Old (Book) Friends

I confess I reread books. I know lots of people say there are too many books to read to ever reread a book. But an old book is like an old friend that provides comfort and stress relief. I also find different moods call for different books to reread.

I posed the question on The Wickeds group page yesterday to see if other people reread books. It wasn’t easy to categorize so I threw the “rarely” and “seldom” answers in with the no’s. Of the 93 comments 71 said they reread books and 22 said rarely or never. It was interesting to find that many of the people who answered reread for the same reasons I do.

If I need to escape from the present day I turn to my favorite childhood books – the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. I’ve talked about my love for these books many times. They start when Betsy is five and continue through to her wedding. The reading level increases as Betsy grows up.

Betsy returned to her chair, took off her coat and hat, opened her book and forgot the world again. Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown

Isn’t it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be. Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy in Spite of Herself

If I’m stressed, I like to laugh. And I have go-to books to make me laugh. I will either read one of the first ten books in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series or Kellye Garrett’s Detective by Day series.

I don’t mind the love triangle in the Plum books. I also have opinions about who Stephanie should be with. I’m Ranger all the way. Joe always wants to change Stephanie and have her quit her job as a bounty hunter. Ranger, on the other hand, lets Stephanie be herself while at the same time watching out for her. But no matter who she’s with, Stephanie makes me laugh.

In spite of all the sparring that went on between us, I sort of liked Morelli. Good judgment told me to stand clear of him, but then I’ve never been a slave to good judgment. Janet Evanovich, Two for the Dough

Kellye Garrett’s two Detective by Day books make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I read them. Dayna is so funny and I love her relationship with her reluctant PI partner Aubrey. Dayna is a bit insecure, but also a take charge woman. A great combo for an engaging protagonist.

The best way to describe my reaction was shock and aww, as in aww crap, I did not see that coming. Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Endings

When I need comfort, I turn to classics. Years ago I had a list of the best one hundred books in the world. The first book I picked was Pride and Prejudice. Talk about love at first read. (I confess I wasn’t nearly as fond of my next pick, Ivanhoe.) I read Little Woman as a child and loved it so much and still do. How could I not ever revisit Jo and her sisters?

I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

I’m happy as I am, and love my liberty too well to be in a hurry to give it up for any mortal man. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Readers: Do you reread books? If so why?