Thursday 21 May 2009

Booking Through Thursday-A Second First Time


What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?

When I first saw this question I thought it would be really easy to answer, there are so many books I'd like to re-read, but then when it came to actually writing it, I drew a bit of a blank. Of course, there are lots of books I would like to re-read, so I thought it would be easy to just mention some of these. But then I realised that when I think of re-reading, it's a very different process to reading a book for the first time and having the suspense and excitement of not knowing what's going to happen next.


I think the first that springs to mind would be Tess of the D'urbervilles. I think I've mentioned a few times that I love this book, and even after many re-reads, I still read this and will Tess to make different choices, even though I know she doesn't, so I'd love to go back and read this fresh, and feel the sadness, despair and frustration I felt the first time.


Another one that I'd like to be coming to with a fresh mind is English Passengers by Matthew Kneale. This is another of my favourite books, and although I've re-read it and get pleasure from it, I'd like to feel the sense of not being able to put it down that I felt the first time I read it.

14 comments:

Novroz said...

Thx for visiting my blog :)

Yup it is different when we are re-reading and reading for the first time

Dot said...

I still haven't read Tess of the D'urbervilles, it is sitting on my shelf, everyone seems to love it though. Happy BTT!

Janet said...

I love this story too. Good choice!

The Social Frog said...

I have not heard of or read either of the books you mentioned. Thanks for visiting :)

Marie Cloutier said...

I love that feeling of being so swept away by a book for the first time. re-reading is really different!

Margaret said...

As Marie wrote re-reading is different and it would be great not to know what happens next to experience the pleasure of finding out.

Jess said...

I haven't had a chance to read either of these. I will keep them in mind.

gautami tripathy said...

Tess is so relevant even now in some parts of the world.


BTT: Second a first
Kill Word Verification

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I want to look for English Passengers!

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

I have Tess. I haven't read her yet though. Here is A Second First Time

JoAnn said...

I STILL haven't read Tess, but it's sitting on my shelf.

Anonymous said...

I haven't read Tess and I find all my favorite books worth reading again and again!

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I haven't ready either of the two books, but now I have to find out what they are about :)

Here is my BTT post.

Vicki said...

Now I've read your blog I'm going to try English Passengers, sounds good! Have you read The Other Hand by Chris Cleave? I've just blogged on it if you're interested...