Skip to main content

Spontaneous Rereading, or Easing the Cracks in Your Heart

So the other night I found myself compelled to pick up my copy of Fangirl. It only recently made its way back to my shelves after a few rounds with a few of the usual suspects. Rather lazily, I opened it to whatever page my fingers found and reread that page. And then I did it again. Browsing led to bingeing. But before I lost track of time completely, I had the good sense to see the writing on the wall. And so instead of just reading from the 3/4 mark (where I was at the time) through to the end, I flipped happily back to page one and settled in for a blissful reacquaintance with the characters and words I fell so in love with the first time.

You guys, it was so good. And because I couldn't quite contain the pleasure within my own skin, I started tapping out my favorite quotes and texting them to . . . people who would understand.
I may have gotten a touch carried away, but at one point my friend Beth made the observation that it's the rereads that ease all the cracks in your heart. I don't think I ever thought of it exactly that way, but I know that I am a consummate rereader. That I would not be okay if I couldn't reread as needed. And it feels right that part of my drive to return to worlds, characters, perfect turns of phrase is knowing they will ease the cracks that have found their way in in the time since last I saw them. I know Cath would agree. Does it feel that way to you?
Labels:

Comments

  1. Alix 11:44 AM

    Yes! That exactly. What a fabulous phrase, I'm stealing it. I just know I am going to LOVE Fangirl.
    There are certain books that are just so dear to me I can't imagine not visiting the characters and world again and again. . People who don't re-read kind of baffle me :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angiegirl11:09 PM

      She really hit the nail on the head with that phrase, didn't she?

      I really can't wait for you to read it!!

      It's like non-rereaders speak a different language.

      Delete
  2. Amy11:47 AM

    ♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:54 PM

    I love to re-read as well. Like you said, I love to revisit those characters that meant to much to me, and rereading is liking seeing your best friend again. I do tend to re-read books that might not be my all-time favorites, though. I mean they will be ones that I really liked, but aren't one's that necessarily broke my heart. It's sort of comfort reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angiegirl11:10 PM

      It really is like a dear friendship. That's an interesting point you make. It's true, there are beloved books of mine that I can only read once every . . . decade . . . or so. Lol. Comfort is the word.

      Delete
  4. LinWash5:12 PM

    I'm also reading Fangirl, because soooo many told me I would love it. It's comfort food!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angiegirl11:10 PM

      Lol. I know. It's been widely praised. But justly, I think. ;)

      Delete
  5. Anonymous9:40 AM

    I am reading this right now and you just made me so excited!!! AHHH THE QUOTE ABOUT WHEN A GUY LOOKS AT YOU DIFFERENTLY!! I am dead. So glad to hear that this one is worth a re-read :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angiegirl11:42 AM

      You're reading it right now?! Ahhhh. I'm so happy for you. Lol.

      That quote is just IT.

      Delete

Post a Comment

You Might Also Like

Terms of Endearment

Have you ever been reading a book, moving along quite nicely, and then-- bam --a character whips out a particular term of endearment that just yanks you right out of the story? It happened to me recently, and I'm sad to say I couldn't recover. I did try. But she just kept using that term and I . . . I had to get the hell out of Dodge. Buh-bye, story. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'm not saying this is the norm (thank goodness). I can put up with a certain amount of treacly back and forth when it comes to the exchange of terms of endearment, especially if they fit the characters, their background, culture, the tenor of their relationship, etc. And the history of these terms  at home and from around the world is often fascinating (at times hilarious). But there comes a point where I can't see past the cheese and/or weird anymore and I do not want to be with these people any longer . Shallow? Perhaps. But it's a very individual thing, isn't it?...
54 comments
Read more

Interview with April Lindner + Jane Giveaway!

I'm very excited about today's interviewee. As you know, I had been looking forward to the publication of Jane for months when a review copy happened in my lap and I let out a gasp of joy. Being a modernized retelling of Jane Eyre with a rock star-ized Mr. Rochester named Nico and a cover that hits every last one of my aesthetic buttons, it was sort of made to order for this reader. Needless to say, it more than lived up to my not inconsiderable expectations and I have been recommending it on a pretty much daily basis to family, friends, co-workers, neighbors . . . you get the picture. It's now just under a month until the book is out and, in anticipation of the release, I invited  April Lindner over to dish about all things Jane. She kindly accepted. Please welcome April! First things first: The Cover. I am in deep smit with that cover. Did you have any input and what was your reaction upon seeing it for the first time? I adore the cover too, and was blown away the...
76 comments
Read more

Haters to the Left

So lately I've been doing a lot of rereading. Hence the lack of new reviews. I do apologize, but I have to go where the literary whim dictates, you know? Stacks of new books and all I want to do right now is cuddle up with old friends. And so that's precisely what I've been doing and it's been blissful in the extreme, I must say. But this does not mean that I've stopped reading reviews around the blogosphere and on GoodReads . Oh, no. And I have to say I've been a bit bemused by quite a few of them lately. Maybe bemused is the wrong word. Outraged is probably too strong. Flummoxed, or even better-- incredulous --would most accurately describe my feeling upon reading disparaging, even disdainful reviews of books that I love, that own a little piece of my soul. So perhaps you'll pardon me if I go on just a little bit of a rampage. Before we go any further, let me just state for the record that everyone is entitled to her own opinion of any book. And they...
43 comments
Read more