Happy Tuesday!! I am so excited about this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic because it features one of my absolute favorite parts about being a bookworm: rereading. I adore rereading my favorite books over and over and over again for countless reasons: the comforting familiarity, the brilliant writing, the characters that feel like old friends you haven’t spoken to in a while… the list goes on and on! It is my pleasure to share with you this list of ten books that I could reread forever.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
I know I mention this book all the time but that is certainly not going to stop me from highlighting it here! I’ve read this novel more times than I can count and each time I do I become invested in Taylor and Jonah’s story all over again. It contains everything I love: characters with depth, a boarding school setting, stories within stories, literary references, beautiful writing, and a plot twist at the end that I never saw coming.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I first read The Hobbit when I was in fifth grade and then continued on with the trilogy before the following summer was out. I love these books to pieces and they’ve played such an important role in shaping me into the avid reader that I am today. (Favorite of the bunch? Definitely Two Towers. For some reason I’ve always had a dear attachment to it!)
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
What would a list of rereads be without mentioning good old Harry Potter? I’m sure I’m not the only one who has featured this in their list this week. I’ve read many of the books a handful of times, although I can’t remember ever rereading Goblet of Fire now that I think about it…. (that’s my least favorite of the seven). I could definitely reread these books (and rewatch the movies) forever!
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
I reread this book for the first time last summer and was taken aback by how many new things I noticed. I’m now a firm believer that Faulkner is meant to be read more than once and I’m already looking forward to reading this brilliant, fascinating, bewildering novel again and again in the future. (The same goes for basically all of Faulkner’s works for me!)
The BFG by Roald Dahl
I was first read this adorable book by my fourth grade teacher in elementary school– and then again in fifth grade by the same teacher. Since then I’ve reread it once or twice and have loved it even more each time. Road Dahl is the master at creating timeless stories that captivate readers of all ages. There’s nothing like going back to this old favorite!
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg
I purchased my first and only copy of this book at a Scholastic book fair (I miss those so much!) when I was in third grade and I have read it nearly every summer since then. Not only is this simply an entertaining, clever summer camp story, but it’s also a novel about growing up and realizing that even adults don’t really know what they’re doing (what’s more liberating than that?!).
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This is definitely one of those classics that never get old. There are countless fascinating ways to read and interpret this novel, from focusing on colors and other motifs to thinking about location, the American Dream, the role of women, prohibition, narrative voice– the list goes on and on! I’ve studied this in two different classes over the years and I honestly hope I get to study it again before undergrad is over.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
This may be John Green’s debut novel, but it remains my absolute favorite out of all the ones he has written. I love how the story seems so simple yet involves all of the complex and confusing emotions we each experience at one point or another. Besides, this novel has some of my favorite quotes in it!
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
It’s generally rare for me to want to reread mystery novels once I know how they end; however, this book has always been the exception to that rule. This murder mystery is so cleverly executed that I never tire of tiptoeing around its twists and turns over and over again. (If anyone has seen the BBC mini series, I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it because I have yet to watch it!)
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
I. Love. This. Text. I’ve written numerous papers about it for various classes over the years and Douglass’ story never ceases to amaze, inspire, and intrigue me. Douglass’ life story is as captivating as his writing is eloquent, making Narrative a text that I’ll undoubtedly return to again and again in the future.
What books could you endlessly reread? What do you think of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments section below!
Yours,
HOLLY
This is a great list! I’m excited to try some of these!
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Thanks!! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
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Aaah yess!
This is a great listt!
Harry Potter, The Great Gatsby, Looking for Alaska, aaah they top my list too! ❤
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So glad we have some favorites in common! ❤
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Looking for Alaska wasn’t really my thing, but I guess that’s “normal” since people tend to like or dislike it? It’s been sooooo long since I read The BFG. Like, I was a little munchkin back then? Maybe I should buy it and be all nostalgic. Maybe. 😛
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Rereading The BFG as an adult is the BEST ❤ Roald Dahl is so witty and hilarious!
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I’m definitely going to keep that in mind! 😀
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You’re an angel. I’ve been looking for a book that starts with J in the past couple of hours… I just checked Jellicoe road and I think Id love it. Also in some edition it says ON THE Jellicoe road but i think it’s okay to use this for J… it’s for a reading chaallenge Im joining. 🙂
Great list by the way..
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Glad I could help! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!!
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Yes for Harry Potter!! I have TFIOS on my list today, but I would happily re-read Looking for Alaska forever as well! Great list, here’s my TTT: https://bookmuffin.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/i-could-read-you-every-single-day/
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I would basically just reread all the John Green books forever ❤
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Such a great list! I adore Gatsby, so I am definitely all there with you! I have this theory about Looking for Alaska and Paper Town. Depending on which one you read first, you are most likely going to like that one more. So, I read Paper Town before Looking for Alaska and now I just prefer that one haha
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OMG I’m definitely a fan of your LfA/PT theory 🙂 That’s sort of how I feel about The Office and Parks and Rec– I watched The Office first and LOVED it and then tried to fill the void with Parks and Rec and it just wasn’t the same!
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I TOTALLY get it! See, the theory can be applied to many things hahaha
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Great choices! Harry Potter made my list too: https://franlaniado.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-could-re-read-forever/
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It’s one of the best rereads ❤
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you have the best taste in books EVER!!! i just added Jellicoe Road to by Goodreads tbr you’ve described it so beautifully!!!! ❤
and I adore Fred Doug too!!!! I read it in high school and was STRUCK by his voice, a person actually subjected to American slavery and what it was like???
I could FEEL his honesty and heartbreak. and of course the prose was so gorgeous. ❤
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Awwww THANKS ❤ Also YOU LIKE FRED DOUG TOO? WHY ARE WE THE SAME BOOKISH HUMAN?!?! ❤
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It is so interesting that you have here And Then There Were None haha I think that after reading it the first time the mystery is already over… Like yo already know who is the killer haha great list! With The Hobbit and The Great Gatsby!! :3
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I feel that way with most mysteries, but for some reason this one is different 🙂 I think it’s because it’s so complex and really focuses on the characters themselves, so there’s a lot more to it than just a suspenseful plot.
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Fair enough! I liked that book a lot and I will be listening it for a bookclub haha it is super complex and all well planned :3 I hope you get to read it… Again… Soon :3
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I’m actually just about to start another reread of the Harry Potter series myself!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
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Ahh so fun! ❤
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Lovey list. I’ve read a few and would like to read a few of the others – particularly the Agatha Christie.
Lynn 😀
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Definitely read And Then There Were None! It’s such a brilliant book 🙂
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OOoohh Now I want to reread Jellicoe Road!
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YES ❤ It's such a fantastic book!
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I love to reread, too! Harry Potter is a great one, of course – I’ve been listening to those on CD recently, after reading in paper a couple times. I would love to read And Then There Were None again, it’s been years since I read an Agatha Christie book.
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I’ve never listened to HP read out loud, but I feel like it would be such a relaxing, comforting thing to do. I’ll definitely have to keep that in mind the next time I’m spending a cozy night in ❤
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This makes me want to reread Jellicoe Road! Hardly anyone I know has read it and I was so excited to see it here! Such a fantastic read — have you read her fantasy series?
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OMG Jellicoe Road is one of my favorite books EVER! ❤ I haven't read her fantasy series yet but I really need to ASAP– I've heard such fantastic things about it!
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It is incredible!! And yes — if you liked Jellicoe Road you need to read her fantasy series. It’s nothing like Jellicoe Road but it is one of the best fantasies I’ve read in while.
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Great list! You’ve got quite a wide range this week. 😀
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I’ve stopped trying to define my reading tastes at this point haha 🙂 Thanks!
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I love the Hobbit and Harry Potter. Loved your list! ❤️
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Thanks so much! ❤
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The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass sounds really interesting– I’m always looking to diversify what I read (and I’m looking to read more nonfiction!) so I definitely should give it a try soon
My TTT
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Omg YES ❤ It's one of my favorite books of all time. I hope you enjoy it whenever you get around to reading it!
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The BFG is such an awesome book! 🙂 Great list!
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Thanks! I’ll never stop rereading it ❤
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Harry Potter ❤ My TTT
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I’ll never stop rereading it ❤
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We’re list twins! I couldnt’ agree more – The Hobbit, HP, and And Then There Were None are all amazing and only get better each time you read them!
A friend just gifted me Looking For Alaska and I have heard so many good things!! Hoping to get to it soon – currently reading Turtles All the Way Down and I LOVE Green’s writing style!
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Ahhh I hope you enjoy Looking for Alaska! ❤ It's John Green's debut novel but it still has his characteristic writing style that I adore.
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I love that you added in children’s books! Too often I think we forget about them which we shouldn’t because there’s often a good reason a book really meant something to us when we were young 🙂
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I completely agree! It’s also really fun reading children’s books from an adult perspective– you never know what clever jokes will be hidden for older readers! 🙂
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Ahh yes to the Hobbit- I can reread that forever!! And of course HP is worth rereading! I so agree that Gatsby never gets old- I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve read it!! And I loved and then there were none (I need to watch the adaptation too) Great list!!
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So glad we have some favorites in common! Let me know what you think of the adaptation whenever you watch it 🙂
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And Then There Were None is one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels.
Here’s a link to my TTT for this week: https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2018/02/top-ten-tuesday-top-20-books-i-want-to.html
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Isn’t it brilliant? 🙂
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Harry Potter is on my list too and I’m already planning to reread the Hobbit! Great list 🙂
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Thanks!! ❤
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Harry Potter was on my list this week too!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/top-ten-tuesday-148/
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I feel like I’ll never stop rereading HP ❤
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Me either!
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I love re- reading an old favorite but I hardly get any time to re- read anymore. I should try and do something about that. 🙂 The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings would definitely be on the list- I read LotR a few times but the Hobbit only once. Due for a re- read! And I need to read And then There Were None- and the watch the movie!
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Finding time to reread is always a dilemma. So many books, so little time! 🙂
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Harry Potter is definitely a classic one to put on this list. I think I’ve read the entire series a total of ten times now! As for the other books on your list, I haven’t read them, but they all seem really intriguing and like books I’d enjoy reading and decoding.
I’ve noticed that you always have amazing classics and literary novels for your reviews and bookish lists, which is amazing because I haven’t seen many book bloggers focus so much on classics 😊 I wanted to ask you — when did you start getting into reading classics? Did you love classics as a kid, or did your passion for classics start later on? What made you start reading classics?
Thank you, and great list of books! 😋
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WHOA 10 times?!?!?! That’s incredible!
Omg yes, classics are my favorites ❤ I didn't really get into reading classics until high school when I had to read them for classes (which I feel like is probably the opposite of how many people feel). I liked how there were so many different ways to interpret them and make meaning out of them, as well as the idea that I was reading something that countless people decades ago had also read. When I went to college and started doing an English lit degree, this love for classics only got bigger! ❤ Thanks for such a great question!
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omg same to gatsby
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Isn’t it the best?! ❤
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