Sunday 10 June 2012

Books I'd love to reread

My problem with rereading is that I feel like I should be making progress when I read; learning about someone new, a new era, a new family. When I was little, I used to rewatch my favourite films and reread my favourite books over and over, and in fact I still do with films. I find it incredibly comforting. The difference I find is that with novels you are making a time investment. I don't have much spare time to spend reading and I've delved so little into the world of literature, so surely time should be discovering something new (which may later become an old favourite)?


However, I thought it might be fun to jot down a few of the books I'd love to reread if I had the time. Maybe when summer comes I might even treat myself and reread one of them!


The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
I remember when I was in primary school, I had a brilliant English teacher, and she once read us an extract from the first book of the founding of Narnia (if I remember correctly.) Soon after that, my dad read them so me every night, and I remember loving them. It's so lovely to be completely lost in another magical world, and I really do miss that from my reading now.


Anna Karenina, Tolstoy
I think I will eventually reread this, but perhaps in five or ten years. I remember once when I was working at a book stall, talking to one of the others working there, and he said that he rereads Anna Karenina about once every ten years. I thought that was such a lovely thing, but like I said, I'm not sure I have the time to indulge myself right now.


The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
I thought this book was brilliant. I don't think a book has ever made me so depressed. But I thought that was an incredible feat - for a book to be able to make you really feel how the person is feeling. I remember there being really amazing passages, like one with the metaphor of a tree. That's what I find with Sylvia Plath, she'll be talking about something mundane and then suddenly the most incredible poetic brilliance comes out of her, that makes you understand everything. I'd just love to have the chance to remind myself of those passages.


Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
 This one is a real comfort one. My mum used to read them to me (I think in between Narnia with my dad - good life I led!) but we never finished the books. Again I loved it because it's such a different world from mine. I think children's books are better at that - I find so many adults novels feel that they have to relate exactly to our lives and the world we live in.


I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
I just really loved this book, and I've now forgotten half of the story. I only remember snippets - like the stepmother running around a field dancing naked in the rain (to be honest that may not have even happened in the book, I might be mixing up various different scenes!) But I'd love to remind myself of that story and, as I said in my favourite characters post, one of my favourite narrators.

6 comments:

  1. I adore re-reading. I don't consider it a loss of investment because I learn something new every time I reread. I try to reread at least one book each year. :)

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    1. That's very true actually :) I'm sure I would read something new into books reading them a second time. I just feel like there are so many books out there I'd love to read, and so little time to read them!

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  2. Wow. I like to re-read and re-watch things too. Sometimes I even remember some scenes or dialogues by heart. I mean, it's always wonderful to once more appreciate a masterpiece. If people usually listen to songs over and over again, why can't we read books and watch movies over and over again? :p

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  3. When I was little I would re-read my favourite Enid Blyton St. Clare's series over and over again and I think I'm like that with most things: I like to have a meal that I like often, I'm always re-watching my favourite, comforting films and I can listen to an album I like on repeat for weeks.
    So I re-read my favourite books, I think most of the time I notice things I didn't the first time and books can seem different. I don't feel pressured for time, reading isn't just a race to read more books, although sometimes it's easy to be tempted to read new books and make a dent in that TBR list. You have a great selection of books here, I think you should indulge and spend some time your favourite characters!

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    1. Thank you, your comment has inspired me to do just that! I think over the summer I'll indulge myself and read I Capture the Castle and possibly the Bell Jar again :)

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