Do you enjoy re-reading books? I do, from time to time. Looking over my shelves, I realised that there are a select few I re-read the most. Five books have made it onto this list, and I am excited to share them with you!
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
I love Alice and all the denizens of Wonderland and the world through the Looking Glass. So much so that my wedding was Mad Tea Party themed.
It’s no surprise then that I have read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland many, many times over the years. I own several different editions, and I am working on annotating my most well loved copy. I even have a scrapbook inside one copy.
It is hard to voice exactly what it is I love about this book. Alice herself is quite a strong willed girl, not always taking things at face value, which I appreciate. The nonsense that lives amongst the pages makes a strange amount of sense to me. I wish that I could tumble down the rabbit hole and explore Wonderland myself.
There is just something so timeless and appealing about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that just pulls me back again and again.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Ah Bridget. I never get tired of witnessing your growth as a person. Amid all the bizarre and awkward situations Bridget finds herself in, she learns more and more about the world and herself, attaining a wonderful sense of self awareness and confidence (though that does falter here and there, as it does with all of us I am sure).
I saw the movie before I read the book, and I think that impacted on my enjoyment a great deal. I loved everything about it and decided to buy the book. I will never not imagine Mark Darcy as Colin Firth. I will not apologise for this.
Though it has been a while since I have given this a reread, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a book I know I can return to again and again for a comfortable and familiar read.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
OK, to start this off I would like to say that I, like many, am conflicted about Harry Potter in the midst of the Rowling debacle (I absolutely do not agree with her views and stand with trans people always).
Despite the controversy, I cannot deny that one of the most reread books on my shelf is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment in the Harry Potter series. I loved the overall darker turn that this book took as compared to the previous two books, as I have always had a dark little heart. Professor Lupin quickly rose up to take the position of my second favourite character (behind Hermione), and the inclusion of werewolves aligned perfectly with my interests when it was first released.
Over the years, when I have felt the desire to reread Harry Potter, without dedicating myself to a whole reread, Prisoner of Azkaban is the book I have reached for. I love that Hermione really starts to come into her own here, and the darker side of the wizarding world takes centre stage.
Ring by Koji Suzuki
My first exposure to Ring was the Japanese film. And then the American remake. And then the book. I enjoyed each in their own ways, but I am firmly in the ‘the book was better than the movie’ camp in this case. My sister owned this book originally, but I traded her my copy of Interview With a Vampire by Anne Rice for it, as it became clear that we had purchased books better suited to each other.
If you have read much on my blog it will become obvious that I am a horror fan. It is one of my favourite genres in any medium. Ring sits very high up on my favourite horror list. I love that it is a Japanese story, partially because I majored in Japanese Studies at uni, and partially because I find the country, culture, and its people fascinating. Also, no horror fan can deny that Japan has a unique and intense view of horror and ghost stories.
When I am in the need of a guaranteed amazing horror read and I am in the mood for a reread, Ring is the one I reach for. My copy is a little floppy, but I absolutely adore everything about it, and the tragic tale of Sadako that lies within.
On Writing by Stephen King
Ah, Stephen, the King of horror. I have not read much of him yet, unfortunately, as I have so much to read as it is, but I respect him and his abilities a great deal, and the Shining is one of the best horror novels I have ever read. I am also an aspiring author. So, when I learned that Stephen King had a book about writing out there, I bought and read it immediately.
What I love about this book is that it isn’t a cut and dry writing manual. There are plenty of those out there already. King has infused every page with his own personal style, and also allowed us insight into his mind and life. The first section of the book acts as an autobiography of sorts, with particular focus on his writing of course. Then he introduces the tools of the trade and provides practical advice in a unique and entertaining way. I like that he never presents his ideas as the only way to be a writer. This is what he does, what he finds effective, and maybe you will too!
I find I reread this from time to time because I love to read about Stephen King. I didn’t expect when I bought this book to find within an emotional and captivating story about stories, and one of the greatest modern novelists. Reading it feels as if King himself has snuck into my apartment to tell me that I can do it, and that he believes in me. Some might find that creepy. I find it a comfort. And an honour.
Rebecka O'Malley 