Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
1984 by George Orwell
Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
And something by Willa Cather...I'm just not sure which one yet.
There are other books and authors that I want to reread, of course, but I can't read them all in three weeks. So I'm starting with these. If I have time for more, I might pick up Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne or What Maisie Knew by Henry James, because I'm kind of in the mood to reread those books, too. After all, as Robertson Davies once said:
"A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity, and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon, and by moonlight."
Happy Rereading!
I agree with the quote. As our life experiences change, so do our opinions of books. Many books are more appreciated as our experiences grow and some books no longer make the grade.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true! There are some books that I loved the first time around that I hesitate to reread because I'm afraid I won't like them as much now.
DeleteLove the quote! I need to reread more. Really? The Mill on the Floss? I hated that book. What a horrible tragic ending? Sorry. I have strong feelings about it. If you reread it I hope you share your thoughts so I can broaden my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very sad story...but I like Maggie. And Tom. And Eliot's writing. And I guess I don't mind tragic endings. But I can understand why you would have strong feelings about this book. :)
DeleteI am a huge fan of re-reading books, sometimes indeed with decades apart.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes it does not hold up and that is sad, but on the other hand it also happens I like a book better when I am older than when I was young.
Kind regards
Books are funny that way, aren't they? Some books I know I will always love, others might not stand up through the years, and some surprise me by being better than I remember. :)
DeleteI would love to take a chunk of time and do some rereading! Eliot, Cather, Woolf and Wharton would all be on my list too. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's nice to be able to start off the summer reading just what I like.
DeleteI love rereading favorite books - those are the best kinds of reading experiences :) I think its cool you want to focus on classics. Enjoy rereading those awesome books!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's a little sad that I have to schedule time to reread books I love...but that's life. :)
DeleteI love that quote and definitely agree with it. I've several classics which I've yet to read and I'm waiting for the mood to strike (currently my mind is focus on a few new books). ;-)
ReplyDeleteTiming is everything when it comes to reading certain books...and so is being in the right mood! :)
DeleteI just love that quote and but do not reread frequently enough. You are inspiring me...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. New reads should never entirely displace old favorites. :)
DeleteOh, I'm impressed! It's going to be a wonderfully literary season for you!
ReplyDeleteOnly if I get them all read. :)
DeleteOne of my favorite quotes and I love rereading. Sometimes I do too much rereading and not enough reviewing!
ReplyDeleteHa! I know that feeling. But it's the reading that really matters; the reviewing is just a bonus for the rest of us.
DeleteI reread Ethan Frome and it went from a ho-hum book to a stellar book in my opinion--the writing is excellent! I'm a big fan of rereading. We can't read all the books we want to, so we might as well savor those we love or want to give a second chance!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I'm in the middle of Ethan Frome right now and am liking it a lot more this time around. Life is too short to not read, or reread, the books you love most.
DeleteI so rarely reread books. I try to only keep books now that I plan to reread someday. When I'm retired and can't afford new books, maybe. ;-) At least that's what I tell myself. There are a handful I have reread over the years however, Jane Eyre being one of them. I always have this slight fear that I won't like the book as much the next time I read it.
ReplyDeleteI think your plan to reread a few of the classics is a great one. I hope you enjoy them again this time around.
Thanks! So far, so good. Of course, I haven't reread all the books on the list yet. :) I don't reread books like I used to either, but it makes me a little sad I don't have time to revisit my favorites more often.
DeleteOk, if you re-read Ethan Frome, let me know if it is better the second time around, because I didn't love it the first time I read it. I have been thinking of re-reading some Willa Cather, too. I am leaning toward Death Comes for the Archbishop, but may dip into something else. Good luck with your list!
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