49. The Art of Rereading
Why rereading old favorites is good for you
Growing up, there was much I did not understand. For a myriad of reasons I won’t be getting into today, walking into my bedroom was a breath of fresh air. I could practically feel any anxiety fall off my shoulders. I could shut the door, leaving only me with myself and what a relief that was.
I learned that trying new things, putting myself out there, could lead to hurt. I had been shown that my natural self wasn’t good enough. I broke five bones in different escapades trying things (whether they were smart is not up for debate today!). I never knew the right thing to say. I would try my best at certain things, only to fall short.
What I did know? That my books couldn’t hurt me. That I could return to world and characters who I loved, where I could watch them solve their problems to their benefit. So, I would reread. Escapism into old favorites has been a coping mechanism for me since before I can remember.
I’ve learned in recent years the signs that it has become a crutch and that I need to reenter the real world. But, I still love and will continue to reread books. To me, a sign of a well loved book is one with creases from my fingers throughout the years, a warm smile when I see it on my bookshelf, the marks on different pages as signs I was there, I lived. It is in those moments that I am present with a past self.
As you might have guessed, a lack of control over anything is something I struggle with deeply and something my therapist and I are working through. For anyone else with anxiety, I do recommend rereading your books. It is a coping mechanism, one where you can fall back on old comforts with that sense of control. It can be a comfort - but learn to recognize when it becomes a crutch.
Besides being an anxiety management technique, rereading has many other benefits including increased reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, self discovery, and a better understanding of the world outside your own experience. You might notice that as you reread, you have become a different person, and you experience the book differently. There are new, hidden lessons to learn. There are ways of seeing the world you might not have otherwise.
Because of all of this, I highly recommend rereading the books you love. Why not? So, with that, I leave you with these questions: What is your favorite book? Do you like to reread?
We have many, many great releases this week. Note, these are affiliate links.
Skyshade by Alex Aster (Fantasy): Nov 12, 2024
To Die For by David Baldacci (Mystery): Nov 12, 2024
Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA Action/Romance): Nov 12, 2024
Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell (Animals, Environment): Nov 12, 2024
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L Jensen (Fantasy): Nov 12, 2024
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson (Fantasy): Nov 12, 2024
A Bloom in Winter by JR Ward (Paranormal Romance): Nov 12, 2024
Kingmakers: Year Two by Sophie Lark (Romance): Nov 12, 2024
The Co-op by Tarah Dewitt (Romance): Nov 12, 2024
The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg (Christmas, Folklore): Nov 12, 2024
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley (Fantasy): Nov 12, 2024
Inkworld: The Color of Revenge by Cornelia Funke (Magic, Libraries): Nov 12, 2024
The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick (Romantic Fantasy): Nov 12, 2024
Reel by Kennedy Ryan (Romance): Nov 12, 2024
Books I’ve compiled from a variety of lists such as the New York Times, Indiebound, and the B&N Top 100, but also through what I’ve seen online. 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.
The Gray Wolf by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco (Fantasy)
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (Thriller)
Lights Out by Navessa Allen (Romance, Dark)
Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang (Fantasy)
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (Fantasy)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Women, Life)
God of Malace by Rina Kent (Romance)
I’ve recently been using a quote as a mantra for myself:
Courage, dear heart.
Thank you, CS Lewis.
Clive Staples Lewis was born and raise in Ireland. For him and his brother, education was highly prioritized. Both of their parents graduated from university - at this time, it was extremely uncommon for women to get degrees. Both boys were early readers, and CS Lewis even began writing of fantasy worlds in his childhood.
He was highly educated, gaining several degrees and honors at Oxford. He also served in the military during WWI. CS Lewis has written several novels about Christianity and his discovery of it. Lewis was an atheist as a teen and into his twenties, but his good friend JRR Tolkien - have you heard of him? - helped him discover his faith. His most famous works are The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven children’s fantasy novels. His favorite work was actually Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold which is about the story of Cupid and Psyche from the POV of one of Pysche’s sisters. While the most highly praised of all his novels, it was also the least popular amongst the masses.
Lewis was married to Joy Davidman from 1956 to her death in 1960. She was an American poet, and she died after a battle with advanced cancer. She and Lewis enjoyed several years of remission together before she passed away. After her death, he wrote about grief and his faith after losing his wife. CS Lewis died in 1963 at the age of 64.
What a reminder that life is lived for the entirety of your time on Earth, not just for a few years. I’m quite curious to read his book, Till We Have Faces, as it seems like it would be popular at this time! I got my information from brittanica.com.
Just a reminder to comment any recommendations or email me: thesundayreads@gmail.com!
The Co-Op! I read this ARC last month, and I really enjoyed it. A breath of fresh air, a palette cleanser, and still contains life lessons.
That’s all for today. Much love
Izzy
This is such a brilliant read, Izzy! I haven't reread a book in so long because my TBR is just staring at me (lol) but I do have lots of books I want to return to. I keep all of my favourite books so I can reread them and loan them out, and I love seeing the spines crack more and more.
There is such a comfort in already knowing. Books are great for making us think and keeping us on edge, but sometimes we just need to escape into a world we already know.
I loved this Izzy! Rereading has been such a good comfort in times of need, and just like you have been discovering how I used books to escape when I was younger. Books are such a big part of dealing with life, at least it is for me, and it so nice to see that other readers have similar experiences.