Re-Reads Redux

 

Over the past two or three years, I find myself more and more revisiting books I encountered in my teens and twenties. Some by choice, others by chance. It’s not unlike reconnecting with an old friend after two or three decades of living separate lives. I’ve done this twice in my life, via Facebook friends from the past, and one time was very nostalgic and fulfilling, while the other was kinda cringy and uncomfortable.

 

Anyway, I enjoy the tension of whether or not I’ll experience the same feelings I had upon the first read through a work. Or, if the book was something assigned to me in school and I didn’t get The Message back then, perhaps I would upon a re-read? Either way, whether a fantastic re-read or a certified dud, I find myself an enthusiastic re-reader.

 

Off the top of my head, I’ve re-read at least 24 books since 2023. Most have been rewarding; few have failed the re-read test. If I had to categorize them, it’d be something like this:

 

Great

 

My Tom Clancy re-adventure: Without Remorse, Patriot Games, The Hunt for Red October, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, Debt of Honor, Executive Orders

 

Watership Down (Richard Adams)

 

Moby Dick (Herman Melville)

 

Half of my Dean R. Koontz re-reads: The Bad Place, Dragon Tears

 

Conquerors from the Darkness (Robert Silverberg) – childhood nostalgia!

 

The Grayspace Beast (Gordon Eklund) – childhood nostalgia!

 

Okay … Just Okay

 

The War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells) – had some great parts, though

 

The Once and Future King (T.H. White) – also had some great parts

 

Floating Dragon (Peter Straub)

 

The Old Man and the Sea (Hemingway) – still didn’t “get it”

 

The other half of my Dean R. Koontz re-reads: Cold Fire, Midnight

 

Disappointing

 

Altered States (Paddy Chayefsky)

 

The Wolfen (Whitley Strieber)

 

Jaws (Peter Benchley)

 

Imajica (Clive Barker)

 

I mention all this because a few months back I decided that Stephen King’s It would be 2025’s Halloween read. Since the book is about 1,150 pages long, I figured it would be best to start early, September 1st. Problem is, I’m now just shy of 200 pages in. Yep, still a page-turner. I’ll probably get it done – and review it – in about three weeks or so. Which gives me another pleasant dilemma: Do I give another Stephen King a go, or move on to the next book waiting patiently in the On Deck circle. If I do another King, should it be one I haven’t read since high school (I’m thinking The Shining) or one I’ve never read (Under the Dome, since I had a lot of fun watching the corny series with my girls when they were little)? Or pick up The Three Musketeers, staring balefully down upon me as a write these words?

 

Well, let’s just wait for the spirit to move me. Come October 1st, I might be in the thick of a book I’m currently unaware of at the moment. We’ll see.

 

Happy Fall Reading!