Task #9: Read a book you’ve read before

[Book Riot]

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the ninth Read Harder task.

[Ellie]

For me it is going to be 'American Gods'. The TV show is fast approaching and I want to re-read this one rather soon.

[D.A.]

American Gods is the best book ever! I might do this one too. Or maybe Mark Twain something...

[Krista]

I had just told my husband at the beginning of this week that if this was a topic, I wanted to read Old Man's War again. Absolutely awesome book and I've not been disappointed with John Scalzi yet.

[Maryam]

I had plan to listen to all Harry Potter series thus year. I think that would cover for me.

[Katy]

Going to reread A Wrinkle in Time for this one - I've been meaning to revisit it, and with the upcoming movie getting lots of buzz, seems like a good time.

[Brandyn]

I reread constantly so I'm trying to decide whether to take this category as a gimme or challenge myself to re-read something I normally wouldn't - i.e. I loved "East of Eden" but have only read it once.

[Melissa]

I'm going with Pride and Prejudice! I read it in high school, and have re-read it several times since. I pick up something new every time!

[[deleted user]]

I just had a thought that I hadn't read The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver for a while. I really enjoyed that book, and as my work is in religion and I'm from the global south it really spoke to me.

[Amy]

I read The Handmaid's Tale in high school, so I am going with that, even though it is going to be depressing and scary.

[Jodi]

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Can't wait to visit Wonderland again!

[Ashley]

I'm thinking of re-reading something I read in school but didn't like. Some ideas for me are The Giver or Ender's Game.

[Annie]

I think I'll re-read both American Gods (I'm so excited for the show, the casting is perfection!!!) and The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories.

[Courtney]

I think I'm going to reread Oryx and Crake. I read MaddAddam book 1 and 2 back in 2011, but when book 3 came out I felt a bit lost in the story since it had been so long since I'd been immersed in that work. I've been looking for a reason to reread the first two so I can finally finish the series, and I think this is the perfect opportunity.

[Elizabeth]

I have been in the process of re-reading the Harry Potter series, so I will be re-reading the final three books during 2017.

[Pat]

currently working my way through all Robert B Parker's Spenser novels. on no. 10 now....THE WIDENING GYRE. read all of these years ago, decided to do it again after visiting Boston this past summer.

[Megan]

Going to re-read Gone with the Wind :)

[Avid Reader and Geek Girl]

Re-listening to The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

[Sierra]

I'm re-reading The Kite Runner. Started it today. The book will fit several categories, but for now I'm trying to avoid double-dipping. I'm excited to be diving back into this beautiful book.

[H]

Just re-read lock in by John Scalzi

[Rayne]

Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read, I don't ever feel compelled to read something I've already read.

[Janet]

I am actually thankful for this task because I have been wanting to reread 84, Charing Cross Road. One of my all time favorites.

[Ashley]

Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read, I don't ever feel compelled to read something I've already r..."

You are definitely not alone, Brooklyn! This is generally something I never do - too many books to read, not enough time. I am, however, going to see this as a chance to re-read something I haven't read in a long time (ie books I had to read in school) and specifically books I don't recall enjoying. I am curious to know if my opinions have changed over the years, and perhaps I can appreciate these books more now. Perhaps this is something you could do as well? I'm sure whatever you read will be great! Happy reading!

[Bonnie G.]

Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read, I don't ever feel compelled to read somethi..."

I reread very rarely too, but in the past 5 or so years I have been trying to rearead a couple books a year which I hated when I was young. This has led me to some books I now love. Faulkner is one example, hated him in college, but reread As I Lay Dying in my 40's and was blown away. I have since read most other Faulkner, most of which I had not read before. Sadly, I have also tried rereading books I loved as a child and ended up hating some (though certainly not all) of them - it totally ruined Little Women and Catcher in the Rye for me. Choose wisely!

[Pat]

REREADING all the SPENSER NOVELS by ROBERT B PARKER

[Suzanne]

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. I first read it as an ebook and bought a hardcopy for myself to reread

[Katie]

It's been a few years since I re-read the His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman so I'm due. I finished the The Golden Compass in 2016 so for this challenge I will be reading the 2nd book in the trilogy, The Subtle Knife. I never fail to get some new meaning from the books ever since I first read them in 6th grade, so I am excited!

[Deborah]

Just finished rereading Evensong

[Richard]

I'm thinking of rereading The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.

[Stina]

I'm not much of a re-reader, either, but a few years ago I embarked on a challenge to read all of Agatha Christie's novels, short stories, plays, and autobiographical works in more-or-less publication order. I've already read the vast majority of these, but in no particular order, and many of them I read in middle school. As an adult with a firmer grasp on historical events and interpersonal relationships, I am amazed at the stuff that sailed right over my pre-teen head.

[Elizabeth]

I am re-reading David Michie's Buddhism for Busy People. I have explored much more about yoga and buddhism since first reading this and I think it will resonate more now. (I also re-read a short story collection for another item in the challenge. My experience of those stories at 50 something was far different than as a 20 something grad student.)

[Pamela]

I read Joy to the World by Scott Hahn.

[Dawn]

I am re-reading Jane Eyre but also in a way feeling like I am reading it as a new book. I remember that the version I read so many years ago was a Readers Digest Condensed book. (One of those hardcovers that actually had three or four books crammed into it.) So now as I read the 1943 published hardcover I picked up all the gaps from the condensed version are getting filled in.

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

An interesting variation of this challenge: Read a book you’ve read before for school and hated.

[Edith]

Dawn wrote: "I am re-reading Jane Eyre but also in a way feeling like I am reading it as a new book. I remember that the version I read so many years ago was a Readers Digest Condensed book. (One of those hardc..."

I did the same! I read the RD Condensed version when I was a kid (my parents had a subscription to the Condensed Book series). Then I reread it as an adult, and discovered how great it truly is!

[Elyse]

Ellie wrote: "For me it is going to be 'American Gods'. The TV show is fast approaching and I want to re-read this one rather soon."

Ditto! Though I remember not liking it very much...but the guy playing Shadow *drool* Lincoln from The 100! So I'll give it another go. ;)

[Ashley]

Leslie Ann wrote: "An interesting variation of this challenge: Read a book you’ve read before for school and hated."

That is precisely what I'm doing! Did you get that from my comment above (#24)??? ;)

[Edith]

Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read, I don't ever feel compelled ..."

I'm with you on Catcher in the Rye. I re-read it in my 30's, and I my thought was, "How could I ever have enjoyed this drivel?!" But when I was 14-15 years old, I carried that book with me everywhere. I became a J.D. Salinger addict because of that book. I tried to reread all his books, and I had pretty much the same negative reaction. Weird how age can change your opinions in ways you'd never expect.

[Bonnie G.]

Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read, I don't ever ..."

So true! I actually still like Nine Stories (especially lovely Esme!) but not nearly so much as I did when I was a teenager. That said, I loved sloe gin, my Firebird, and my Calvin Klein Jeans that were so tight I had to carry pliers in my purse to rezip them. I think in general our taste improves with age.

[Edith]

Bonnie wrote: "Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I have yet to read,..."

LOL! One can only hope! I had Chic jeans that were obscenely tight. I am proud to say that when I was with All-City High School Orchestra, I drove the old guys in the NY Philharmonic crazy with those jeans! They didn't know whether to be disgusted or turned on. Led to some weird reactions.

Pliers! That's a new one on me! Never heard of that.

[Risa]

Erin wrote: "I re-read Self-Help, which is my favorite short story collection ever. I highly recommend if you haven't read it yet (maybe for the collection of stories by a woman?)." Yes, indeed. "Favorite Short Story Collection Ever" is a high bar, but this is absolutely Top 5 for me. It's the book I recommend to people (especially women) who say, "I don't like short stories".

[Bonnie G.]

Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out there that I ha..."

I cut my finger trying to zip my jeans one day so had to bring in the right tools to do the job going forward. Also, good on you. The old guys at the Philharmonic needed a little excitement in their lives!

[Edith]

Bonnie wrote: "Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Edith wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "Am I the only one struggling with this task?

I'm not a huge re-reader. There are so many good books out t..."

Hey, that was a good way to solve the problem! Not all the guys in the NY Phil were old - the guy who was coaching the first violins (I played second violin) wore skin tight jeans to all the rehearsals. They left very little to the imagination! Ah, the Seventies ...

[Jamie]

I'm re-reading The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. With the new translation of The Red Sphinx and my overall love of this novel, I thought it was a great time!

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

Ashley wrote: That is precisely what I'm doing! Did you get that from my comment above (#24)?..."

No, actually. I've been waiting for such a reading challenge category for a while!

[Ashley]

Leslie Ann wrote: "Ashley wrote: That is precisely what I'm doing! Did you get that from my comment above (#24)?..."

No, actually. I've been waiting for such a reading challenge category for a while!"

I didn't actually think you had, I was teasing (though I realize now it's kinda hard to see that online) ;)
Anywho, I hope you have a good one picked out to re-read and that you enjoy it more this time around!

[Emily]

I'm rereading The Series of Unfortunate Events in honor of Netflix doing a revival and a desire to finally finish the series since I never got a chance to when I was a kid.

[Elyse]

Emily wrote: "I'm rereading The Series of Unfortunate Events in honor of Netflix doing a revival and a desire to finally finish the series since I never got a chance to when I was a kid."

I read them all, first time, last year! Delightful! And the Netflix series is pretty good!

[Jerry]

This is the first task I tackled - I re-read Vampires by John Steakley, which was published in 1990. I read this in the early 90s when i was in the military. I picked up a copy last summer, and this challenge gave me the excuse to read it now.

[Bill]

I decided to go back and re-read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, although not necessarily in order. I just finished Volume 4, The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists (New Edition) which was the first one story arc that I read from the series, back when I was in high school. It was a breakthrough reading experience for me that made me realize just how much was possibly in the medium of comics and graphic novels.