10 Books I Will Forever ReRead

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday (which is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, formerly hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) was actually last week’s topic, but I liked this one so much that I didn’t want to miss it.

I LOVE rereading books. Often, on my second or third read, I realize deeper held truths within the book that I missed on the first reading. It’s interesting to read the same book at different points of your life because your life experiences inform your reading experiences so drastically (Just think about that one time you read a love story after breaking up with your boyfriend. I know you catch my drift.)

Regular Rereads

When I’m in a reading slump, I often find myself turning back to the books I know and love. These books are books that I have reread throughout my life. I’ve read some of them almost 20 times, and others, only a couple. But when I’m in need of a good read, these are the ones I turn to.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone had to be the first spot on this list because… duh. I’ve read the series all the way through at least 9 times, and I’ve read the first book at least 15 times. I’m currently working my way through the series again, this time with the help of the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one of the first really philosophical novels I read on my own. The first time that I read it, I was moved by how simple the writing was, yet how deep the message was. Since then, every time I’ve reread it, I’ve found new lessons in the story’s text.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini is a bit of a random book on this list, but it serves a purpose. This book is a great book to read when you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted. It reminds you (through the main character) that stress and exhaustion are not forever and are manageable. I find myself coming back to this story whenever I need that reminder.

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chbosky, this is a book I will reread often. I think I’ve read it four times already, and I even figured out a way to work it into my English class curriculum last year. Sharing this one with my teenage students and watching it impact them truly showed me a different side to the novel.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce is a novel I have kept coming back to over and over. My very first blog post on this blog discusses this book, and, in that post, I mentioned that I’ll probably never read this book again. I was wrong. This is one that is a quiet, simple, methodical book that forces me to look inside and connect to that quiet walker within me.

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Soon To Be Reread

I love rereading books, but I haven’t been doing much rereading lately. I’ve recently fell back into #bookstagram, and I’ve been adding so many new books to my To Read list that I haven’t been tempted to pick up old favorites. I do, however, have a few recent reads that I’m already looking forward to picking up in the future.

I absolutely LOVED I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. The writing was beautiful, and the plot was so compelling. I recently loaned my copy out to one of my students, and she fell in love with it. I read this one a few years ago, and I’m looking forward to picking it back up.

For Christmas, I asked for copies of the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness. It’s so very rare to run into fantasy novels for adults, and this is such a good trilogy! I’m not typically a vampires/werewolves/witches type of girl, but I love when fantasy is woven into our normal world, and this trilogy does it so beautifully.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness was a surprise read that had me sobbing all over like a baby. I read it almost a year ago today, and, while it’s still a bit fresh in my mind to read again, I know this will be one I’ll be revisiting in the future. It’s just too beautiful and insightful.

I read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas last month, and it was not an easy read. But I know that I will eventually be revisiting this one. It made me look at myself and my motivations and my reactions to political drama in a new way, and it already has made a permanent mark on me. It might not be soon, but it will be reread.

When I need inspiration for doing a really hard thing, Wild by Cheryl Strayed is my go-to. This book gives me a kick in the pants whenever I feel a bit whiney about how my life is going, and it proves to me that all things are possible, if you put your mind to it. I’ll be revisiting this one soon.

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Do you reread books? Are there any of your favorite rereads that I missed right here? I’d love to discuss them with you!