Most book-lovers are guilty of re-reading the same books over and over again. Regardless of whether you've read that book five times or fifty times, you keep picking it up and going through it again, and we're no different. So today, we thought we would list the pros and cons of re-reading.
Most book-lovers are guilty of re-reading the same books over and over again. Regardless of whether you've read that book five times or fifty times, you keep picking it up and going through it again, and we're no different. So today, we thought we would list the pros and cons of re-reading.
Pros
You get to over-analyse and figure out your favourite characters.
You might feel that you didn't really connect with the book characters the first time round...or the second...or the third. But who knows, on the fourth time, you might really start to get them. Re-reading a book can help you understand a character's story arc and allow you to understand their actions, thoughts and emotions. We've all had the character who, on the first read through, we hated. But by the second or third time, it was easier to sympathise with them, because you could see where they were coming from.
Comfort
Re-reading the same book again and again is like curling up with a security blanket or a close friend. You know how the story goes, you know how it all ends and you know that you're going to enjoy it. So, rather than taking the risk with something new and unknown, you settle for the familiar and enjoy yourself whilst you're at it.
You avoid the dreaded 'book hangover'
When you come to the end of a new book, most bookworms end up with a 'book hangover', where they sit and stare at a wall for hours, trying to come back down to Earth and digest what they've just read. When you re-read, you don't have to sit through that. You know all of the outcomes and that the author isn't going to pull a sudden death on you or surprise you with an out-of-the-blue plot twist.
It's cheaper
True, books aren't overly expensive (when you know where to get them), but they still cost money. Sometimes, you just can't afford to go out and keep buying more books - and let's be honest, no bookworm can buy just one book at a time. So, it is cheaper to re-read the ones you enjoy whilst you can and then look to buying new books later on. You paid for it, so you may as well get your money's worth.
New Eyes
Did you ever read a book as a kid and never really understand what the author was getting at? Then, you re-read the book when you get older and suddenly, you see the book in a whole new light? That's the beauty of re-reading books, especially ones that you haven't picked up it years. You get the chance to really grasp the story and understand the characters and the plot in a way that you couldn't previously.
Cons
You'll never read anything new
If you only re-read books and never buy anything new, then you'll always be reading the same old story over and over again. You end up stuck in a rut and eventually, you can quote the book and predict the next sentence before you even reach it. New books bring more excitement and the unknown - you don't know what's going to happen next!
You stick to similar genres
If you don't pick up new material, you're going to end up reading the same genres over and over again. And, to be honest, that can get a bit boring after a while. We all like to nestle into the safe and familiar but who knows how many good books you're missing because you're afraid to branch out a little!
You'll get bored
Ever heard the saying 'familiarity breeds contempt'? Well, the same is true for books. If you read a book to death, over and over again until it's imprinted on your mind, you're going to end up hating that book. Or, at the very least, refusing to ever pick it up again, because there's nothing exciting about it now. By branching out into new books, you'll get the chance to come back to the old favourites when you really feel like it and you'll be able to appreciate them more.
New books are exciting
Just like a new relationship, new books are exciting. You don't know what's coming and it's all unfamiliar territory. Will you hate the book or will you love it? What are the characters like? How will it all end? Well, until you turn the pages and keep reading, you'll never know!
And those are our pros and cons of re-reading your favourite books. Is anyone else guilty of this?
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