I get funny looks from friends whenever I mention how much I love to revisit books I’ve already read. They can’t believe someone would want to reread anything. This stems mainly from the fact they feel they have very little time to read already much less take time to read something a second time. So why reread?
Studies have shown that you absorb more the second time you read a book and this applies even to listening to music.
At first you get a sense of where the plot is going but often miss important clues along the way. It is not until you read that book a second time that you can slow down and enjoy the story and the characters without racing to finish it. And at other times, I simply crave the comfort of revisiting favourite characters and even settings. Not all books deserve this attention but here are a few that I love to reread.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery: Whether it’s the movie or the book, I love to return to Avonlea and its charming simplicity. It helps that Gilbert Blythe is there too!
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I used to read this book every year along with Persuasion. It has been a while but I have loved it more each time I’ve read it.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: I have read this book more times than I can count. And it is a huge book with complex storylines and major attention to historical events and details. But still I return to it for the characters, the historical time period and the sheer fun of it.