The Fairy Book Club discussion

I just wanted to open this up as it's something I've personally been asked about many times. I wondered what everyone's thoughts are on re-reading books! What are the pros and cons? Do you find you change what you get from the book by reading it at a different age? Or do you see it as a comfort to go back into a story you know?

Personally, I rarely re-read books, but that's not because of a decision around it specifically, I just always end up trying a new book!

What books have you re-read and why?

I am definitely a re-reader, but even more of a re-listener. I’m someone who likes to fall asleep to a good audiobook, and already knowing what will happen helps immensely with that. Otherwise I’d be up all night, not being able to let the plot go for one second. ;)
But like I said, I also enjoy going back to physical books. “The Little Prince” and “Brothers” by Ted van Lieshout are two books from my childhood I reread once a year - and for the latter I can exactly tell on which page I’ll just start crying like a baby. That’s how often I’ve read it. Those are mainly my nostalgic comfort re-reads. Time bringing a new perspective to a text is something that happens with poetry for me, just because it’s a more evocative medium with more empty spaces that will inevitably be filled by one’s own evolving experiences (at least that’s how I see it).

I have many books that are always worth a re-read. Some with complex stories that reveal more and more on each read. Some books are important for me on a certain mood, which will be enhanced by a book, or changed.
Books speak to us. Some can hold long conversations with us and when we meet them at a later point in life, we exchange more emotions or mental progress from them.

Special mention to books that are a pleasure to re-read just for the excellent use of language by the author.
Some of our highest rated wordsmiths have a smooth and flowing mastery of their language, that you grow in your own understanding of that language, being it your primary or an acquired.

I reread books that I particularly enjoy and that give me pleasure and comfort. There is something very comforting about diving back into a story with familiar characters that seem like part of the family.

I was once an avid rereader as I couldn't afford to buy books and at home with young children the library wasn't an option when sometimes I had to return them without even reading them. I had a bookcase of favourites that I used to reread often. When my children went to school I read all their school novels, which is where my love for YA came from. I don't reread anymore as I have a mountainous TBR to get through.

Julie wrote: "I reread books that I particularly enjoy and that give me pleasure and comfort. There is something very comforting about diving back into a story with familiar characters that seem like part of the..."

This is mostly why I re-read as well. I don't do it a lot but sometimes I just feel the need to go back to a certain book or a certain set of characters.

It's the same reason why I'm always happy to pick up the newest installment in some of the series I'm reading. I just love being brought back into that world and meet those characters again.



Can You Keep a Secret? is one of my go-to books when I feel the need to dive back into something comfortable and familiar. No matter how many times I've read it, I always laugh at the same silly spots again and I always swoon when the happy ending is just around the corner.

I rarely re-read books and have only done it 2 or 3 times. I pretty much always want to read something new, but having said that, sometimes it feels nice to go back to an old book/story and re-read it. Especially if I have been unlucky in my latest book choices and want something I know I will love.

I dont re-read a lot, but I have a few favorites that I can re-read over and over again =)

Mostly what I like is that I can see and feel different things in the books I go back to. But it is also a bit like coming home, or seeing and old friend.

One of my re-read books is Sens and Sensibility (Austen), I read it for the first time when i was like 13, and I re-read it the first time when I was like 24, and it was such a different experience! My point of view had change so much, what I felt for the characters had skifted so much! I loved it when I was 13, and I loved it when I was 24, and I still love it now (32), but why I love it has change. Who in the book I identify with have change.

What a fun question, I always thought re-reading was something everyone did! But then again, I don't know so many avid readers in my real life...
I re-read (obviously), but it very much depends on my mood, if I am in a bad period of my life, I tend to re-read more, I think it has something to do with the comfort of knowing what will happen and also, maybe, to recreate a feeling I had, when I read the book first time. I mainly re-read classics (I have to read The Great Gatsby or Lord of the Rings every other year) or childhood favourites. I find it fascinating that a so-called children's book can speak to me as an adult, and I think it shows that the author took his or her job seriously and wrote something high quality, even though it is a book written 'just' for children (Harry Potter is an example). Great books are worth reading more than once, but I do feel the conflict between my TBR- list and the books I'd love to re-read, so many books, so little time...

Annemette wrote: "What a fun question, I always thought re-reading was something everyone did! But then again, I don't know so many avid readers in my real life...
I re-read (obviously), but it very much depends on ..."

Thank you for your reply, Annette! That's great to know it's a source of comfort but also a big part of your life rediscovering old favourites. I recently read The Secret Garden after listening to it as an audio cassette as a child. It's just a magical as it was and I'm glad to re-read it, so I might try others, too!

I am not typically a re-reader, but I do like to go back and read books I read in High School. I feel like I have a deeper appreciation for them now and I get so much more out of them. Our viewpoints change as we go through life changing events and experience new things.

Just wanted to come back in here and say I've recently started to read the Minalima edition of 'The Secret Garden' (please please look up these editions, they are to die for), after listening to the audiobook over and over again as a child. I am enjoying re-reading it so much, it's beautiful.

Cordelia wrote: "Just wanted to come back in here and say I've recently started to read the Minalima edition of 'The Secret Garden' (please please look up these editions, they are to die for), after listening to th..."

That is definitely an edition I'd consider rereading the book in as well!

I loved The Secret Garden story as a child but I never read the book until fairly recently. I only ever knew the movie, which I've watched over and over again.

Personally, I re-read regularly a few of my favorite books : Harry Potter serie, Hunger Games serie, Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables serie. As I write this post, I realize most of my re-reading are books from my childhood...
I don't know how to explain it but I need to do this. I love these books so much and I need to get back to them. It's like coming home or having comfort to meet these characters again. But with each reading, I'm discovering new details and as I grow older my opinion is changing. It's different but still good !

And Cordelia, you're so right the Minalima editions are so beautiful !! Got the version of Beauty and the Best, this book is art !

re-reading, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I received in the last book fairy box and really love it.
Makes me feel like I also can travel back time and change the past, but only before the coffee gets cold. You know that, when you have that strange feeling in winter while having coffee after a long walk in a wet atmosphere, who makes you dream while resting!
I love it! Sometimes we make thing without knowing why, like re-reading a book, and rediscover it like you never read it.