Rereading: Why We Love Revisiting Our Favorite Books
Rereading is something I frequently do with my favorite novels. Over the years, the paperbacks I bought when I was eleven have become dog-eared, with bent covers and loose pages—a testament to how many times I’ve read them. Take, for example, my copy of “Emily of New Moon,” which I had to replace after my 20th read-through. This habit of rereading makes me wonder: why do we keep returning to the same stories and unchanged characters? What makes the scene where Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Darcy almost as thrilling as it was the first time? Why do I still grin when Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane? What is it about Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Emily” series that keeps drawing me back?
The author Gail Carson Levine put it well when she said that rereading a beloved book makes its words a part of you in a way that a single reading cannot. The characters and their journeys can inspire and even shape your own life choices. With every reread, the story becomes more deeply rooted in your memory.
I first read “Emily of New Moon” at eleven, and I’ve been rereading it ever since. Like Emily, I dreamed of climbing the “Alpine Path” to success one day. This notion of the Alpine Path really struck a chord with my aspirations to become a writer. Reading and writing have always been intertwined for me.
Identifying with Emily Byrd Starr, despite her flaws, was one of my most memorable reading experiences. Looking back, no other moment stands out more than when I got completely lost in Emily’s world. It was my own personal journey through the looking glass, and it hooked me on reading for life. While books were already important to me by then, “Emily of New Moon” specifically nudged me toward a lifelong love of literature. Would this passion have endured had I not revisited Emily’s world multiple times? Probably not.
Without those rereads, Emily would have faded like many other forgotten memories and stories. Each time I revisit a book, I understand it more deeply, uncovering new metaphors, symbols, or overlooked details. It’s thrilling to return to familiar stories and always discover something new.
So, keep rereading. Go back to the books that have become part of who you are, the ones that shaped you. Each reread offers a fresh experience and a chance to create a new memory.
What books do you love to reread? Share your thoughts below…
