So it’s a little over a week since my first month of re-reading began. I wanted to share with you all how I have found re-reading some old favourites. I have also been wondering – how have other people have got on so far?
I started a couple of days early – I was so keen and so now I am re- reading my fourth book of the month.
So far I have read: The Trumpet Major – Thomas Hardy, Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons, Angel –Elizabeth Taylor. I am half way through Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen now too.
My experience of re-reading these novels has been wholly positive. I had remembered very very little of The Trumpet Major – and it was therefore a delight to pick it up and re-discover a novel by my favourite author. It is maybe considered a lesser Hardy novel, but I found it delightful. It is lighter than many of his other works, and I enjoyed it immensely. Cold Comfort farm was a book that had lingered in my memory over very many years – as a book I had loved and laughed over, and had always wanted to read again. I was astounded how I had completely forgotten the rather odd futuristic element to the story; I also found it less hilarious this time, just gently funny and thoroughly charming. Overall though, I still loved it, I am pleased to say. I re-read Angel for the LibraryThing read along – although it was actually a bit less than two years since I read it before. After such a relatively short period of time between readings I hadn’t expected to have a different reaction to it. On the whole my reaction to it was the same as before – although I think my increased reading of Elizabeth Taylor helped me to understand the character of Angel better this time around. I found her a much sadder character than before – when I saw her as merely monstrous. I am now loving Northanger Abbey – and looking forward to the rest of the month. There is something truly comforting about re-reading things that you already hold in great affection. So – how has it been for you?
A month of re-reading in July – week 1
July 9, 2012 by heavenali
So far I’ve read Elizabeth Taylor’s “Angel” (which I didn’t realise was a reread till I got a little way into it) and Georgette Heyer’s “These Old Shades”, and have reviewed them both here: http://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/book-reviews-17/ I have since finished Henry James’ “The Europeans” which I first read in 1999 as my first Henry James – I have dug out my original review to add when I review it on my blog. And I’m over half way through E.M. Delafield’s “Diary of a Provincial Lady” which is most enjoyable. Having a lovely time, although I did accidentally acquire two new books on Saturday, which was NOT the idea …
Looking forward to hearing how everyone else is doing!
Sounds like you are doing well with your re-reading.
Sounds like you’re having a good time with the books! It is comforting returning to old favourites, isn’t it! I’m really enjoying my re-reads. So far, Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler and then also his Mr. Palomar (which was not planned but I felt I needed another Calvino); plus Josephine Tey’s The Franchise Affair and I’m now embarking on Camus’ The Outsider. I’ve been delighted with how much I enjoyed the books I’ve chosen so far – and like you I found I’d forgotten a lot of the books and so it’s been a real pleasure rediscovering them!
I’m so glad you are enjoying your re-reading.
Excellent – glad you’re enjoying the process too!
I’ve discovered that my re-reading isn’t any faster than my reading! So I’m behind on what I’d planned! But I finsihed re-reading Le Grand Meaulnes – and it was even better than I remembered it being and I’m almost finished re-reading A Tale Of Two Cities – and that’s been a joy!
I think I have found that my re-reading isn’t really faster either – I suppose I had thought it might be.