The Rereadathon is here!

 

I'm running a bit behind with this, but better late than never! I spent most of the weekend at Big Camp 2015, which is where every Scout in our District (from the ages of 5-25) descends on the Yorkshire Showground to camp, abseil, canoe, make their Leaders' lives a misery... etc.

Only I had to go home ill last night and then promptly spent literally 23 consecutive hours asleep (!), so obviously I haven't got a whole lot of reading done. Never mind. I had a good time at the parts of Camp that I wasn't ill for and I have plenty of time to read now!

  

This is my TBR for this week, which I may or may not decide stick to. They're all books that I've been wanting to reread for a while and there's a nice mix of genres there, so hopefully I'll be able to read the ones I don't get to this week before too long.

Wrap-up

I was going to do a day-by-day running tally in true readathon style, but that didn't happen due to a generally busy week and bouts of minor illness. That said, I can hardly call the rereadathon a bust.

I managed to reread two whole books, which doesn't sound like a lot but I wouldn't have reread anything if it wasn't for Bex and her great idea. Plus, at the rate I'm going at the minute, it's unlikely I'd have managed to read two books at all otherwise.

I'd always planned to kick-off the rereadathon with Never Let Me Go. It completely blew me away when I first read it a few months pre-Booking in Heels, but I wasn't sure how it would hold up to a reread. Part of the point of the novel is slowly unravelling what's happening the students at Hailsham and I thought that my pre-existing knowledge might ruin it slightly. 

It didn't. This book is still amazing. It was interesting watching out for the early clues that I didn't catch the first time round in my unknowning naivety. ARGH I LOVE THIS BOOK. I still think Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley are the wrong way round in the film version, but considering I'm unlikely to watch it anyway I don't suppose it really matters.

I struggled a little bit trying to decide which book to read next, but then I opted for The Night Circus. Partly because it's an absolutely beautiful book, but also because Bex bought it for me during Christmas 2011 (!!!) and the gift note that I'd tucked inside made me smile. It just seemed appropriate :)

It was surprising how little I remembered of the book though. I mean, I knew the overall gist - two duelling magicians set during a travelling black and white circus - but I'd forgotten how stunning and well-written it is. I'd also forgotten the somewhat dissatisfying ending, but let's just gloss over that. 

My previous review of The Night Circus is here, but I'm planning on writing a more updated one shortly.

I really hope Bex runs this event again - I loved having an excuse to reread without feeling guilty that I'm neglecting my newer, shinier books! It is interesting that I last read both of these books in 2011, once again confirming that I seem to have an unintentional rereading cycle of four years.

Do you reread your favourite books? If so, how often?

Top Ten Books I Want to Reread

I'm one of those strange creatures in the book blogging world - a 'rereader.' Having 300+ books that I haven't read, it can be difficult to pick up one that doesn't help to slightly decrease the Towering TBR of Doom and so I don't do it as often as I'd like. Come January though, my TBR will be down to 299 or less so I'm hoping to squeeze in a few rereads of books I already know and love.

1) Ape House by Sara Gruen

I hadn't thought about this book in years until I read and reviewed We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, which is another novel examining the lives of chimps used for scientific and psychological experiments.

I didn't really 'click' with it, which is what pushed me into thinking about Ape House again. It's a wonderful, thoughtful, heart-breaking novel that really got to me. 

2) We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
 
I wasn't sure whether to include this or not, because I'm not certain I can handle reading this again. This book broke me into so many pieces and had me looking over my shoulder for weeks.

While this may seem like an odd motivation for wanting to reread, I understand the ending of the novel now and I'd love to see what difference that makes to my interpretation of the rest of the book. 

3) Persuasion by Jane Austen

To say how much I love Jane Austen, I don't reread her books all that often. Well, aside from Pride and Prejudice, which I've read six times, but that almost goes without saying.

Persuasion is my second favourite of her novels, I know that much, but I don't actually remember it very well at all. It surprised me that there are no balls and no fancy parties, just a simple romance with lots of doubt and self-esteem issues. Just like the real world then.  

4) The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

Hmm. Taking a bit of a risk with this one. I read it when I was about sixteen or so, when I went on a classics binge after realising I loved Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately I really didn't like it and haven't touched it since.

Thing is, I can't decide if I really didn't like it (which would be odd considering how much I adore The Importance of Being Earnest), or if I just didn't give it enough time. I'm willing to bite the bullet and give it a second chance.

5) The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern
 
I might actually bump this up and read it later this year. Bex bought it for me during Christmas 2011 (as part of her conspiracy to make everybody IN THE ENTIRE WORLD read this book) and I read it just before New Year's. Unfortunately it's stuck in my head that that's the only time of year in which it can be read, so it's pretty much going to have to be squeezed in in December.

Not that that's much of a chore. I loved this book.  

6) Our Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger 

This is the second book by the author of The Time Traveller's Wife, which pretty much scarred me for life. If you can read that without having a little cry to yourself, you are a broken person.

Our Fearful Symmetry is very different and I remember really liking it, but I can't quite remember why. I've read her first book a few times, so I feel that I sort of owe it to this book, in the interests of keeping it even :)  

7) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I only read The Hobbit last year (or maybe the year before - I could go check, but you're not really that desperate to know, are you?) and yet I already want to read it again. It could be because of the films (although we all know how ranty I get about those) or possibly even that I've been playing LEGO Hobbit on the Xbox again, but it's more likely because it's just an awesome book.

I actually think I like it more than The Lord of the Rings, and I love that series.

8) Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

This book is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. While I'm not ashamed of reading YA, it's not usually the sort of thing I feel the need to read more than once. Maybe it's because Jodi Picoult is obviously a very established adult author, but I well and truly fell in love with this book. I even shlepped to Manchester to get it signed, such is my love.

It's one of my ultimate happy books - I might reread this one next time I'm feeling a little bit sad.

9) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I was talking about this with a friend the other day and haven't been able to get it out with my head since. Another book that really stomped on my heart - why do I want to reread all the books that hurt me!?

Maybe I'll read this next, actually. I'm reading Norwegian Wood at the moment, so I'm in more or less the right frame of mind.

I actually even really like the cover, which is odd considering it's a movie version. Which I really should get round to watching one day.

10) The Belgariad by David Eddings  

This is the book series that led me into adult fiction, so I'll always have a soft spot for it. I've read it a few times but not nearly enough recently, so I might dedicate a few weeks to this series in the New Year.

It's proper, traditional 1980s fantasy but with unique aspects that make it just perfect.

I can probably actually recite the large majority of the five books by now, but that's alright. I'll still enjoy the journey. 

Well? Which books are you looking forward to rereading?