Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. I thought this would be a fun way to share a condensed version of potential rambles and thoughts that I have.
This Week’s Theme:
Top Ten Books I Would
Consider Rereading
Initial Thoughts:
I don’t really do rereads. The only times I have attempted to reread a book was either because I dropped the book partway through (i.e. Jellicoe Road) or if I had to scope out parts again for a novel study. Otherwise, and for obvious reasons, I think it’s better for me to classify this reads as considerations instead of a want.
Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)
Unlike many of you whom have completed this series or have reread this fifty times over, I am [likely] the one-percent who started to read this series but dropped it in favour of the movies as reading wasn’t an enamoring hobby of mine way back when (as I basically sold my soul to Blizzard Entertainment and into games like Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft—and I don’t regret the time spent with these games.)
Steelheart (Brandon Sanderson)
Much like how I wish I could bend elements (re: Avatar), part of me also wishes that this world would grant us unique superpowers. I’ll take any enhancement (I can’t be the only one).
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Patrick Ness)
Or possibly just the side story, The Knife of the Ruddy Dog, or something along those lines because no pet comes close to being as awesome as this fella.
The Boxcar Children (Gertrude Chandler Warner)
I only read a select few in this series for book reports way back when writing reports were still a cool thing to do. I think a large part of this particular choosing was because we owned a box set Warner’s series. Also, this could have been a toss-up between Boxcar Children and Goosebumps as they were the only books I remember writing reports on in elementary school.
Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman)
One of the earlier Gaiman’s I’ve read to appreciate his mind–what more can I really say?
Backward Glass (David Lomax)
For its intended audience, this is surely a difficult read with an awesome payload. It’s the nuanced details in time-travel that, I thought, propelled this novel. Even after reading it and writing up a raving review…I still feel like there are details I didn’t properly uncover.
Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood)
My enjoyment factor would be far greater if I just simply read it instead of skim-reading it for an independent study. Also this book is one of my first introductions into the whole dystopian-being-one-of-my-now-go-to-genres. So that’s cool.
A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness)
This is one of those books that I think I need to be in the right headspace for; and while initially good, it wasn’t something that floored me.
[Insert Play Here] (William Shakespeare)
I’ve always read the educational versions of the plays (the copies with the accompanying Shakespeare-decryption-notes on the side) and I wonder how much of the original text I’d be able to grasp without aid.
The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
So I can reaffirm why I hate this book—or maybe just Holden.
Afterthoughts:
I still probably wouldn’t do rereads for the sole reason that there are just too many other things to read and I wouldn’t be able to get into the mood of it (seeing as you’d generally know the outcome). But that’s just me. I think if I had to narrow this down to one title/author listed above, it’d probably be Shakespeare—only so I could test my growth to interpret his works. The Chaos Walking Trilogy would be a close second.
What novel would be your number one all-time go-to reread if you had to choose? Let me know and remember to link-back to your top ten post!
Cheers,
Joey
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
I couldn’t agree with you more about the whole re-reading thing. I’ve always wanted to reread my favorite books, but fear I won’t enjoy them as much as I do that first magical time. I buy my favorite books in paperback with the hopes to reread them someday – and that has yet to happen. Too many new shiny books calling my name.
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Maybe rereads would work for books that haven’t been touched in a few years. So when you do forget about the majority of the content, it’s almost like a first time again. Although…if you have impeccable memory, you might be able to recall certain scenes as you delve into it. What a dilemma.
And the whole paperback vs hardcovers is a whole new issue on it’s own (let alone being reread!)
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It is hard to find the time to re-read when there are so many tempting new books. Plus I feel bad neglecting review copies. A Monster Calls is on my list too, and I still need to read Steelheart. I couldn’t get into Jellicoe Road but I’ll give it another try sometime. All of your books look like excellent re-read candidates to me.
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I feel like seconds after getting a review copy…I’m back to full-on TBR crisis mode in finding time that I don’t have to read what I want to read and then the actual ARC.
Much to everyone’s enjoyment of Jellicoe Road, I just found it extremely slow despite being told the payload is worth it. But I don’t read that many contemporaries so I guess I know when a book may not be for me!
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In as much as I can’t afford to re-read a favourite book, it sometimes help me get over a reading funk. Jellicoe Road, for example, is one that I keep going back to often. I don’t know what it is about Marchetta, but I can always count on her to pull me back in. 🙂
I have Oryx and Crake on my must-read-before-the-year-is-out list.
Great list, Joey.
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I think I’m always trying to find that next big exciting hit of feels to overcome a slump (or perhaps a certain mood) but rereading books to get out of a slump is definitely a good point to consider!
There are major plot holes that are hazy to me in Oryx and Crake that really make me want to check it out again, considering I only read the first of the series (so I’m technically not even done the madaddam trilogy!)
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I remember writing school book reports about Goosebumps, too! I never read any of The Boxcar books though, but I always wish I had. And Shakespeare is definitely something I think is good to reread as we get older.
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I have a lot of thanks to give to the Goosebumps television series that probably encouraged me to read into the series more! I’m sure I would appreciate Shakespeare a lot more now that I’m older but comprehending his plays is a large part of that which I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do haha.
Thanks for dropping a comment!
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Agreed – time is just too short really and every time you blink it seems another book is published!
Some great choices on here. Love to see Neverwhere making your list too. 😀
Lynn
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I wonder if there are advanced statistics that can prove that blinking = a book is published theory…because it does feel that way! Hmm.
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I tend to re-read often, generally the same books over and over. I definitely think that Neverwhere stands up to being read more than once!
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You can re-read books for the both of us then! Neverwhere definitely has a special place in my heart too!
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How can you not have finished Harry Potter and what are you waiting for? Also definitely read Shakespeare, sans help, you will be surprised at how easy it is. Plus the man is a god so there’s that.
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Haha, life (or maybe just video games) took hold of my life! And then I lost the spark to continue reading (it was during the Prisoner of Azkaban). And now, like all other books, when I know the ending and how revelations are revealed, it’s difficult for me to pick them up again (re: movies). I’m sure I’d enjoy it, maybe, but I think my attention would waver a lot when reading the series!
No denying the Shakespeare worshipping. Now I just have to get myself in the right mood for reading his plays and all will be well.
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Give it a few years and read them when everything is just a tad fuzzy. I’m not a hardcore fanatic Harry Potter fan but The Order of Phoenix was the first book that made me sob my heart out – I’m talking ugly, all out, the-world-is-ending sobbing. I don’t know how this will help convince you to read them but uh, I’m trying here.
EVERY MOOD IS SHAKESPEARE MOOD
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I find it really hard to reread, especially now I have so many books on my radar!
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Infinite TBRs: the true struggles of life!
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It seems that a lot of people aren’t into rereading. I like to think that I would reread books, but there are so many that I haven’t gotten to yet. Great list though! Harry Potter has been on every list I have read so far and it is on mine too.
My list: http://footprintsofthefancyfree.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-want-to-reread/
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I can’t speak for everyone but I just feel like for most of the novels I really enjoy, most of them are lengthier than my average read (especially when they’re series reads). So when I gauge the opportunity cost of reading newer novels, I tend to favour the new experiences.
I’m not complaining about the neverending TBR pile but geez, authors need to stop releasing so many books and give readers a breather. (Only half serious, though.)
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When I really love a book, I find something new every time I re-read. It doesn’t work for everything, but for some books, I find it so enriching! That includes Harry Potter, as well as bunches of books for “grown-ups”. I’ve read Oryx & Crake twice now, and loved it both times! Still need to read Chaos Walking — and I don’t think I could bring myself to re-read A Monster Calls for a while. It’s just so painful, even though it’s a beautiful book. Great list!
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I can definitely see why you would be able to take the time to find the nuances in the story during the reread instead of focusing on the main story arc!
I had a revelation that I actually haven’t finished the Madaddam trilogy! And since I read O&C ages ago, a re-read/trilogy binge might be warranted!
Maybe you’ll find yourself wanting to reread A Monster Calls when the movie comes out (in two years I think!?)
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Oh, there’s going to be a movie? I have mixed feelings about that. Ha, I also haven’t finished the Madaddam trilogy! I’d definitely have to re-read #1 and #2 first, which maybe is why I never got around to #3.
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Indeed it will become a movie!
And Liam Nesson is the Monster while Sigourney Weaver is the grandmother! (And I guess Felicity Jones is pretty popular too). A star studded cast if you ask me!
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Aw, The Boxcar Children! I remember loving that series as a kid. I enjoyed some Goosebumps, too!
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Haha, I definitely had a hit of nostalgia writing about the boxcar children and goosebumps! It also made me really want to find some episodes of Goosebumps online to remember why I loved the series!
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I find it hard to reread a book when I know that there are so many other books out there. In fact, the only time you would ever find me rereading a book is if it’s for school. But if I had to pick a book to reread just because, it would be Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. 🙂
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Yeah…school will do that to you! I haven’t read Between Shades of Gray (I’m not a big historical fiction reader) but it does sound painfully raw and a story that really stays with you afterwards.
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I wouldn’t mind reading this Manchee based book you speak of.
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Right?! It sounds like a bestseller already.
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The Boxcar Children! Oh my goodness! A nostalgia bomb just landed in my room ha ha 🙂 It’s good to see you posting again, haven’t seen you on my feed 😛
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Ha, any nostalgia bomb is a good one! And thank you, I thought I had died too.
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You know, strangely enough, I don’t think I ever read a Boxcar Children book growing up. I was into American Girl and Nancy Drew and just skipped over the Boxcar phase. But, now that I am working around children’s lit a lot, I have an itch to go and read one book out of each of these huge children’s series (for reader’s advisory, of course!).
Thanks for stoppin’ by! Long Live #Mande. 😉
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Ah yes, those were other big hits with my peers! There are other kid-lit book series which I only dabbled a bit in (Artemis Fowl, Animorphs, etc.) but I think any reading is good reading as long as it’s being done!
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Someone who hates Catcher in the Rye as much as me (I cannot stand Holden!) I was actually never forced to read it in school, but picked it up on my own out of curiosity (since it’s praised as such a classic and everything). Which HP book did you stop at?
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Shhh–we cannot speak too ill of Holden with others around. I will send for a messenger to reconvene with the rest of the anti-Caulfield extremists. Be vigilant. Be careful.
Seriously though, I’ll drink that haterade willingly because that book was nightmare. Literally, my fears go: clowns, insects, Catcher. That’s pretty high up the list! But maybe I would think differently if I didn’t have it force fed to me. (Unlikely.)
I don’t remember where in the Prisoner of Azkaban I stopped at but for sure it was that novel (I don’t own the rest in the series).
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I really want to read more by Margaret Atwood and Oryx and Crake keeps catching my eye. I can’t decide between that one and The Blind Assassin, but as this one made your list I guess it must be good.
Harry Potter is definitely a good choice – I did read the series, but only as each book was published, so I’ve not reread any of them yet, even though I’ve watched the films quite a few times.
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O&C was among the first of Atwoods I read myself (had an individual study for it) and I do have a hazy memory of the happenings since its been a while. I didn’t even follow-up with the following two novels in the trilogy after going on a reading hiatus for a few years.
Point is: read what you like, when you like!
Films are always easier to get through but I’m sure if you do decide to reread Harry Potter, you’ll be able to realize the meticulous nuances in writing that you might not have come across the first time around! (At least, that’s what I think would happen.)
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