I have stacks of books (not yet on shelves) that I have not read - yet. A further list of some
150 titles lives on my phone in a file called “Books to Read,” and I periodically
plunk away at the 100 Best Novels listing published by the Modern
Library. One
might argue that I have no business re-reading any books.
I just can’t help it.
Some books are as comforting as old friends or coming home
after a long trip. Familiar and
reassuring, their pages turn with the easy knowledge that this story will turn
out ok. As bibliophiles we
sometimes become very invested in the books we read often sharing the pain,
frustration and anxiety of characters – or feeling it in their absence as the
omniscient reader. Reading new
titles can be tiring.
A big part of what and why we read is left to personal
preference, which I celebrate. And here is my general philosophy regarding the
practice of re-reading.
Sometimes I re-read to suss out deeper layers of meaning in
a complicated plot line. Often I
return to a much-loved title break up other more strenuous reading. Some books I read seasonally (LAMB, at
least in part during Lent for the last several years). Other books are just never far from my
mind. I think there are three or
four print copies (not to mention two film copies) of The Hobbit at my house including one that rides around in my
briefcase. This last, in case
there are a few moments to kill and I have nothing to read. (Yes, this is a
concern in my life.)
Mostly, I just like to re-read books that make me feel
something.
Why do you re-read?
Here are some of my favorite re-reads:
The Hobbit by
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Alchemist by
Paulo Coelho
Lamb: The Gospel
According to Biff Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Siddhartha by
Hermann Hesse
Chronicles of the
Shadow War by Chris Claremont & George Lucas
Fahrenheit 451 by
Ray Bradbury
On Writing by
Stephen King
Recent titles I’m adding to the list:
Cuckoo’s Calling
by Robert Galbrathe (aka J.K. Rowling)
Ghost Soldier’s by
Hampton Sides
Kingdom of Ice by
Hampton Sides
