To Re-Read or not to Re-Read?

Lately, I've been giving some thought to the idea of re-reading. You see, I just don't have the same amount of free time that I used to have and so I've been having to make more conscious choices about how to use it. I know a lot of people out there don't re-read novels, but I've always been one to do it, and here's why:

© Nickyj | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

1) Pure Entertainment Value - There's always something new to discover in a re-read:

It's not that I don't pay close attention the first time through, it's just that I'm more focused on the big picture. The tension is usually killing me and I'm worried about my favorite characters so I tend to miss the more subtle elements which can really come through in a re-read. If I LOVED a novel, then I'll want to re-read it to catch all the things I might have missed in the initial read.

2) Learning to be a Better Writer:

During the first read-through, if the story is really great, I find myself completely wrapped up in it and unable to focus on the craft. At the end of the read, I'll have an impression of what the author did right - great pacing, high tension, relatable characters - but I won't know specifically how this was achieved. In a read through, I can focus on the craft to really dissect the how and then apply it to my own writing.

3) Getting a new Perspective:
There are books that I've re-read in different stages of life. Maybe there were 2 years between reads, maybe 10, but either way, I understood the story in a whole new way based on the changes that had occurred in my personal life (new experiences, personal growth, etc.). And this, to me, is amazing. I mean, I can't think of any other situation which gives me the opportunity to really see how I've changed or grown over time based on my perspective and understanding of the emotions and actions involved in a story.

4) Language Skills:
I like to re-read books I've read in English in German. Not only does this help me to improve my German and expand my vocabulary, but it also sometimes reveals new insight into the story. Word choice can be so influential in terms of how a scene is understood and a translation choice may add or detract from the story. I find it fascinating to see how my interpretation of a story changes based on the language I read it in.

So, with all these great benefits of re-reading, why wouldn't I re-read? Well, my (virtual) TBR pile is ginormous, and one of the books in there could be the start of something - the one the sparks a great idea, leads me to a new friend, changes my perspective, or teaches me something new about writing! It's the great unknown, and one of those books could end up being a huge waste of time (making me wish I'd gone with a safe re-read), but it could also be something I couldn't imagine living without (after the fact). So, I've got some decisions to make.

What about you? How do you decide what to read next? Do you ever re-read?

You are What you Read

In last week's Field Trip Friday blog post over at YA Highway, there was a link to a study which revealed, you are what you read. Here's a quote from the article:


"Readers who identify with fictional characters are prone to subconsciously adopt their behaviour, new data shows."


On Monday of last week, I shared 10 random facts about myself. One of those random facts was this:


"I didn't realize it at first, but looking back, I seem to have learned more about how to deal with tough situations in my life from characters in books than I have from anywhere else."


It's so weird how sometimes, certain topics in the news, on the blogs I read, or anywhere I might happen to look, really seem to correlate with exactly what I'm thinking about at the moment. I'm sure it's really more about me noticing those topics more than usual since they're on my mind, but still. It's weird.

Kahlan Amnell (Sword of Truth)

So this article got me thinking about the books I choose to read. And the way my personality has developed over my lifetime. And how we're all so different, even from the people who are the closest to us. I'll spare you the details, but this article really  made me think about myself from a whole new perspective. And even though I knew that books have influenced my life and the person I am, I never really thought of that in the way the research presents it - that I basically experienced the emotions and feelings of fictional characters as if they were my own.


Now I'm thinking, I should probably diversify my reading a bit before the only place I'll ever fit in is a medieval, alternate reality where I'll use my rare magic abilities to embark upon an epic journey to save the last living dragons from enslavement by a mad king who wants to use them to rule the world. Or something like that. I also don't know if I want to start reading anything told from the perspective of an unlikable narrator. I sure wouldn't want to find that I relate to him or her on some level and then start adopting their behavior.


I probably also need to re-think my obsession with Dexter. Just in case this research extends to TV too.


So, what about you? Do you think that the books you've read have affected your behavior? Has it gone further than that and affected your morals (I can certainly see where certain fantasy series have affected the way I see right and wrong and my own personal idea of honor)?