To Reread or Not to Reread?

With all the series that are ending this year, or just coming out with the next book, I’ve talked to a few people about their habits and opinions on rereading. I’ve gotten mixed answers, but I’m always surprised when I hear someone say they don’t like rereading at all! I think my mom is the number one advocate of this – she actually doesn’t like buying books, just because she reads it, and then won’t pick it up again. So when she says, “I’d read this again!” I basically have to stop everything and find out what was so fantastic about that book.

Now me, on the other hand, I love rereading. So much so that I read the entire Pushing the Limit series in January, and then read them all again in the beginning of May before Take Me On was released! The same goes for the Grisha books; I read the first two in November of 2013, and I sped through both of them just a few weeks ago before Ruin and Rising is released. I also plan on reading the first three books in the Throne of Glass series (counting Assassin’s Blade) before I get to Heir of Fire, and potentially reading Anna and Lola before Isla and the Happily Ever After is released.

I know that this may be a “waste of time” for some people – I mean, I could be reading so many new books, but I can’t help it! Rereading my favorites is like visiting an old friend. It’s comfortable, relaxing, and even therapeutic. I don’t have to pay as much attention to the details; I just let the story wash over me and take me away for a few hours. Harry Potter is the ultimate reread for me; I think I’ve gone through the series at least ten times over, and the Goblet of Fire maybe fifteen times? My poor babies are falling apart at the spines.

Another benefit to rereading: catching all the little details or bits of foreshadowing you didn’t see before. When I reread the Divergent books before Allegiant, I was astounded the complexity of all the themes I saw and how they were woven into the story. And TFiOS? I was cursing John Green’s name because it was so CLEAR what was going to happen, but I had missed all the signs my first time around in ignorant bliss.

And then there’s the simple issue of my horrible book amnesia. Well, my memory in general pretty much sucks all that is suckable. That whole cliche of “you can’t remember what you had for breakfast”? Yeah, totally me. So no matter how much I love a series – I mean, it could be my absolute favorite – I will forget something. Sometimes, even when I write reviews, I have to glance back to remember a character’s name. This is also a good time to make a PSA to any blogger I talk to: if I repeat questions, or say something twice over, I am so sorry. Gently remind me and laugh at me and I’ll correct myself. Case in point: I was talking to Francine @ Fluffy Reads the other day, and I mentioned how excited I had been to be approved for Heir of Fire. Not twelve hours later, when she commented on an instagram photo of mine, I told her again, completely forgetting that I had already mentioned it. So, rereading stuff: a MUST for this poor old brain of mine.

There are two exceptions to my reread habits: The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Me Since You. Both were so special to me in that moment I read them, and impacted me in so many ways, that I’m afraid if I read them again they won’t be as influential or important to me. Those are the books that I see on my shelf, smile fondly, maybe run a finger down their spine, and move on. Someday I’ll read them again, but when, I’m not sure. They’ll always be there at least!

What about you? Reread or not?

Also: a super happy birthday to my mom! Love you so much mommy ❤