When I was a kid, I had some favorite books that I read over and over again. Sometimes I would close the back cover, flip the book over, and start again on the spot. So having my own copies of those favorite books was extremely important; how could I read Bambi, for instance, whenever I needed to, if I didn’t have my own copy? And then there was the pleasure of having a nice new book – paperbacks were good, but hardbacks were beyond luxurious.
I don’t buy nearly so many books now. My shelves are quite full, but more than anything else, I rarely re-read anymore. Even if I really love a book, it seems a waste to re-read it when there are so many things out there that I want to read. I still do occasionally: I re-read the Harry Potter books to prepare each time a new one came out, and every few years I read a Jane Austen or two. But mostly I just check things out from the library.
Do you re-read anything? And if so, what?
5 comments:
As I admitted on my goodreads profile, I do re-read Emma Bull's The War for the Oaks every year or two. I'm not sure why--maybe I just miss 80's Minneapolis. I like its take on urban fantasy, the local references--music and otherwise, and who doesn't wish they had a phooka looking out for them (a sexy phooka at that.)
I do go back to other things now and then. For example, I just saw the movie, Gone Baby Gone, which is an adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel. Before Mystic River, Lehane was writing a series featuring Patrick McKenzie and Angie Genarro (sp?), two working class private detectives in Boston. I really liked the series and was sad to see it go. Anyway, watching the movie version (which did a pretty good translation of book to screen) made me want to go back and re-read not just Gone Baby Gone, but the other ones too. I have some but not all of them.
However, like you, JNJ, I feel the weight of all the unread books sitting on my shelves (not to mention that growing to-read list that only contains a few of those shelf-sitting books) so I haven't done much re-reading lately.
Still, the criteria I use to judge whether to keep a book or pass it along is whether I think I might want to re-read it some day. Am I just fooling myself? Probably . . . but who knows when I'll develop a bad case of insomnia and nothing but The Dark is Rising or The Straight Man will do. :)
Occassionally, a movie may send me back to a book, but for the most part, I don't re-read a whole lot either anymore. All of the mentioned reasons play into that, especially the fact that there's so much to read out there and only so much time!
As a kid, I re-read many things yearly, including outings of whole series like Anne of GG, Little House, Nancy Drew, Besty Tacy and the like. Of course, I wasn't trying to work part-time, raise kids, clean a house, etc back then!
And yes, age has decreased my book purchasing habits! I use the library as my own personal online reserve site and just pick them up when they arrive. Lately, I take back three or four,and somehow, there are always eight waiting for me?!
It does make me sad to not have as many books to share, but also makes my book selections at holiday time for people all the more important. Which could probably be another post that's been rattling around in my head for a while.
Okay. I admit it. I'm a bookaholic. I check books out from my college's library (no fines!). I check them out from my public library (but mostly during breaks when I can read fast enough to not rack up fines). I buy them at used book sales, at Border's when I stop by just to buy a gift card for someone else, and god . . . Powell's online undoes me everytime.
I try to limit myself to the library but I'm weak.
It's only a matter of time before I hit rock bottom . . .soon I'll be making shady back alley deals for a used copy of Bridges of Madison County. Oh, the humanity.
:)
Isn't admitting your problem the first step towards getting help? :)
I'm still happy to buy books at used book sales, but I just have a hard time ponying up for a brand-new book that I might or might not love enough to keep. And it seems a little silly to pay full price for something I *have* read.
I think I've also funneled some of my book-buying impulses into buying picture books, which do get re-read a lot. Not so much juvenile fiction, because A does not re-read at all. At least, not yet.
I do reread, of course not as much as I did as a kid. The obvious one is the Harry Potter books - as JNJ says, I reread them all when a new one comes out... but alas, no more!
I enjoy rereading the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King, and the Thursday Next books... I'm rereading the Besty Tacy series with daughter M, and have reread a few others with kids, too.
Sometimes being in a different place in my life brings something new to my favorite books, so I enjoy rereading.
As for buying books, I have a huge weakness for books for the kids.... I do tend to buy bookclub books, as I don't have time to wait for the library. Those books that I don't really enjoy I end up giving away or selling. I do allow myself the guilty pleasure of buying (often hardcovers) of books I really enjoy - the HP series, Laurie King.
Post a Comment