This summer more than one of my friends is re-reading Harry Potter - all of Harry Potter - the six already published books, so they can be ready for the last one coming out later this month. I must confess - Don't you judge me! - I have never read any Harry Potter. Not one word. Not even by accident. I'm not entirely sure why I haven't. The first one was published in the US when I was sick with baby #1. I admit I was influenced by the "Yikes, sorcery is a destructive danger to the children" crowd. I don't think that way anymore. Maybe I didn't want to catch up -- maybe I'm secretly proud I'm not like everyone else -- maybe I'll buy the boxed set in the trunk when it is released in September.
OK, that was the rabbit trail. The point is the re-reading of books. Books as friends; books as comfort. Just as I can name the foods from my childhood as my comfort foods for the low times of my life, I have recognized that there are books I turn to over & over. Many of them are labeled "children's books" and put in that section of the library & bookstore, but the ones I return to seem to have a lot of depth (or maybe I'm just trying to convince myself that I am intellectual.)
I also seem drawn to series books. I want to be involved in an epic story or adventure -- 200 pages isn't going to be enough. So, since 3rd grade (1979), by which point I had acquired the necessary reading skills, I have read and reread several series of books. I never start just one -- I always start the series and read all the way through.
The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 9 books, 12 times
Anne of Green Gables by L.M.Montgomery, 8 books, 19 times
Emily books by L.M.Montgomery, 3 books, 8 times
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis, 7 books, more than 25 times
Writing this out, I'm not sure why I do this. They are comforting -- is it the idea of visiting with old friends? Is the comfort that I know what is going to happen and that I know I like the whole story? Do I like being able to submerse myself in another world & the long series means I get to stay awhile?
Am I the only one?
1 comment:
I am actually reading a book right now that is CALLED Rereading. It's a bunch of essays from various authors, about rereading some of their favorite books.
I definitely have a comfort book, although I don't quite understand WHY it's a comfort book for me. It's Cooking for Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser, and I turn to it over and again when I'm sad, or tired, or sick, or just want a book that feels like a friend. But I don't know why a food writer is the one who provides me that.
(I also have several kids' books on my shelves, including some I read as a child and some I read for the first time as an adult. And those include some of the Harry Potter books.)
Post a Comment