Before discovering Calhoun Women at thirteen, I had Famous Five by Enid Blyton. I went from longing for adventures with George’s dog to wishing for a castle by the sea.
In my late teens, my eyes lit up like a child with a new toy when I bought a copy of For the Love of Lilah. Rereading this book brought back memories. Details I had forgotten rushed back and my love for these women deepened.
That particular experience opened me up to the idea of rereading books. Yes, millions of books get published every year but I often fall back upon my completed pile. In this article, I will be reflecting on why I reread books in my 20s.
Why Reread Books?
There are various reasons why people reread books. It could be for inspiration or to rediscover parts of the stories missed. Another thing could be the familiarity of certain books that bring comfort.
Even though I know the end of a story, it does not stop me from picking up the book again. On this note, here are my reasons for rereading books;
Books Are Never The Same, Because I’m a Different Reader
One thing that boggles my mind is the fact that there are so many stories I’m yet to read. All the novels I consumed as a child and teenager have still not made a dent in the books that exist.
Reading You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle for the first time had me giggling and swinging my feet. On my second read, I giggled less and sighed with defeat more. Naomi was not the innocent victim I remembered; this time, she was a little annoying.
Neither the plot nor the characters in this book changed, I did. Those character traits that were endearing to me in the past had become intolerable. I wanted to shake the main characters so many times, but that’s a story for another day.
Certain Books Show How Much I’ve Changed
Not all the books on my list are satisfying to reread. Jane Brown compared rereading books to catching up with old friends when she said,
“Books are like people. Some you meet once and that’s enough. Some you want to get to know better, and whenever you are with them you discover more about them. Some are old friends you haven’t seen in years but to meet them again is a joy…”
As I’ve grown older, there are certain genres, tropes and characters I would rather not revisit. A prime example, is Stealing Heaven by Kimberly Cates. The first time I read this book, I remember feeling moved and rooting for the main characters to fall in love.
By my third read, I was less open to Norah’s choices and very irritated with Sir Aidan Kane. Certain character traits that had me swooning at sixteen caused steam to blow out of my ears. In the end, I stopped reading the novel.
Also Read: Lessons I’ve Learnt About Love from Romance Novels
Rereading Books Makes Me Feel Safe in Uncertain Times
Another reason I run back to old books is the familiar factor. New stories can feel daunting because I like to know how stories end. Suspense is not my friend. Life is full of surprises, so the books I read don’t have to be.
For the longest time, my comfort read was The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. When life felt heavy, reading about Olive and Adam felt like discovering an oasis in the desert. Yes, there are new stories to discover, but there is comfort in old stuff too.
Final Notes
I’m learning that it’s okay to go back to stories you like as many times as you want. Rereading books often reveals those things you missed the first time.
“When we’re dealing with a particular problem in life or feeling stuck, sometime the answers we seek are not to be found in the new; new works, new knowledge, new insights, new experiences, but rather, in the old; the solution may lie behind us.” –Emily Rudow
Take it upon yourself to revisit those books you’ve read before. You never know what could be waiting for you hidden in-between pages. Do you reread books? If yes, what old favourites have you picked up lately and what new things did you discover?
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