Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Books I’m Worried I Might Not Love as Much the Second Time Around
I love to reread and most of the time I enjoy the books just as much, if not more, on the second/nth read. However, there are a few books I used to love that haven’t aged well and/or that I’m worried I might not like the next time I read them (Gone With The Wind, and Mists of Avalon), but I can’t think of enough to make a top ten list, so I have decided to go with the Top Ten Books I Love to Reread instead.
Most of these are books I’ve reread multiple times, some of them even in the double digits. There are a few more books I love to reread as well, but these are my favorite comfort reads.
Top Ten Books I Love to Reread
- The Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie – This is probably the most underrated one on my list, and the most read. For a time, ever since I read the book for the first time as a pre-teen, I would reread it every year for many years. I’ve lost count but I’m sure it’s been at least 10 times, probably closer to 20. It’s a book set in ancient Roman and Germanic times, with a badass female protagonist, and it’s one I always recommend any time I can.
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – I’ve also lost count on this one, I’m currently rereading it on what might be the 9th or 10th time, I’m not sure. It’s one of my favorite classics and somehow despite the intensity and subject matter, it’s a comfort read.
- The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins – I remember the first three times I read this series was first on physical copy, then e-book, then audiobook. After that, the rereads were mostly on audio, but I love it every single time and keep getting something out of it.
- Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster – This is such a sweet and comforting book. It’s a shorter book, and filled with illustrations, and just a nice read for whenever I need a comfort snack. I’ve read it more times than the others simply because it’s so easy to pick up and read quickly.
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – Another sweet and comforting book. I very hardly reread the rest of the series for some reason, but I always enjoy this first one.
- On Writing by Stephen King – I have read this book on print, and have a hardcopy of it, but it’s just better when you listen to it on audio with the author himself narrating. It really feels like he’s a friend talking to you and it’s so inspiring to listen to. I respect his work ethic and his approach to writing so much. Sometimes when I’m in between audiobooks and if this one is available, I borrow it just to listen to his voice lull me to sleep.
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – I probably wouldn’t classify this horror story as a comfort read, but it’s one of my favorite stories to come back to when I want a chill down the spine. I don’t come back to it as often as the other ones on this list, but I love that this is a story about flawed humans (and monsters). I get so much out of it, and more, every time I read it.
- Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck – This particular book has the dubious honor of being my favorite, most-read book that I’ve never finished. I don’t see it as a dnf, but as one of the best stories that should’ve ended sooner than it did. I love this book from beginning until 99% of it and I just never finished the last few pages, even with all my rereads! Maybe on my next reread, but I don’t feel a need to read the last 1%, so we’ll see.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown – Technically, I read and reread all of Brene Brown’s works indiscriminately, because they’re all just so good. She also tends to repeat her stories in many of her talks/videos/platforms and I love hearing them over and over again because they inspire me and make me feel less alone. Her works are lifesavers, and I read them any time I need a boost.
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – I’ve probably done the 12-week course three times (or 2.5 times, I don’t remember if I finished the third), but I listen to the audio every once in a while without doing the exercises, and there was a time when I was taking walks every night while listening to this audio. It’s one of my favorite memories because I was going through something, and just listening to this book helped me get my mind off things and gave me so much peace.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Would you read or reread any of these books?
