Thursday, September 18, 2008

Re-Reading

I love a brand, spankin' new book. I love the adventure of truly not knowing what's going to happen next. I love the little things you do to convince yourself it's going to turn out the way you think. I love meeting new characters and familiarizing myself with a new author. I love turning pages that have never been turned.

But there is also a special joy in re-reading something you love. Knowing what's going to happen and savoring the journey instead of rushing through to figure out the end. The bittersweet pang of foreshadowing that's not really "fore" for you.

I've been re-reading the last Harry Potter books. I've read all the rest of them at least twice and three times for most, but only the last one once. It's such an emotional book (and long) that it took a while (and a bookless desperation) to get back to it. It's just amazing what you pick up the second time around that you didn't get the first.

So, this is my list of books I like to re-read. Post if you have any that you can't help but go back to.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins

2 comments:

Lisa said...

Are we the same person? Do we share a brain or something? Because nearly all the books I love to re-read are on your list, AND I too am currently re-reading the last Harry Potter book...for like the fifth time. I figured I was the only one :)

Jessi said...

Did you cry all over again at the end. I just can't help it. That whole bit when he walks through the forest with his mom, who could manage not to cry!!

Also, I wanna be Molly Weasley when I grow up!