I’ve always been a re-reader. But this summer especially has seemed to be one of old favorites.
Today I finished re-reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for the umpteenth time, and it still made me cry. I can’t tell you how many times I read this book when I was little, and I distinctly remember crying over you-know-what part the first two times I read it. But this was my first visit to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy since I’ve actually experienced death, in “real” life.
I swear that books–that the power of stories and the comfort of the written word–are what got me through “the valley of shadow” in one piece. The first thing I did after my grandpa died was shut myself in my bedroom and read The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien.
This is a huge reason why I believe in reading fiction.
“Made up” characters can sympathize sometimes when “real” ones can’t; and living some things through a novel (or a movie) is better experience than most people seem to give it credit for.
I remember standing in the bathroom washing my hands, right after I finished reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, looking at myself in the mirror, and bursting into giggles from sheer contentedness. I reasoned that from a strictly bookworm-ish point of view, I had just gotten engaged, and could therefore give myself grace to be a bit giddy.
The characters in my favorite books are family, and I can’t see them as anything else. They have taught me more than almost any nonfiction, and they make me a stronger, braver, kinder person. And that is why I believe in reading fiction.
That is why I will not stop talking about books.
Unlike you, I actually didn’t like reading before I was 17. Then, it was like a light switched on in my brain. By the time I was 22, I’d read over 200 books (the last time I tried to count them). I suppose I should be around 2000 now, but I think I’m a lot closer to 500. Because, like you, I like to re-read books. I’ve read “The Hobbit” nine times and the Lord of the Ring seven times. Does that count as 30 books or just 4?
I’m not sure which book I’ve re-read the most, but it is probably “The Hobbit”. My old copies of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” have the dates I read them each time inscribed inside the covers. I haven’t kept track of others books like that.
I re-read books for probably much the same reason that you do. I want to spend time with some old friends.
YAAAY Little Women is one of my top favorite books, it makes me happy when I hear of other people who like it too 🙂
Haha, yes! Never stop talking about books, my bookworm friend <3 <3 <3
Here to cheer you on, keep visiting your dear friends and talking about books!
LITTLE WOMEN AND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE YES. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite books (since I can’t pick one I have a list xD). It is SO true that fictional characters can sympathize when real people can’t. I have even “met” fictional characters that I wish were real because I cold totally be friends with them (like Becca in To Get To You).
Loved this, Hanna! <3
Oh I love this book so much too! And coming from a family of four girls myself, the sibling relationships in Little Women is so spot on :DD We’re right now watching the new miniseries from Masterpiece and it’s really good! I feel like I’m due for a reread.
And I heartily agree with everything you said!!
xx lisa