1. As much as I love reading new books and new-to-me books, I LOVE rereading books! I do. It is comforting, yes. And satisfying. You might think a book--even a GREAT book--wouldn't be as engaging the second (third, fourth, or even fifth) time around, but I haven't found that to be the case. I think I got more out of North and South the second time around because the characters were already my friends. Because I connected sooner, I was able to notice all the little things that made the story work well.
2. Rereading books is a great way to assess myself as a reader. Is the book that I loved, loved, loved three years ago really that great? Or did I forget about it three months later? There's no way for me to know if it was infatuation or true love if I never revisit the book. A great book only benefits from a rereading.
3. One bad book can change (forever) how you feel about a series.
4. I never read just one book at a time. I am almost always reading three to five books.
5. I could never commit to reading just one genre.
7. I visit my library regularly.
8. I love reading classics. I especially love bearded Victorians!
9. I never listen to an audio book unless I've read the book. Richard Armitage reading Georgette Heyer makes me giddy!
10. I would rather love a book or hate a book than be left feeling completely indifferent. Because how can you review a book when you feel absolutely nothing?!
© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
6 comments:
Rereading, yes. There's several that I've read over and over, the winner being Lord of the Rings. Now starting it again is like falling back against a feather pillow. You got me at "When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy first..." - that's what I'd say to JRR Tolkien.
I'm always sad to hear my elementary students say they can't read a book again because they already did. Many times it's the parents who tell them that at home. Re-reading builds fluency and reinforces the pleasure of reading; they should be lining up to reread books. And, like you said, you get different things at different times of your life. Read Winnie-the-Pooh again; it's a totally different story from what you remember from being read to you as a child.
The one and only book I haven't found to get better with rereading is Emma. She is such a snob I just feel like slapping her and the impulse gets stronger and stronger each time. I guess that makes it better in a backhanded way, that Jane Austen wrote a character that inspires feelings that intensify with each rereading.
I only reread books if I loved them. Or I'm being forced to read them for class or something. I mean, I only have the urge to reread something if it left a mark on me, which in my mind is what makes a good book. And you do get alot out of a reread, especially craft wise. I can actually pay attention to the structure, since I already know the characters.
Hmm, don't know about one bad book forever changing my opinion about a series. A bad song by an artist doesn't make me not like them, just not that song. I find it's very similar for books too.
Bad book covers...that's a great one! They can be so fun to look at. Especially when they come with a cheesy title as well.
I like to re-read. My collection of Tintin and Asterix have been re-read hundreds of times, I think!
Here is my Sunday Salon/Weekly Geeks post!
Definite yes to re-reading. (Gautami- yes and yes for Asterix and Tintin!)
One bad book in a series: can definitely taint the series for me, 'though I tend to just skip that one in re-reading favorites.
Oh, Becky...Richard Armitage and Georgette Heyer?!! SWOON! I think I have some purchasing to do.
I always read 3 to 5 books at once too. I think I would get bored with just one. I agree about wanting to either love or hate a book. The ones that are average never stick with me.
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