Reading in Public No. 83: How and why to reread a book
On the benefit of revisiting books even when there's so much to read
This week I began a reread of one of my favorite books of all time: Possession by A.S. Byatt. I am having so much fun being back in this world that I love, noticing all the little things I missed the first time around. Because I’m finding so much delight in my current reread, it felt like the perfect time to address a question I’ve gotten a handful of times: how and why should we reread books when there are so many new books to experience?
As every reader knows, there are more books in this world we want to read than we will ever have the time to finish. Our to-be-read piles are endless, our shelves are overflowing, our library checkouts are stacking up—and the anxiety about ending our readerly lives without having read what might have been a best book is real. So I do completely understand the worry some readers feel about revisiting books they’ve already read. In addition to the time being allocated to rereading something rather than crossing a new-to-you book off your TBR, there’s the concern that a reread won’t hold up under fresh scrutiny. What if you use your precious time to return to a once loved book only to find it’s not as magical as you remember?
I am, however, a tremendous fan of rereading and today I want to share some reasons why I advocate so passionately for rereading as well as some tips for how to go about it. Whether you relish the idea of returning to a long-ago favorite or find yourself anxiously eyeing your shiny new books, I hope this post will give you the courage and resources you need to dive into a reread when the time is right for you.
Why to try a reread.
Nabokov says, “there is no reading, there is only rereading,” and while I can’t stand behind that bold of a claim, I get what he’s saying. It’s in rereading that we can most effectively appreciate and notice the craft of a piece of writing—which is what good read is in his view. But while I would never claim that reading a book once doesn’t “count,” whenever I reread a book, I marvel at how much I missed the first time around. And every time it makes me think of the hundreds of books I’ve “only” read once and all the delightful details I might have missed there.
I think rereading is an utter delight and every year I wish I devoted more time to revisiting books—and not just books I love, but ones that have challenged or frustrated me. I revel in the opportunity to be back in worlds I love and I appreciate the intellectual stimulation of thinking about what’s happening in a book when I already know the outcome of the plot. It lets me think more about the how, and you know I love that.
But as much as I am an advocate for rereading and believe it’s one of the best ways to sharpen your reading skills and deepen your reading practice, it might not be for every single reader. You’re probably all tired of hearing me say this, but, like everything, whether or not rereading is right for you largely comes down to the reasons you read. If you read because you love getting absorbed in a story that makes you feel like you need to find out what happens, rereading might be more difficult for you. And that’s fine! If you’re reading to rack up numbers and power through as many books as possible (though I really hope you’re not), rereading might be tough sell1.
Still there are—in my opinion—far more reasons for reading that lend themselves to rereading than to avoiding it. Here are some reasons to give rereading a try:
Rereading let’s you think about craft and see how a book works. This is the primary reason I reread. The first time I read a book, my mind is trying to put together the plot, settling into the world, and get to know the characters. When I reread a book, I have the bandwidth to consider how an author was able to put it all together. I think this is what Nabokov means when he says there is no reading, only rereading—when we reread we can be more thoughtful and analytical and truly see the choices behind the work of art.
Age gives new insights. I recently reread Jenny Offill’s Dept. of Speculation after ten years and I was schocked by how different it feels to read it now. The plot points and passages that stood out to me were wildly different than when I read it in my 20s—it felt like reading an entirely different book, while also allowing me to revisit that older version of me. This is a common occurrence for rereaders. Rebecca Mead explores this idea in depth in her book My Life in Middlemarch and Alice Hoffman says of Heathcliff, “Read Wuthering Heights when you’re 18 and you think Heathcliff is a romantic hero; when you’re 30, he’s a monster; at 50 you see he’s just human.” The only way to develop those kind of insights—and I want to develop those kind of insights as I age—is to reread books.
You’ll notice details that blow your mind. Okay, this is kind of repeating what I’ve already said, but one of my favorite parts of rereading is the feeling of “how did I not notice this before?!” These aren’t often my most deep reader, analytical moments, there just moments of pure appreciation and delight, and I truly find them in almost every book I reread.
Rereading will make you a better reader of everything. Because it is through rereading that we can really start to notice details and understand craft, rereading makes us better at reading everything else we pick up. The close reading skills you develop through rereading will go on to serve every book you ever encounter.
Rereading is the ultimate escape. Revisiting a favorite book can offer the same comfort that rewatching Gilmore Girls (or whatever your favorite show may be) can provide. You love the characters, you love the setting, and—even better—you know the outcome so you can just settle in and enjoy the ride. Even if your reread is something sad, there’s a different posture when you enter a book without the anxiety of narrative uncertainty. I reread a lot of books during my first months postpartum for this very reason. There were so many unknowns in my day-to-day (minute-to-minute) life and I really enjoyed knowing what was going to happen in my books because sometimes certainty is the ultimate comfort.
You’ll see how you’ve grown as a reader. I know people worry about a book not holding up to a reread, but I think a small reframe here does wonders. Instead of thinking about how the book fails to live up to your expectations, think about how you’ve grown as a reader. What do you know to look for now? What invisible flaws have been made visible? What ave you learned about craft (and life) that change your perspective on beloved books? When I’ve loved a book, new insight never ruins that experience for me. Instead, deeper reflection can cement a book as foundational to my literary life.
A reread might become a book of your life. I think one of the reasons people don’t reread is that, in part, reading is about finding your next favorite book. But a reread just might become a best book of your life. This has happened to me multiple times and for different reasons. I didn’t love and adore Middlemarch until I read it the second time both because I wasn’t mature enough to appreciate it the first time and because the context I read it in (for Novel Pairings, not for a class) was more conducive to how I wanted to approach that book. In a completely different vein, I really enjoyed Gone Girl when I first read it, but rereading it allowed me to appreciate the craft of what Gillian Flynn accomplished and appreciate the book as a work of literature on an entirely different level. So the next book of your life might not be something new and shiny, it might actually be something you’ve already read before, just waiting for you to meet it at the right moment.
How to start rereading.
The short answer is, just go for it. But if you need a little more convincing or encouragement, here are some ideas:
Start with something short. Don’t make Pillars of the Earth your first reread or you might get bogged down forever. Start with a slim book, or even a short story! Maybe you vaguely remember reading “The Lottery” or “The Yellow Wallpaper” in high school. Sit down with one of those now and see what it feels like to experience it again as an adult. What can you appreciate now that you didn’t then? What do you notice about the story itself and yourself as a reader? Doing a short reread can help you determine the benefits of rereading for yourself before you make a big time commitment.
Reread part of a book. Another way to see the benefits of rereading is to choose a couple passages of a book you’ve read before and just read those. Unless you’ve marked up a book and have a passage you know you’d like to revisit, I suggest returning to the beginning of the book. Beginnings are meaningful and often contain little details that become pertinent later on (I’m looking at you, The Bee Sting). As you reread the opening, think about how the author was setting up themes and motifs from the very beginning. What can you notice only in hindsight? Then consider how this little bit of rereading enriched your understanding or enjoyment of the book. This might help you decide to do a full reread at some point, but it will also help you think about what you might want to look for when you reread.
Reread with an audiobook. Listening to books I’ve previously read is one of my favorite ways to incorporate audiobooks into my reading life. Taking in a book in a different format only enhances the OMG-I-didn’t-notice-that-before feeling of rereading, which you already know I love. It also helps because it can feel easier to fit in audiobooks during extra time rather than in my precious and limited print reading time.
Reread with a friend, a group, or a guide. Because I like to reread to think about craft and use more of my analytical brain, it can be particularly helpful (and fun!) to reread with other people. Often for me, this was with
as part of and having an external reason to revisit a book plus a smart friend to talk about it with made me more eager to reread and helped me get more out of the experience. There are tons of readalongs, slow reads, and book clubs on Substack that you can join to get in on the rereading action, but you can also just tap into your network of reader friends. Take turns choosing a past favorite to read with someone who hasn’t experienced it before and note how a first time read and reread feels both similar and different.Reread a childhood favorite. There’s nothing that taps into the escapism and nostalgia of rereading like returning to a favorite book of your youth. Sure, you might notice some cringey or even problematic elements you didn’t see before, but this doesn’t have to “ruin” the book for you. Instead, let yourself get back in touch with that young burgeoning reader while marveling at how much you’ve grown and changed.
Reread something fun. A lot of my rereads have been classics, modern classics, or other difficult books. I think that’s what we tend to have in mind when we think about rereading. But it doesn’t have to be that at all! Reread your favorite romance novel or thriller, just for fun! I promise you you’ll still have fresh insights, notice new details, and improve your reading skills even if you reread something less serious!
Just go for it. As a student and a teacher, I reread books all the time and didn’t think anything of it. Rereading was a major part of my literary life to the point that I guess I didn’t realize other people weren’t diving into the same books again and again or that there were any fraught feelings about rereading. But it is only in trying a reread that you can truly see the benefits, so if rereading sounds even remotely interesting to you, just give it a try! There’s nothing to lose and you’ll learn something about yourself as a reader even if what you learn is that rereading isn’t your favorite.
Tell me your thoughts! Do you reread books? Why or why not? Do you tend to reread favorites? Classics? Books you hated the first time? What do you love about rereading? What are some of your struggles with rereading? What is the book you’ve read the most times?
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Happy reading!
Sara
I will say though that you are the one who decides what “counts” towards your reading goals so if you want to count six rereads of Pride and Prejudice as six books read in 2025, I say go for it.
For many years, I've re-read a favorite book on New Year's Day. It is such a fun way to start out the new year.
I've had (am having) a bit of a reading slump this summer, and one of the only things that has worked for me is re-reading prior favorites! I think the familiarity is a comforting place to be, and also that it can lower the level of energy needed to get into the book. I don't feel like myself if I'm not reading, so it was such a relief to figure out what to lean on right now!
I've also enjoyed re-reading favorites on audio. The fresh format always seems to bring something new to light... even when I've already read the physical copy oodles of times. Interestingly, re-reads are one of the only ways I can do fiction on audio.