This week’s Friday theme among my blogging friends is to share a book that you can read over and over again, those comforting, familiar tales and characters that you never tire of spending time with between the pages. I have a few that sprang to mind when I mulled this one over, so I decided to share all of them rather than leave one out.
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White
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My much-loved copy from my childhood, complete with scratch ‘n’ sniff and googly eye stickers.
This was one of the first chapter books I read on my own as a kid, therefore it holds a special place in my heart on that merit alone. I also have fond memories of my first grade teacher, Miss Warner, reading the book to our class. Miss Warner didn’t just read the story, though. She brought the story to life with the floor to ceiling spider web she created out of black yarn and hung in the classroom window. And not just any ol’ spider web. Miss Warner took it all the way to awesome by also cleverly weaving in the word “Salutations” into the web. That pretty much solidified her as the coolest teacher ever (as far as my lengthy academic career was concerned at that time). Every time I see my old, tattered copy of Charlotte’s Web on my shelf, I think of Miss Warner and the giant spiderweb. It’s a timeless story that pulls me in every time I read it.
Harry Potter (the whole kit ‘n’ caboodle)
by J.K. Rowling
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Almost done with round 3 of book 4
I am on my third run-through of the Harry Potter series, having read them the first time for my own enjoyment, then a second time with my oldest daughter, and now once again with the 13 year-old. I find new things upon each reading and not once have I grown tired of hanging out with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Also, reading it aloud affords me bonus practice time in perfecting my British accent.
Time Traveler’s Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
Image may be NSFW.
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There’s so much to love about this time traveling love story and so much to gain on each re-read that I don’t know how anyone can experience it just once. I especially love that it’s partly set in Chicago and describes places with which I’m familiar (I grew up in the ‘burbs of the Windy City). This makes The Time Traveler’s Wife near and dear to my heart on that fact alone, but it’s also a story that is very uniquely crafted and incredibly well told.
Cabin Pressure by John Finnemore
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Cabin Pressure crew
The 24 episodes of Cabin Pressure are technically not books, but they are stories nonetheless that just happen to be in audio form. Since I’ve listened to them all at least a dozen times (and will easily listen to them a dozen more), I’ve included them in my collection of favorite rereads. They are my go-to stories whenever I’m feeling down and in need of some cheering up, whenever I could use a good laugh (which is always), or whenever I’m having a persistent and supremely annoying bout of insomnia.
Also, aside from getting tremendous joy out of listening to Cabin Pressure, I’ve learned a lot about the craft of writing dialogue from the ways John Finnemore reveals different characteristics of the four main characters. It truly is some of the best comedic writing I’ve ever heard, brought to perfection by the four talented actors. Even after listening to the episodes a gazillion times, I am still laughing out loud. It’s that good.
I don’t do nearly as much rereading of books as I used to, probably because I have such a tall, tall TBR pile of new books I want to get to, not to mention the lengthy list of books for The Classics Club Challenge. But, if I did have all the time in the world to reread books that I’ve recently enjoyed, these are the ones that I would enthusiastically add to the list:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
In case your TBR pile isn’t tall enough (and even if it is), be sure to check out these wonderful blogs to see what other favorite books have been given the honor of the reread:
Rabia Gale: Books I Can Read Over and Over Again
Margaret Miller: Reading Books the Second Time Around
Ellen Gregory: My re-reading book: The Lions of Al-Rassan
Linda Adams: The Beauty of Omniscient Viewpoint
Cora Ramos: Mistress of Synchronicity
Kim Griffin: Favorite Novel Reread
Janice Heck: Tuscany in My Mind – Second Time Around
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How about you, bookish readers? Which books are your comfort books, the ones with characters like old, dear friends, the books you’re drawn to time and time again? What is it about those stories that makes you want to read them more than once? Sit, sip, and share. I always love to hear from you.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.