Book Blogger Hop #1
Today’s Question(s) is …
Have you ever reread a book? If so, why did you decide to reread it?
My Answer(s) is …
Um. This is such a strange question to me. I know there are readers who don’t like to reread, and I’m pretty sure they’ve still reread at least one book. I could totally be wrong, though. Maybe I’m overthinking this question a bit. This doesn’t bode well for future posts.
You’ve probably already guessed my answer. And, if you read my blog regularly, then you’ll definitely know my answer. Yes, I’ve reread a book. I’ve reread many books. There are some series I make a priority to reread every three or four years. This includes Harry Potter, Twilight, The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Hunger Games, Graceling, and a few YA and adult stand-alones. Each year, an average of 33% of the books I read are rereads. So far this year, I’ve read 28 books and 8 of them were rereads.
Even though there are over 1500 books on my TBR, I need to reread some of my favorite stories. I love revisiting my favorite fictional places and spending time with my favorite characters. Every book I rate between 4 and 5 stars are ones I’d consider reading again. I actually only give a book 5 stars if:
- I want to reread it.
- It makes me feel happy in some way.
I’ll reread a book if it fulfills a requirement for a challenge. I’ll reread to participate in a read-along, like I did with The Chronicles of Narnia this year. And, I reread for my mental health.
Trigger warning. Only continue reading if you’re in a good space. Those who read my blog regularly know I deal with a few different mental illnesses: Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD. Because of these disorders, suicidal ideation is something I struggle with almost weekly. Most of the time, my ideation is between a 1 and 2 (out of 5). This means I have fleeting thoughts and maybe a fleeting plan when it’s closer to a 2. Every now and then, my ideation gets to one of the higher numbers. I’ve been at a 5 (acting on the urge) five times in my life. Fortunately, I’m still alive.
When I’m at skills breakdown, for me that’s an ideation between a 4 and 5, it’s harder to access and use the skills I learned in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that help me get out of crisis. When my ideation is that high, the most effective skill for me is ice diving. This gets me to a point where I can do other distress tolerance skills. The ones that help me the most are distraction and self-soothing. THIS is where rereading comes in.
I distract with activities, emotions, and/or thoughts AND I self-soothe with hearing by listening to a familiar audiobook, one that I know will help me regulate my emotions. The Harry Potter audiobooks work the best for me because I adore every single character, the arc of Harry’s journey, and the wizarding world in general. When I have a hard time thinking clearly, I can feel calmer and more rational after listening to a chapter or two. At that point, I can use other emotion regulation skills to get me into a more stable place.
Anyway, now that you know more about me than you could possibly ever want to know, what about you? Do you like to reread books or focus on reading new ones?
I learned in DBT that life is full of dialectics, or two opposing truths. In this case, the two opposing truths are: 1) I don’t agree with JKR’s stance regarding trans people, and 2) I still AND will always love Harry Potter.
I have only ever re read one book (unless you count being read to as a child and asking for the same book over and over again). I did try recently, but time ran out – I also get very distracted by Blog Tours!
It is nice to revisit a world and the books that you re read are great ones (the ones I have read and I have read a couple of them!)
Have a good weekend
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/book-blogger-hop-have-you-ever-reread-a-book-if-so-why-did-you-decide-to-reread-it/
I can understand not having time to reread when you request ARCs and participate in tours. Because rereading is tied to my mental health, I don’t request ARCs or participated in any tours. I did a little bit back in the day, but I hated to read on deadline. 😀
Hi Jenni!
Good to see you on Book Blogger Hop! I try to take part whenever I have a bit of time.
There’s a comfort in reading a much loved book or series again. I do believe it’s a very effective form of therapy indeed!
Have a good weekend and happy reading!
Elza Reads
Thanks, Mareli! 😀 It was fun to participate today. It enjoy thinking about my answers to bookish questions.
Aw Jenni, when I read your blog sometimes, I just want to come over and give you a hug. While I don’t have near the issues that you do, I can understand your need to read when you’re feeling down. When I’m anxious or upset, the best thing I can do is to read a book, and I agree, that rereading a comfort book makes me feel good again. I’ve re-read a lot of books over the years.
Thanks so much, Wendy! 😀 The virtual hug is just as nice. I’m glad reading helps you when your anxious or upset too. There’s something about escaping into someone else’s story, isn’t there?
Reading has been my solace and distraction for any traumatic or tragic times of my life. It’s a healthy escape for a while, a different reality to live in that gives my heart and emotions a rest. I re-read parts of books but rarely the whole one.
There’s definitely something about escaping into someone else’s story for a while, isn’t there? 😀 I can also understand only rereading parts of books rather than the whole one. I do that sometimes too, but then I just want to reread the whole book again so I do. LOL.
I love rereading too it can be a real comfort to read something familiar.
Yes, totally. 😀 I’m glad rereading works for you too!
So true about opposing truths. It is entirely possible to disagree with someone but still enjoy other aspects of what they do. Wow, your TBR list is long! I thought mine was long at 100. LOL. I understand why you like to reread books and I agree with you about books that make you feel good. That’s why I love cozy mysteries. Although a horrible crime takes place, the books usually have a positive vibe overall. It’s also why I love Hallmark movies and won’t apologize for it. Lol. I watch an episode of my favorite show (Friends) most days even though I’ve seen them all many times. I think it’s for the same reason you enjoy rereading books. 🙂
Lol. Yeah, my TBR is out of control. It’s time for me to go through it and remove some of the books I’ve lost interest in. I keep putting it off, though. 😀
I’ve never read a cozy mystery. I think I’d like them, though.
I love the Twilight Saga and have reread it many times! I also love the Mortal Instruments but have not reread the series. Hope you have a great week!
I’m with you! I’ve reread the Twilight Saga many times too. I just love the stories so much. I’ve only reread the first three books of the Mortal Instruments. I reread them when the other three were starting to come out. I’d definitely reread the whole thing, though. 😀
Nice blog.
I actually have never re-read a book. 🙂
Thanks! 😀 And, I knew I was wrong. That’s why I said as much. I definitely know a lot of readers don’t reread or don’t enjoy rereading. I, however, thought most readers at least had reread one book. I guess not.
I generally end up rereading the Harry Potter series once every few years, it gives me such immense joy
Me too! 😀 I love the world and the characters and everything about that series.
I don’t re-read all that often – mainly due to FOMO and a ridiculously big list of books I want to read. The times I do are because I’ve hit a reading slump and returning to a book I’ve previously enjoyed always picks me back up.
Rereading your favorites during a reading slump is so helpful! I do that often. 😀
Aw, this reminds me of the early blogging days. I didn’t realize their was still an active blog hop. I may have to join in. 🙂 I know a lot of people don’t reread because there are so many books – so little time, but I looooove rereading books. It’s the same as watching my favorite movies over and over again. It’s so wonderful to revisit those stories – even if it’s at the expense of another. I know I’ll enjoy the one I’m rereading. 🙂
You should join in! 😀 I found out about it through one of the blogs I frequent. It seems like it’s going to be fun. And, I totally agree with you about knowing I’ll enjoy a favorite over one I have no idea about.
Prior to the pandemic I’ve never reread a book, except for one time that was an accident from school where in elementary school I had a book assigned and then in middle school after I moved, I was assigned that very same book! I usually remember the major plotline of books, so it didn’t feel enjoyable to go back and read it knowing exactly what would happen? But of course once the pandemic hit, I started rereading a favorite from a decade ago and it honestly brought me a lot of joy, so I’ve been doing that more often lately, but I’ll usually switch the form up so there’s some difference.
I also used to do a lot more ARC requesting and blog tours, so like Emily’s comment earlier, I got distracted by blog tours. I do less of those now, since I’m trying to focus more on reading for enjoyment rather than stressing myself out.
I really didn’t know there were readers who hadn’t reread anything. I figured every reader had to have reread at least one book. I was wrong. That’s what I get with thinking in absolutes. 😀
I haven’t re-read a book in so may years. Once I got overwhelmed with ARC’s I just never had time. But long before blogging I re-read constantly. It’s something I’d like to get back to now that I rarely take books for review.
I had to look up ice diving because I was like…Jenni is going ICE DIVING??? lol That’s interesting. One of my triggers in my panic attacks is that I get so hot that sometimes I pass out. My therapist had me bring a frozen bottle of water with me when I had jury duty (a situation where I couldn’t just leave) and it helped SO much.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Blogging (meaning reading books specifically for reviews) definitely affects our reading habits. I think this is why I’ve never actively requested ARCs or participated in blog tours. I wanted the freedom to read what and how I want. I also hate reading on deadline. It feels too much like reading for school and I never did that so why would I start, lol.
LOL. Yeah, that’s why I linked to an article about ice diving. I knew not everyone would be familiar with it. Frozen bottle of water sounds great. I love how quickly ice diving can help me return to my senses. 😀
Welcome to Book Blogger Hop! I hope you enjoy participating! I’m with you, rereads all the way! A familiar book to self-soothe, as a reader, that makes perfect sense! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!
Thanks! I did enjoy participating, but I couldn’t muster up the motivation to post this past week. Hopefully, I’ll be good to go this coming Friday. 😀