29. Get your money's worth
On rereading your books!
Author Note: When you are reading this, I will be in Italy. No, I won’t shut up about it! I pre-wrote this post for the week, but I will be skipping next week to enjoy my vacation. Drop any article ideas or bookish questions in the comments! See you in two Sundays.
Books cost about $18ish dollars (USD), more if you buy a hardback. My source? All my recent receipts from the bookstore.
Why on earth would you buy a book to read it only once?
I have very strong feelings about rereading books. I adore it. There are several that I reread all the time, including my annual Emily Henry summer reads and my comfort books. I read my copy of the Harry Potter series so much that the spine started breaking this fall. (RIP). I reread Sorcery of Thorns at least three times as an ebook, and I already read the physical copy twice since I got it last fall. My Mariana Zapata books? Reread them all. Fantasies? I could write an essay on each.
Reading is about more than reading a novel just once. It is about being immersed in a world, learning something new, experiencing new perspectives. Finding comfort and a home in a fictional space, exploring the depths of your imagination, and realizing that you learn more by rereading, getting to know the characters better.
When I’m tired, rereading one of my favorites is relaxing. When I’m overwhelmed with life, rereading one of my favorites allows me to escape. When I’m feeling uninspired, rereading one of my favorites inspires me.
Some people say I don’t have time. I say that it’s not a race. Who are you competing against?
Reading is for your enjoyment, not to keep up with the trends.
I read something recently that talked about why we enjoy rewatching our favorite shows and movies, listening to the same music, and rereading the same books. Simply put, it’s comforting. It’s like climbing into bed at the end of a long day. Like a hug from your mom.
What is your comfort book?
Same note as last week for all of the links: I didn’t love linking to Goodreads since the platform is incredibly frustrating. I found a website, bookshop.org, which is all about supporting independent bookstores. I am going to try it out, but let me know if I should switch to Amazon - whatever you like best! (these are affiliate links.)
Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher (Romance): June 18, 2024
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (Mystery/Thriller): June 18, 2024
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager (Mystery/Thriller): June 18, 2024
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (Thriller): June 18, 2024
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (Fiction): June 18, 2024
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen (Fantasy): June 18, 2024
Sandwich by Catherine Newman (Fiction): June 18, 2024
One Star Romance by Laura Hankin (Romance): June 18, 2024
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier (Historical Fiction): June 18, 2024
Four Squares by Bobby Finger (Fiction): June 18, 2024
Books I’ve compiled from mainly the NYT Bestsellers List, but also the B&N Top 100 and Amazon Bestsellers in no particular order. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.
Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson (Thriller)
Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver (Romance, check TW)
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear (Historical Mystery)
The Ashes & The Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent (Fantasy)
The Wren in The Holly Library by K.A. Linde (Fantasy)
I actually did a focus on her back in article 6, but as we’re talking about comfort reads, Margaret fits perfectly.
I knew nothing about Margaret when I picked up Sorcery of Thorns, but I absolutely adored it and the novella. To this day, it is a book that I reread and think about (as I mentioned earlier!) There is talent in writing a fully formed fantasy book as a standalone, something she does here. Let alone the fact that the story itself is compelling and unique, and the characters are adorable and lovely to follow. I have reread the book numerous times, and fully intend to do so again and again.
Margaret is absolutely adorable and has a one eyed cat named Commodore. Besides Sorcery of Thorns, she has also written An Enchantment of Ravens and Vespertine. She loves to watch documentaries and go exploring in the woods. Margaret was a gem and released the novella to Sorcery of Thorns, Mysteries of Thorn Manor, in January 2023! Quite frankly, I want her to keep releasing novellas for the rest of her life about this world because I can’t get enough. Most recently, I read Verspertine, and it was great! I loved that it was (once again) a fully formed stand alone fantasy without any romance, just friendship and family. Quite refreshing.
You can find her on Instagram here.
Just a reminder to submit any books you think others will love on the R&R page or to my email: thesundayreads@gmail.com!
a book
That’s all for today. Much love
Izzy
I am so the opposite of you. I am a confirmed non re-reader. I know that puts me in the minority of book lovers. But I feel that life is too short to even read all the books I want to read, so why re-read something I already know? I will admit, though, that as a writer, re-reading books is an excellent way to learn craft so I do it (grudgingly) upon occasion.
Hope you are enjoying Italy!! I am both a re-reader and not a re-reader - I think mood and timing is what drives me to re-read, and not necessarily have a timeframe in mind. The Bronze Horseman trilogy? Binged over COVID as an escape after not having read it for years. The Winner's Curse trilogy? Binged out of the longing for wanting a fantasy series just like it but never finding that sweet spot. Anna Bradley's More Or Less A Countess is a historical romance I seem to have started re-reading every year since Bridgerton dropped, one of my all time favourites and such a brilliant comfort read.