This week’s theme is books that I'd like to reread. The thing is, I'm not a big rereader. I've done several of them recently because I've had book clubs select books that I read before, but too long ago to remember well enough to discuss, but there are so many books out there that I want to read, that rereading feels like a big waste of time for me on a personal level. But I also believe that the way we relate to books is greatly affected by when we read them, and I've been considering some rereads of books I read (and loved) when I was in school to see how they've aged. So this list is going to be books from my childhood I think I ought to reread. Let's go.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
My 8th grade English teacher recommended this book for me, and I absolutely loved it. But I was talking about it with a gentlemen I'm in a book club with a couple weeks ago and we had very different views on the story, and I'm the one who hasn't read it since they were 14. So it might be time for a reread.
I absolutely loved this series when I was in elementary school (I dressed up as Laura for Halloween in 4th or 5th grade). When my son was in elementary school, they read an excerpt from I think Little House in the Big Woods, and I mentioned that we had the whole series if he wanted to read it. I don't think he got very far, but he did tell me that he thinks Pa is crazy and not a great parent. I don't recall picking up on that when I was a kid, so now I wanna reread to try and understand what my kid saw.
I remember this book being a lot like the Little House on the Prairie series, featuring a young girl when horses were common transportation. It would be interesting to see if one aged better than the other.
I read several of the books in McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series when I was in middle school, after my mother suggested them to me. And I definitely remember there being talk about coupling between the dragon riders, so I think I should reread to see how accurate that memory is. Also, I just really love the historical fiction feeling science fiction.
I used to reread books a lot, mostly this one. I read it so many times, my copy literally fell apart. I obviously related to Matilda being a young girl who absolutely loved to read and got in trouble for it from authority figures (it was a major talking point at parent teacher conferences when I was in 2nd grade). I think it would be interesting to see if I still relate to Matilda.
And it turns out there are only five books I read during my childhood that I can remember reading, how they made me feel, and have solid reasons for why I think I ought to reread them. But I'm okay with that, because it's really way more than 5 books with the two series I included.
What books did you read in your childhood that you've reread as an adult? How did your perception of things change?
Have you read any of these books as either a child or an adult?
If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can check out your rereading list. - Katie
I need to reread Jane Eyre, too! In fact, I wonder if all I've read of it is the Children's Abridged version. So it would be reading it for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI'm also not a big rereader anymore. Too many books that need to be read for the first time. But in recent years I did do some re-reading and essentially when I get around to it, I plan to re-read another series from my early days as it was given an additional book a few years ago...still haven't read it either but I thought a series re-read would be necessary before diving into that one!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
It's funny, I only ever read the first Little House on the Prairie book. I adored the show, often seeing myself as Laura, but not the books.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-ns-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-n/
I loved Little House as a kid too. I read them all of the time!!! I still re-read them honestly. Lol.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is a good read. I reread it just a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to reread these!
ReplyDeletethat's so funny about the Little House books - my husband recently decided to read through them and he got as far as halfway through book 5 before he abandoned it but he made the same assessment that your son did. My TTT
ReplyDeleteI would like to re read Jane Eyre! I should have added it to my list!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/top-ten-tuesday-books-id-like-to-re-read/
I'm not sure if I read Matilda during my childhood, I did read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory though. But other books by Roald Dahl? I really can't recall any!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/07/08/top-ten-tuesday-re-reading-books/
Same! I've never been much for re-reading for the same reason you gave - it feels like wasting time. The older I get, though, the worse my memory is getting so I am re-reading more now than I ever have, especially if I want to continue with a series and it's been awhile since the last installment. That's funny about the Little House books. I was a rabid fan, too, as a kid. When I re-read the first one a couple years ago, I was a little disappionted. It just didn't have the same magic it once did. *Sigh* I hope you enjoy your re-reads!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!