Lolita: There's so much to this novel that every time I read it I notice a new brilliant bit of wordplay or layer to the story. If you've let its subject matter keep you away, please don't. It's really an amazing book.
The Secret History: I first read this book in my AP English class my senior year of high school and though I've long since known how it all turns out, it sucks me in all over again every time I pick it up.
A Game of Thrones (series): This is cheating (there's another cheat down the list), but I re-read one of these books every year over the holidays and they're so dense and rich and the amount of foreshadowing is just incredible.
The Virgin Suicides: I first read this book at least 15 years ago and re-read it just late last year for my book club and countless times in between and it never fails to give me that very real, very powerful feeling of place that it did on the first time through.
Gone Girl: This is the book on this list I've re-read the least often, only twice. But Flynn's sharp-as-nails evisceration of the ways the world is bullshit to women is so insightful and hard-hitting that it's just as good when you come back to it.
In Cold Blood: Truman Capote's storytelling skills are really top-notch, which is why the pleasure of reading along as he tells the tale of the men who murdered the Clutter family doesn't diminish over time.
A Wrinkle In Time: I read this whole series over and over again as a young teen, but the first one most of all. For such a slim volume, L'Engle really packs it full of not just plot, but themes that resonate for kids and adults too.
Harry Potter (series): My second cheat, because picking just one of these books feels impossible. It's really all together, as the story of Harry (and Ron and Hermione), that they're best and so, so, re-readable.
1984: My sister still has the copy I got when I was like 12 on her bookshelf and it is a book I constantly reference and go back to because it is so prescient and smart.
Bridget Jones' Diary: Pretty much all of these are serious books, so I needed to throw in something funny. This is one of those books that literally makes you laugh out loud reading it and its cleverness is undiminished over time.
Bridget Jones is always my go-to re-read when I need something light :) I try not to read the Harry Potters as much I'd like because I over-did it slightly as a kid... they're so comforting though!
ReplyDeleteBridget is just perfect for a pick-me-up! And yeah, I'm kind of wary of overdoing the Harry Potter because I don't want the magic to fade!
DeleteThe Secret History is so good! I'd love to read it again someday.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Harry Potter for the first time right now, with my six year old. We're on the fourth book, and she is obsessed. I hope it becomes a reread for her over the years :)
I am so looking forward to reading Harry Potter to my kids when I have them!
DeleteThe Secret History and Bridget Jones's Diary made my top ten list too! :D
ReplyDeleteSuch great books!
DeleteHarry Potter was on my list this week too!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/top-ten-tuesday-148/
They're so wonderful to go back to and feel the magic all over again!
DeleteI've read the first two ASOIAF books, I definitely need to continue on soon! :)
ReplyDeleteLauren @ Always Me
No rush, since it seems like GRRM is in no rush to finish the series!
Delete1984 is one of my absolute favorites too and hey! A Lolita fan! I find there are too few of us in the world. lol My goal for 2018 is to finally read In Cold Blood. It's gathered dust for too long.
ReplyDeleteIn Cold Blood will definitely be worth dusting off! And YES Lolita forever!
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