TO RE-READ OR NOT TO RE-READ: THE BOOKS I ONCE LOVED
There’s been more than one occasion that I’ve talked about re-reading, and the fact that I barely (if ever) re-read a novel. An exception would be novels like Love Comes Softly and Once Upon a Prince both novels I re-read because they were treated to TV film adaptations. It’s not that I don’t like the idea of re-reading, but right now the idea I have of a novel, the nostalgia and the memory of that first blush read is what I love best. So today we’re putting together a list of books I might not re-read.
LIST | CELEBRATING THE FILMS OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK (AND WHERE TO WATCH THEM)
TO RE-READ OR NOT TO RE-READ: THE BOOKS I ONCE LOVED. #TTT #TopTenList #BookList #TopTenTuesday #Books #Reader #Readers #Reading Share on XTo be clear, this isn’t because I didn’t like them, in fact quite the opposite. This is because of how much I did love them. The memory of them is so fond and cozy and fun that I don’t want even the smallest of risk that the second time around could taint that. Is this wise? Perhaps not. A re-read can also help us love a story even more, showing us faucets that we didn’t see before. But they’re my reading habits and a few of my favorite novels, so we’re just going to leave it at that. Let’s meet the list of books I might not re-read.
BOOKS I MIGHT NOT RE-READ (BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY AREN’T GOOD!)
GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, LISA T. BERGREN
A historical almost adventure type story about a young woman traveling through Europe as she enjoys a kind of grand tour with a wealthy family she doesn’t know. Goodreads
JO & LAURIE, MELISSA DE LA CRUZ & MARGARET STOHL
This one just “hit” right for me when I read it, three or more years ago now. It was during my (still in progress) non-reading period and had been a book on my shelf for a long time. I was able to read it fast (for me) and it was one of those enjoy-without-having-to-think kind of reads. It was just “magic” in a simple and lovely kind of way, and while not likely a book all readers will love, it was what I needed at the time. I’m not sure I want to re-read it and risk having a more critical opinion. Goodreads
A NEW SHADE OF SUMMER, NICOLE DEESE
I read this one year’s ago, and don’t remember much, but do recall being impressed. It was such a lovely read and perhaps the first I had read by Nicole, too. Goodreads
ALWAYS WATCHING, LYNETTE EASON
Not only was I impressed by this novel’s cover, because it’s quite different from most in the Christian suspense genre. I think it’s clean and simple and bold all at once and I love it. I also really enjoyed the story too about a group of private investigators with different backgrounds. Goodreads
BAREFOOT SUMMER, DENISE HUNTER
I honestly don’t even remember much about this novel at this point. But I do remember it having a positive effect on me at the time I read it and how very much I adored the story and the deeper themes, too. Goodreads
ANNA and the FRENCH KISS, STEPHANIE PERKINS
This is perhaps one I read longest, or close to, ago, but it’s also another one that, at the time, I “needed.” I feel like some of these, like Becky Wade’s and Lisa Bergren’s, would be novels I’d still enjoy today even these many years later, but Anna and the French Kiss? I don’t know if I can say the same about. Either way, I have fond memories of this one. Goodreads
SUBMERGED, DANI PETTREY
One of two books that pulled me back into reading during a time when I wasn’t reading (which was years ago now), this novel has a special place in my reader heart favorites. Plus, it also reminded me that a mystery can be a good read, too. Goodreads
SAFE HAVEN, NICHOLAS SPARKS
Read this one prior to the film release and again, it was just one of those “right time” reads that I enjoyed. Would I enjoy it as well a second time through? Maybe not, but at the time it just worked for me. Goodreads
MEANT TO BE MINE and STAY WITH ME, BECKY WADE
I don’t think I’ve read a single novel (and with exception to one maybe, I’ve read them all) by Becky that I haven’t enjoyed. These two stay with me though. Goodreads
Have you read any of these? Do you still want to? What titles are on your list of “books I might not re-read”? Comment any and all thoughts below! Let’s meet in the comments.
Thank you for visiting; please come back again soon.
Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl March 12: Books I’m Worried I Might Not Love as Much the Second Time Around (I love re-reading, but there are some books that hit so perfectly and I loved so much that I worry reading them again wouldn’t be the same. Or maybe the books I read when I was younger wouldn’t be favorites anymore. Or maybe some books just don’t age well?)
I agree with you that rereading is a risk. I can’t say that’s the reason I so rarely reread books. It’s that I get so tempted by new books!
I rarely if ever re-read books. I’d like to some but at the same time I’m just too nervous to re-read some treasured favorites. :)
I mostly avoid re-reading because I don’t want to “waste” time re-reading a book I’ve already read. There are too many new ones still to read! There are only a few of my very, very favorites that I re-read on occasion.
I still haven’t read JO & LAURIE. I need to get to it soon! Thanks for the reminder :)
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I feel like there could be a few I’d re-read (like I re-read Love Comes Softly when Hallmark adapted it) but also like you, yes! I always have too many newer releases to be distracted by or excited for. :)
Sometimes books are better if you let them remain happy memories! Good for you.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Right? So well said, Lydia. :)
I have so many of Becky Wade’s books that I still need to read. I am not a big re-reader, and there are few books I can think of that I might someday want to read again. I am finding with some of the recent romcoms I have read that I do want to read them again, but not sure if i will or not.
There’s some I feel like I would like to or could re-read, but I just don’t make the effort. Maybe someday I will and I know Becky’s would be ones I’d quite enjoy another time through. :)
Yep. It’s hard, there are SO many great books to be read :)
There are indeed! And I am not a person who keeps up well. ;)
Anna and The French Kiss made my list too and I also agree with Safe Haven!
So many good books. I just remember loving both you mention, albeit for different reasons, at the time I read them. So. Good. :)
Jo & Laurie is on my TBR; hopefully, I can get to it this year. I have looked at my Goodreads read shelf and shook my head in disbelief at some of my ratings and reviews. Then I remember I am a different person now than I was when I read the book.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-cs-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-c/
There is some of that, yes (we change so our reading preferences do too), but I also think for me with a book like “Jo & Laurie,” it was the book I “needed” at the time and so I loved it because of that. I think I’d still like it now, but I may be a bit critical today. Hope you enjoy “Jo & Laurie”! It is a fun read. :)
The only one I’ve heard of or read here is Anna and the French Kiss. It’s been a while since I read it too, so I actually want to reread it! I hope if you do reread any of these that you’ll love them just as much as you did!
Thanks! I hope I enjoy some of these too. I feel like a book like “Jo & Laurie” I’d still enjoy and as I’m still loving new novels by Becky Wade, I am 99% sure I’d enjoy rereading hers too. :) I hope you enjoy “Anna and the French Kiss” if you reread it. :)
I would like to reread Anna one day when I go to Paris, or Lola to San Francisco, to remember my adolescence and I hope to enjoy them as before.
That would be great fun! I agree. Hope you make that Paris and San Francisco trip. :)
So many of these books on your list are books I still need to read. One day, maybe. So many books, so little time. 😀
I agree, Nicole. SO many books. And just not enough hours in the day. ;)
I enjoy rereading when I feel like it. I’ve recently been rereading one of my favorite series (again) and it has been SO fun! There are some books, though, that I don’t think I’d enjoy as much if I reread them now…so I probably won’t. lol ;)
https://christianbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/2024/03/top-ten-tuesday-books-im-worried-i.html
I like the idea of rereading but I have so many I haven’t read once that usually that outweighs any temptation of rereading. Plus, I do genuinely wonder if I’d like a book a second time through as much and because I “fear” ruining my love of the book, I’m often okay with just keeping them on my shelf vs. rereading them all. ;) So glad you stopped by, Melanie! :)
Great list, Rissi! I haven’t read any of these, but a few of them intrigued me. I’ve heard more than one person say the same about Anna and the French Kiss, and I completely understand the feeling of loving a book so much that you don’t want to reread it and potentially ruin that feeling.
Right? Sometimes we just want to hold onto that nostalgic feeling. :)