I love reading, but I love rereading even more. Any book that I love cries out for rereading, because I really feel that you have to read a book at least twice to truly experience it fully. There are books that I have read and reread (George Eliot's Middlemarch, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God) but I won't put those on this list. What follows are books I have read just once but know that I will read again.
1. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Mieville creates a spectacularly detailed and convincing universe that is entirely strange, and yet familiar. This is a book I think I need to experience at least once more.
2. Passion by Jude Morgan. I absolutely loved this novel of the Romantic poets.
3. Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This vast and complicated novel is definitely in my top ten favorites.
4. My Dream of You by Nuala O'Faolain. The author died far too young, and this was her only novel.
5. Anoher Country by James Baldwin. Heartbreaking and riveting.
6. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It took me forever to read this shattering and compelling book, but I will definitely do it again.
7. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
8. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
9. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.
10. The Crosssing by Cormac McCarthy.
Cormac McCarthy insists on breaking my heart, and he does it so beautifully. Also, everything Bonnie Jo Campbell has ever written should be on this list.
What books do you want to reread?
13 comments:
Ooh, I just bought ORYX AND CRAKE - to add to my growing Atwood collection, though I've not actually had the chance to read any of her books yet. Argh!
I haven't read any of those the first time yet. :/
I began Oryx and Crake and then put it aside for other books but I was really enjoying it. Thanks for the reminder that I need to pick it back up. Also, Moby Dick...impressive, I haven't even read it once and you want to read it again.
I have DNFed several books by China Mieville, whom I desperately want to enjoy. as i was not familiar with this title, I just added to my TBR. thanks!
@Becky-I just bought Oryx & Crake yesterday-the copy I read before was a library copy. I hope I like it as much this time around.
@bermudaonion-Out of those on my list, I think you would like Passion or My Dream of You.
@Jess-It took three attempts before I finally finished Moby Dick...which was embarrassing, since I was an English major.
@wordsandpeace-Mieville is definitely not for everyone. Honestly, it took me over 100 pages to really get into the book and its world. But then I ended up really loving the book.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck is at the top of my reread list.
Oryx and Crake :) Drew and I just read this (and Year of the Flood) together and I loved revisiting it.
@Susan-I reread East of Eden at the beginning of this school year. Such a great book.
@Ashley-I still remember when I first recommended Oryx & Crake to you! I'm about to reread it so I can read the next two books in the series.
Goodness - three McCarthys! I have yet to work up the courage to read any of his books.
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