live, it is just Not An Issue.
I have read books by author Grace Livingston Hill more than once. I enjoy knowing my Mother and Grandmother read her stories during their lives, too. Also, I enjoy reading the same Christmas stories each year. 🙂
Okay, I’ll admit, this post had me laughing, mainly in disbelief. I can’t imagine not reading a book more than once if I enjoyed it. Isn’t that why you buy books? I have hundreds of books I’ve read more than once – if not many, many more times. Reading them again is like visiting old friends. Some days I just feel like visiting certain worlds again (Firebird – Kathy Tyers, Divergent series, Narnia, Harry Potter) or checking into a campsite/BnB (Red Door Inn, Christiansen Family series) or travelling back in time for a bit of welcome class when the world still felt safe and right (Lori Wick’s Kensington Chronicles, Melanie Dickerson’s books) or just catching up with the friends I grew up with (Christy Miller and co, etc). It’s like watching a favourite movie over and over.
There are quite a few books I read as a teenager which I’ve read again recently as a married mum of little kids which feel almost like completely different books now I’m reading them from such a different perspective. Yes! Read books over and over! There’s so much more in them (okay, most of them) the second (third, fourth…) time round 🙂
Ah, I love the Firebird books! I think the first time I finished them, I went right back to book one for another go-round.
Any good book is worth at least two readings. I have read too many books multiple times to list them here. I guess the trilogy I read at least every two years for over 20 years was The Lord of the Rings. I cannot fathom not rereading any great work!!
I rarely read a book just once. A story I enjoyed once is generally worthy of another time through. And another…and…
I have read everything by Madeleine L’Engle and C.S. Lewis more than once (except Til We Have Faces–once was enough for me). I have also reread Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek, and Tim Downs’ Bug Man novels. I have tried to read the Bible every year but I get bogged down and have to stop and contemplate, so it’s more like a 3-year Bible reading. There are a few others–Kenneth Roberts’ historical fiction, Tom Clancy for the thrill of it, and Tozer’s The Knowledge or the Holy. But what about the books that are so thought provoking that we cannot continue reading? Those books that sink so deeply into our souls that great effort is required? I have 2 like that: Harry Blamires’ The Christian Mind and Revival by Lloyd John Ogilvy. And this is a late post because the email ended up in my spam.
Wow, I love all these comments! Once again, you have inspired me to look into “new” books and revisit old favorites. I have the best blog readers ever!
The book that first springs to mind that I have re-read is “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. The book is several stories in one, and the first time I read it, I wanted to know how the father/son relationship was resolved. But the second time, i wanted to know more about the study of philosophy, as this book contains an amazing oversight with great insight into the greatest thinkers and philosophers of all time.
I must say I agree that re-reading a book may seem foolish to some, but to the inquiring mind, it always repays the investment in time, if nothing else to separate the sheep from the goats.