Every single summer, I somehow always end up rereading "Harry Potter." Sure, I have countless of other books that I haven’t touched since I bought them, among all the ones on my shelves that are so carefully arranged that it becomes a process just to remove one book. And I know for a fact, I am not the only one. All of my friends do this too, maybe not every single year, but there is definitely a book, books or series that they’ve read or will continue to read from time to time. My favorite part is when people ask, “Why would you reread a book that you already know the ending to?”
I’m actually so glad you asked that question.
1. It’s a great book and possibly a favorite.Why would you not want to repeat an experience you enjoyed or gained something out of? If it continuously leaves you happy and you genuinely aren’t tired of it, there’s no reason to deny oneself. There’s a reason it happens to be a favorite. You love the characters, the author, the plot, the dialogue … it does not make a difference. Books don’t always have to be a “one and done” kind of thing.
2. It transports you to another world.
It’s no secret that life can be hard and the world cruel. Books provide an escape into someone else’s world, with different problems that let you forget about your own for a little while. Or perhaps you’ve always wondered about space travel and here you are, immersed in a world like the one you’ve envisioned. That’s the magic of books.
3. Books represent a part of your life.
For some readers, books helped them through a particularly difficult time in their life, or it impacted them in a variety of different ways. Perhaps books formed a lasting friendship, or you met other fans who enjoyed it just as much as you did. You could get a flashback or some kind of nostalgic feeling that you had similar to when you first started reading the book. Maybe you learned about yourself as a person, or simply just attached yourself to something that resonated so much with you.
4. You always find something you never saw before.
Sometimes there’s always a line of dialogue or some minute detail that I’ll come across that I’ve never noticed before no matter how many times I’ve read it. It can be amusing and make you wonder how you missed it before. Or it can be eye opening, and point to some interesting connections, especially if it’s a complex story line. (Looking at you, "Game of Thrones")
5. Sometimes it’s just comforting.
As mentioned, life is hard and when you’re having a particularly bad day or week, your favorite book is always going to be there. It’s not going anywhere, and it never will. In a world that’s always changing, it’s nice to know that something is constant.
So yes, even though I have a million other books to read or things I could be doing, I will choose to read my favorite book time and time again.It’s just like revisiting an old friend you’ve known forever, or coming back to your bed after a long day. Familiar in a world that’s ever changing.
