As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we've yet to get around to.
As
we
grow
old
,
we
realize
that
we
have
so
little
time
to
read
and
there
are
so
many
great
books
that
we
've
yet
to
get
around
to
.
Yet re-readers are everywhere around us.
Yet
re-readers
are
everywhere
around
us
.
For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a conventional practice annually.
For
certain
fans
,
re-reading
The
Lord
of
the
Rings
is
a
conventional
practice
annually
.
One friend told me that Jane Austen's Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.
One
friend
told
me
that
Jane
Austen
's
Emma
can
still
surprise
him
,
despite
his
having
read
it
over
50
times
.
New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading.
New
sudden
clear
understandings
can
be
gained
from
the
process
of
re-reading
.
Journalist Rebacca Mead, a long-time Englishwoman in New York, first came across George Eliot's Middlemarch at 17.
Journalist
Rebacca
Mead
,
a
long-time
Englishwoman
in
New
York
,
first
came
across
George
Eliot
's
Middlemarch
at
17
.
Since then, she has read it again every five years.
Since
then
,
she
has
read
it
again
every
five
years
.
With each re-reading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated differently.
With
each
re-reading
,
it
has
opened
up
further
;
in
each
chapter
of
her
life
,
it
has
resonated
differently
.
Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeat reads, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines.
Mead
evidenced
the
large
number
of
ways
in
which
really
good
books
not
only
stand
the
test
of
repeat
reads
,
but
also
offer
fresh
gifts
each
time
we
crack
their
spines
.
These kinds of books grow with us.
These
kinds
of
books
grow
with
us
.
Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading.
Scientists
have
also
recognized
the
mental
health
benefits
of
re-reading
.
Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the "what" and the "why".
Research
conducted
with
readers
in
the
US
found
that
on
our
first
reading
,
we
are
concerned
with
the
``
what
''
and
the
``
why
''
.
Second time round, we're able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express.
Second
time
round
,
we
're
able
to
better
appreciate
the
emotions
that
the
plot
continues
to
express
.
As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book "brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers."
As
researcher
Cristel
Russell
of
the
American
University
explained
,
returning
to
a
book
``
brings
new
or
renewed
appreciation
of
both
the
great
book
and
its
readers
.
''
It's true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we're fond of making notes on the pages).
It
's
true
that
we
often
find
former
selves
on
the
pages
of
old
books
(
if
we
're
fond
of
making
notes
on
the
pages
)
.
These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then.
These
texts
can
carry
us
back
to
a
time
and
place
,
and
remind
us
of
the
kind
of
person
that
we
were
then
.
We're changed not only by lived experience but also by read experience - by the books that we've discovered since last reading the one in our hand.
We
're
changed
not
only
by
lived
experience
but
also
by
read
experience
-
by
the
books
that
we
've
discovered
since
last
reading
the
one
in
our
hand
.
More so than the movie director or the musician, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to picture this declaration of love or that unfaithfulness in life.
More
so
than
the
movie
director
or
the
musician
,
the
writer
calls
upon
our
imaginations
,
using
words
to
lead
us
to
picture
this
declaration
of
love
or
that
unfaithfulness
in
life
.
A book is a joint project between writers and readers, and we must pour so much of ourselves into reading that our own life story can become connected with the story in the book.
A
book
is
a
joint
project
between
writers
and
readers
,
and
we
must
pour
so
much
of
ourselves
into
reading
that
our
own
life
story
can
become
connected
with
the
story
in
the
book
.
Perhaps what's really strange is that we don't re-read more often.
Perhaps
what
's
really
strange
is
that
we
do
n't
re-read
more
often
.
After all, we watch our favorite films again and we wouldn't think of listening to an album only once.
After
all
,
we
watch
our
favorite
films
again
and
we
would
n't
think
of
listening
to
an
album
only
once
.
We treasure messy old paintings as objects, yet of all art forms, literature alone is a largely one-time delight.
We
treasure
messy
old
paintings
as
objects
,
yet
of
all
art
forms
,
literature
alone
is
a
largely
one-time
delight
.
A book, of course, takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it adequately worthwhile.
A
book
,
of
course
,
takes
up
more
time
,
but
as
Mead
confirms
,
the
rewards
make
it
adequately
worthwhile
.
As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we've yet to get around to. Yet re-readers are everywhere around us. For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a conventional practice annually. One friend told me that Jane Austen's Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.  New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading. Journalist Rebacca Mead, a long-time Englishwoman in New York, first came across George Eliot's Middlemarch at 17. Since then, she has read it again every five years. With each re-reading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated differently. Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeat reads, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines. These kinds of books grow with us.  Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading. Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the "what" and the "why". Second time round, we're able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express. As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book "brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers."  It's true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we're fond of making notes on the pages). These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then. We're changed not only by lived experience but also by read experience - by the books that we've discovered since last reading the one in our hand.  More so than the movie director or the musician, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to picture this declaration of love or that unfaithfulness in life. A book is a joint project between writers and readers, and we must pour so much of ourselves into reading that our own life story can become connected with the story in the book.  Perhaps what's really strange is that we don't re-read more often. After all, we watch our favorite films again and we wouldn't think of listening to an album only once. We treasure messy old paintings as objects, yet of all art forms, literature alone is a largely one-time delight. A book, of course, takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it adequately worthwhile.