Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and the Bookish. I’m really excited about this week’s topic because I am a huge advocate of rereading. I think finding a book with a story that really resonates with you is one of the most rewarding things about reading, and good books are something that I wish to revisit over and over again, especially series that make me feel invested in the characters. Although the amount of rereading I do has lessened since starting my blog (mainly because I’m much better equipped to try out new great books rather than sticking to the same ones) I still try and balance rereading with my newer reads. Many of these books I’ve reread several times, because they’re tried-and-true favorites. Nothing feels better than approaching your bookshelf filled with books you know you love and having your pick of hundreds of different stories you know you enjoy.
1) The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling- This will always be at the top of my to read list, as it’s my favorite series of all time (which you’ll know if you follow my blog; I am unabashedly proud of my love for all things Harry Potter). I try and do a reread of the whole series at least every other year. When I was younger I used to have a notebook where I’d tally how many times I’d read each book, though I eventually lost count. I know I’ve read the first book upward of 10-12 times, and I’ve read Deathly Hallows all the way through three times.
2) Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech– This was one of the most formative novels I read as a child, and one of my favorite middle grade novels. There’s something so profound and sad about Sal’s journey, and every time I read it I take away something new from it.
3) The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin- My favorite middle grade novel of all time, it’s practically the game Clue come to life and it’s witticisms and mystery enthrall me every time. It’s such a cleverly crafted book.
4) Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy) by Maggie Stiefvater- I love The Raven Boys but it was several years ago that I first discovered Stiefvater’s beautiful knack for storytelling in this series. I would love to revisit it, despite I remember it being heartbreaking at many points.
5) The It Girl Series by Cecily von Ziegesar- I really liked this Gossip Girl spinoff series, but it became so long that I was unable to keep up with it, despite the fact that I own all of the books (at least, I think I do). One of my goals in the soon-ish future is to start from the beginning and read them all the way through.
6) Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult- I used to be obsessed with Jodi Picoult, discovering her in high school and reading almost every book she had out; I couldn’t get enough of how emotionally intense and well-researched her books were. Nineteen Minutes was one of my first and favorite reads by her, and I’d love to revisit it, as well as get caught up on all of her recent books in the past few years that I haven’t read yet.
7) The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Juno Diaz- My favorite novel that I read in college, this book was the most offensive, brilliant, funny, sad, and brutally honest book I think I’ve ever read.
8) Size 12 is Not Fat (The Heather Wells Mystery series) by Meg Cabot- I love Cabot’s YA and adult series, but I really loved Heather Wells and how Cabot combined her trademark voice and pop-culture based humor into a mystery series with a protagonist you just can’t help cheer for.
9) A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle Trilogy) by Libba Bray- Another unfinished series, this book was so beautifully written and masterfully woven that I want to revisit it and finish the gothic Victorian series ASAP (especially so I can get around to reading The Diviners as well!)
10) Obsidian (Lux series) by Jennifer L. Armentrout- So I just finished this series over the summer, but I love love loved the first few books (especially watching Daemon and Katy’s relationship grow) and it’s one of my favorite swoon-worthy romances, so I know how much fun it will be to reread when I get around to it!
Do you think rereading is important? Do you make time to revisit old favorites? Let me know in the comments, and link back to your TTT and I’ll come stop by and check it out!
Harry Potter is a popular choice this week and I can totally see why. I used to reread it all of the time! 🙂 I just don’t find time to reread any more! I really need to read some Maggie Stiefvater!
Have you read anything by her so far? She’s fantastic!
Omg someone who loves the wolves of mercy falls series! Have you read the stand alone Sinner? I am dying to buy it! I probably will next week! Would you want to do a readalong in rereading the books or have a book buddy? It seems like a perfect winter read!!!
I haven’t read sinner yet because I’ve been wanting to re-read the trilogy first to refresh my memory (even though it’s a stand alone I think it features some of the same characters). I would love to do a re-read readalong if you’re game! We could even do a feature on both of our blogs! Just let me know if you’re interested and if so email me at girlinthepages@gmail.com and we can set something up! 🙂
I emailed you! My email is angelicwolfchild@hotmail.com! I am super excited now!!!!
I haven’t! What would you recommend?
The Raven Boys is probably the most popular, but she also wrote a werewolf trilogy a while back that really transcends all of the cliché things in the genre, and is really heart-wrenching (and so good!)
I’ll try to read some of her books soon!
I love the Size 12 is not fat series. There the best, I must reread this soon 🙂
I love Heather and her crazy relationship with her ex who’s a pop-star (and her own childhood career) it’s too funny, and I need to revisit the first few books since I haven’t read the latest ones in the series yet!
I’ve read Nineteen Minutes, Sing You Home and My Sister’s Keeper and all of them had a court trial. I loved them but I’m not yet ready for another court ordeal 😀 I’d love to re-read HP series too! I think I’ll never be too old for it! 😛 Oh and Obsidian? Yup definitely swoon worthy *nods* Awesome List! 🙂
My TTT
I love the court trial elements of Picoult’s books! Abigail Haas has good elements of a trial in her book Dangerous Girls as well if you’re looking for a YA book that’s similar!
YOU’VE READ THE WESTING GAME!! Sorry, this is just so exciting! I didn’t think there was anyone else who had read it! I should have been keeping notes while I read it though – I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters. And I loved Walk Two Moons as well. It was the book that introduced me to the world of books!
I love the Westing Game! (And I don’t know many people who’ve read it either, so I get your excitement!) Walk Two Moons is perfect, and it’s one of the books that was required reading when I was in school that I had already read and loved! Sharon Creech writes great middle grade books, have you read Bloomability with her?
Gossip Girl! LOve it 😀 http://ireadboooks.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/top-ten-books-i-want-to-reread/
I love Cecily von Ziegesar’s use of names, she comes up the most creative ones!
So I want to reread The Gemma Doyle trilogy but not because I loved it but because I didn’t love it and I feel like I need to give it another chance! I LOVED The Diviners and I think Libba Bray has so much talent and I remember liking the writing in this series but not really getting into the story so I’m chalking that up to it just not being the right timing or something. Sorry for the ramble haha
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
Libba Bray is fantastic, and her writing is so beautiful and nuanced (it reminds me of Laini Taylor in that way). I tried starting the Diviners once but found it hard to get into the novel because of the language (all the 1920s slang) but I want to give it another chance!
I still have the last book of the Gemma Doyle series waiting for me to read. I’m amazed at how long it took me to read the series.
The books are really quite long! I haven’t read the last one though I own it.
I havent read any of these yet but Obsidian and A Great and Terrible Beauty are on my TBR pile!
They’re both so good (especially Obsidian, JLA is amazing!)
I’ve been urged to read Junot Diaz by some people and just haven’t found the willpower to do so despite watching some videos on him publicly speaking. Perhaps one day!
Cheers,
joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts
He’s fantastic! I’d definitely have to agree with those people 🙂
I’m with you, I love reading an old favorite again and again. I do the same thing with Harry Potter, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve read/ listened to it. (except book 7, I’ve only read that once.) So many of these books I have to read once.
I think rereading is really one of the greatest parts of being a reader and it’s something I want to be able to balance with new releases, arcs, etc!
Great list! Nineteen Minutes– yes!! It is one of my all-time favorite books and I have read it multiple times and I am sure I will end up reading it multiple more. I haven’t read the It Girl series, but honestly who wouldn’t want to read about Jenny Humphrey. I didn’t put A Great and Terrible Beauty on my list, but I read those a looong time ago, but before the third book ever came out, so I would love to reread the first two and actually complete the series. Shiver is definiely on my TBR list. Yay for Harry Potter as well. 🙂
My list: http://footprintsofthefancyfree.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-want-to-reread/
It seems like a lot of people never got around to the third book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy (it is quite large!) so it’s definitely something I want to tackle in the near future! I haven’t gotten around to any of Picoult’s new releases in a few years (I think the newest one I read was either Handle with Care or House Rules) but I own Lone Wolf and really want to start it!
Have you read The Storyteller by Picoult yet??? R x
My TTT: http://confessionsofabookgeek.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-want-to-reread-2/
Not yet! Is it one of her better releases in the past few years?
YES! It was out in 2012/13 I think. It’s historical fiction with a twist, goes between present day and second world war. Definitely one of her best and I’ve read most of her books 😀
I loved 19 Minutes!! and so many of Jodi’s other books! I would love to reread that one and The Pact. Those were my 2 favs. Also I will definitely reread the HP series. Such a special series and is tied to so many memories in my life.
My TTT
The Pact was also one of my favorites by her! (I think they both featured the same lawyer character, if I remember correctly). HP is always worth a reread.
I can’t believe that I have not heard or read any of these, they sound great! Well, I lie, I’ve heard of Harry Potter (of course), but I have not read the series (can you believe it!?), it’s way too intimidating for me!
Sparrow’s TTT
Oh wow! The series is really easy to read, if that helps! I’m the same way with Game of Thrones, I’ve heard so much about it but it’s so daunting and I haven’t been able to commit to so many pages!
Ha ha! Sorry, I meant threatening in it’s content: magic, wizardry, thaumaturgy, the supernatural. It’s all very real for me. . .if that makes sense 😉
I really loved the wolves of mercy falls and i get so defensive of it because people are always putting it down (much like twilight, which i also love).
Oh and Sinner is amazing. It doesnt have the same whimsical feel of shiver, but its outstanding in its own way. I love cole and isobel so i may be biased but you should totally read it! If you ladies are going to do a readalong i would love to join in… if you dont mind. Ive got a signed copy with the special dust jacket that ive been saving for a special giveaway. Perhaps we could join forces and create a challenge for the readalong and make the signed copy the prize?
I’d love to do a group read-along! Email me at girlinthepages@gmail.com and I can give you the details! We’re thinking of reading in chunks with small discussions throughout, then doing a post for each book that highlights some of our best/favorite aspects from the books and our discussion! We’re going to do the trilogy first and then Sinner!
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