On the Joys of Rereading

When I started this challenge, the point was to read new books that I've never read before, because I don't know about you guys, but I read the same books over and over again. Some might call this lazy, unoriginal, or just plain boring. However, I choose to reread for three reasons. Let me know why you reread (or don't!).

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Comfort and Nostalgia

When I reread a book or re-listen to an audiobook, it feels like I'm getting a hug from one of my favourite people. It can bring back feelings I haven't felt in a long time. Especially if it's a book I read in my childhood, it will bring me back the care-free days of youth (which sounds really cheesy, but it's true.) Just reading the line "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit" gives me so many feels and calms me down if I'm having a particularly rough go of life or a bad day. Hearing "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number Four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much" sends me back to when I was eight years old and just beginning to dig in to this fandom that is now as much a part of my personality as sarcasm. It's just comforting.

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Analysis

Warning: Here there be spoilers for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Song of Achilles.

A slightly nerdier reason for rereading a book or series is to dive deeper into the analysis of the book, the plot, and its characters. I find this especially helpful when reading high fantasy such as The Lord of the Rings or The Inheritance Cycle. I am already familiar with the plot line from my first read, so now I can pay more attention to the world building. I can pause and look at the maps to see where we are, how far have we come from the last place we were, where are we in relation to other places the character has been. I don't normally do this on my first read because I want to pay attention to the plot and I have the attention span of an ADHD squirrel, so if I go check the map I'll forget what's happening.

On a second (or third, or fourth) read, I can also dig into the characters and character development. I love looking into character motivations and relationships. I see things I didn't have brain space for on a first read. I can see how Harry Potter was influenced by the Dursleys never to trust adults. I can see Bilbo's influence on Frodo. I can see Sam becoming a stronger and stronger character throughout the three books. I can see that (SPOILER FOR SONG OF ACHILLES) how Achilles' true weakness was not his heel, but Patroclus. I come to realizations about the characters that I didn't have before and I find it quite beautiful.

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Plot Analysis

Though one does get the general idea of the plot on a first read, I find that a reread (or a re-listen if you're in to audiobooks) can show you things you didn't realize before. I often find foreshadowing, character mentions that I hadn't seen before, small things that you wouldn't see unless you'd read right to the end. I find this especially on a third or fourth read.

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Feeling Smart

This is perhaps the pettiest reason to reread, but it's still fun. Going back, you can find inconsistencies and plot holes in books, and feel very smart for having found out. For example, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ginny is said to have green eyes, like Harry. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry notices that her eyes are the same shade of brown as Molly's. Maybe it's just me, but I love finding this stuff and feeling a bit superior for having done so.

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Shipping

A quick definition for the uninitiated: a "ship" is a relationship in a book or series or TV show or whatever that you want to see happen. This can also be a verb: to "ship" is to wish the relationship would happen.

"My favourite ship in Lord of the Rings is Frodo and Sam."

"I ship it."

Ships are often given names by combining elements of both characters' names. Solangelo (Solace and Di Angelo), Patrochilles (Patroclus and Achilles), or Percabeth (Percy and Annabeth) are just a few examples.

So anyway, when I reread or re-listen, I find characters who have little moments in the books or who have compatible personalities who, in my head, should totally get together. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, but they can still be my favourite ship.

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What do you reread?

So that's why I reread or re-listen to my favourite books. Some of my favourites are Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Inheritance Cycle, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Comment or head over to the forum to share your favourite rereads!