Book is lovelier, the second time around
There’s something about the air these days that makes me seek comfort in books, craving them as if I were back in high school, no obligation to the world but to read insatiably in bed and couldn’t care less that I have yet to shave my legs, comb my messy hair, polish my knife collection and answer some important emails and text messages. I gotta tell ya, after a looooong reading funk (it was a freaking drought!), I’m putting a serious dent on my mountainous TBR pile and I’m LOVING it.
I read some new authors like: Wendy Holden, Azur Like It (oh god, ackkk—terrible!), Suzanne Forster, Husband, Lover, Stranger (not really terrible but doesn’t make sense, :/ and the heroine is a fucking idiot), and Frances Mayer, Under the Tuscan Sun. (Okay, this one is tricky. First, no Raoul—and didn’t that just took half of my joy already LOL. Second, the images the pages provide are very lovely, but somehow it fell flat. Third, even if it’s about Italy—and y’all know I’ll fucking kill to live in this beautiful country—I couldn’t, for the life of me, find the book interesting. The only thing I got out of it is more fuel to my unbending desire to go to *sigh* Italia... and marry my Raoul, of course. *g*)
Now, I did some rereading as well. I know. Why reread when I have a lot of new titles on my unread pile? But it’s been a long time since I read the first four books of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and although I remember loving them, I honestly couldn’t recall its basic plots. :/ (Shut up! I only read each one once, three to four years ago! So really, it’s like reading new books. *hmph*) Anyway, after rereading, I find out I still like The Viscount Who Loved Me, and just as before, the ending is still blah. An Offer from a Gentleman, I have to say, not as so-so as I’d thought it was, but Sophie is still the meek, compliant and bloody noble Cinderella I remember (wanted to choke her, I tell ya). But The Duke and I, OMG, I absolutely LUB it!!! I mean—seriously, utterly, abso-fucking-lutely luuurve it.
I was very surprised, actually. Although I remember enjoying TDAI, I’d always thought Romancing Mister Bridgerton is my favorite in the series. It’s Colin’s fault, that naughty boy. Every time I think of the Bridgertons, he’s always the first one on my mind since he’s my fave of the siblings. Not that RMB isn’t as good as I’d thought it was; it’s just, apparently, not as lovely as TDAI. This second reading, I still think Simon’s characterization could have used more development than his dilemma, but I didn’t care much about it. Now, I find Simon and Daphne’s love story, not only entertaining, but very charming and *sigh* utterly romantic. *drawing hearts here* It’s so easy to see why Simon fell for Daphne who says things that throws him off-guard (she floors me, TBH). And the way JQ wrote this book, oh my, like a beautiful song: so fluid and so very entrancing. You’d close your eyes thinking you’re in a presence of a dance rather than just a song... Er, did that make sense? :/
Anyway, there are books I read like every other month that I know their sequences by my harloty heart. Like Judith McNaught’s Paradise and Something Wonderful. Romances that will always be my all time faves because every time I read them, they never fail to satisfy me. Still, nothing quite like the first time I read them. That’s why I’d always thought that when it comes to reading, the first time is always the fantabulous one. Apparently, as proven by TDAI, that’s not always the case.
Hmmm, maybe it’s the timing. Maybe at the time I just finished reading The Bronze Horseman that’s why the book after it paled in comparison. Maybe I was drunk then... :/ Er, maybe this time I know exactly what I want in a romance that the minor quibbles that bothered me before didn’t matter. Or maybe, compared to the many sucky books that are being released now (recycled plots, tiring heroes/heroines, hot—yes—yet forgettable love stories), the good old novels stand out.
I found myself scanning my purply book shelves for titles of yore and decided to see if TDAI is an exemption. *g* I ended up getting Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Dream a Little Dream and Heaven, Texas, both I’d read only once. Afterwards, I’ve decided DALD is just like before: not badly written, but still the least likely book I’ll pick up again LOL (it’s that annoying heroine and her stupid kid); no change there then. However, HT... ay my chicas. I’d always known it’s a good book (and Bobby Tom is uber yummilicious! *sigh*) but never thought it will even rival This Heart of Mine and Kiss an Angel as my SEP fave!
What about you guys? Do you reread books? Or do you think it’s a waste of time? LOL If not, what are the titles you always reread? Have you reread an old novel and discovered that if you didn’t do a second reading, you wouldn’t have find out how much you love it? Or you remember loving a book but after rereading realized it wasn’t as good as you’ve always thought it was?
I read some new authors like: Wendy Holden, Azur Like It (oh god, ackkk—terrible!), Suzanne Forster, Husband, Lover, Stranger (not really terrible but doesn’t make sense, :/ and the heroine is a fucking idiot), and Frances Mayer, Under the Tuscan Sun. (Okay, this one is tricky. First, no Raoul—and didn’t that just took half of my joy already LOL. Second, the images the pages provide are very lovely, but somehow it fell flat. Third, even if it’s about Italy—and y’all know I’ll fucking kill to live in this beautiful country—I couldn’t, for the life of me, find the book interesting. The only thing I got out of it is more fuel to my unbending desire to go to *sigh* Italia... and marry my Raoul, of course. *g*)
Now, I did some rereading as well. I know. Why reread when I have a lot of new titles on my unread pile? But it’s been a long time since I read the first four books of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and although I remember loving them, I honestly couldn’t recall its basic plots. :/ (Shut up! I only read each one once, three to four years ago! So really, it’s like reading new books. *hmph*) Anyway, after rereading, I find out I still like The Viscount Who Loved Me, and just as before, the ending is still blah. An Offer from a Gentleman, I have to say, not as so-so as I’d thought it was, but Sophie is still the meek, compliant and bloody noble Cinderella I remember (wanted to choke her, I tell ya). But The Duke and I, OMG, I absolutely LUB it!!! I mean—seriously, utterly, abso-fucking-lutely luuurve it.
I was very surprised, actually. Although I remember enjoying TDAI, I’d always thought Romancing Mister Bridgerton is my favorite in the series. It’s Colin’s fault, that naughty boy. Every time I think of the Bridgertons, he’s always the first one on my mind since he’s my fave of the siblings. Not that RMB isn’t as good as I’d thought it was; it’s just, apparently, not as lovely as TDAI. This second reading, I still think Simon’s characterization could have used more development than his dilemma, but I didn’t care much about it. Now, I find Simon and Daphne’s love story, not only entertaining, but very charming and *sigh* utterly romantic. *drawing hearts here* It’s so easy to see why Simon fell for Daphne who says things that throws him off-guard (she floors me, TBH). And the way JQ wrote this book, oh my, like a beautiful song: so fluid and so very entrancing. You’d close your eyes thinking you’re in a presence of a dance rather than just a song... Er, did that make sense? :/
Anyway, there are books I read like every other month that I know their sequences by my harloty heart. Like Judith McNaught’s Paradise and Something Wonderful. Romances that will always be my all time faves because every time I read them, they never fail to satisfy me. Still, nothing quite like the first time I read them. That’s why I’d always thought that when it comes to reading, the first time is always the fantabulous one. Apparently, as proven by TDAI, that’s not always the case.
Hmmm, maybe it’s the timing. Maybe at the time I just finished reading The Bronze Horseman that’s why the book after it paled in comparison. Maybe I was drunk then... :/ Er, maybe this time I know exactly what I want in a romance that the minor quibbles that bothered me before didn’t matter. Or maybe, compared to the many sucky books that are being released now (recycled plots, tiring heroes/heroines, hot—yes—yet forgettable love stories), the good old novels stand out.
I found myself scanning my purply book shelves for titles of yore and decided to see if TDAI is an exemption. *g* I ended up getting Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Dream a Little Dream and Heaven, Texas, both I’d read only once. Afterwards, I’ve decided DALD is just like before: not badly written, but still the least likely book I’ll pick up again LOL (it’s that annoying heroine and her stupid kid); no change there then. However, HT... ay my chicas. I’d always known it’s a good book (and Bobby Tom is uber yummilicious! *sigh*) but never thought it will even rival This Heart of Mine and Kiss an Angel as my SEP fave!
What about you guys? Do you reread books? Or do you think it’s a waste of time? LOL If not, what are the titles you always reread? Have you reread an old novel and discovered that if you didn’t do a second reading, you wouldn’t have find out how much you love it? Or you remember loving a book but after rereading realized it wasn’t as good as you’ve always thought it was?
Labels: bibliophile’s affair, dame judith mcnaught, for the love of rakes and rogues, romance baby
I reread books all the time. The Harry Potter series, if I can't read the books I listen to the audios. JM's Almost Heaven, Once and Always, Whitmey My Love. I think the only time I reread a book and came up feeling like, whoa, what just happened there, was Susan Isaac's Almost Paradise. The second time I read it, it made me bawl like a baby and I couldn't remember crying that much when I first read it.
11/14/2006 01:49:00 PM
Polish your knife collection? LOL! Harlot!
Garwood's Honor's Splendor. I read this book all the time and I still love it. I can't remember if I've read a book I loved and then after a reread, loved it more or got disappointed instead. LOL. Let me think about that.
11/14/2006 02:38:00 PM
I always reread JM's books: SOMETHING WONDERFUL, PERFECT, ONCE AND ALWAYS. I'm with Hotmama about the series, I usually end up rereading the previous book or books especially when it's a series like SK's dark hunters.
Books that are better the 2nd time:
BET ME
OPEN SEASON
IT HAD TO BE YOU
NOBODY's BABY BUT MINE
11/14/2006 04:14:00 PM
I reread almost every book that I like a lot. And books that I love are reread many, many times. This is partly why I prefer buying books to taking out library books (what do you mean I have to give them back?). Robin McKinley is an author I reread quite often; I like books that grow up with me - I first read Beauty when I was 11 or 12 and I love it just as much now as I did then.
For romance books, it's usually whatever author I'm stuck on at the moment - I liked SEP's DALD better than you did, but I don't know how it'll hold up on a reread - or whatever book I can find, as most of them are in boxes. Julia Quinn is another author whose books don't usually disappoint on second reading, but I didn't like her latest two that much.
Currently rereading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and then New Moon.
11/14/2006 04:41:00 PM
< /lurk>
I'm not surprised you couldn't finish under the Tuscan Sun - no Raoul like the movie and her "reality" is so far from the rest of us living here that it's hard to enjoy the musings about the geometrical perfection of a porcino mushroom when you're struggling to pay rent.
Glad to know you're an Italophile, too....let me know if you are coming for a visit!
I'm a big re-reader...mostly due to mass market paperbacks being at least 10euro ($12) and finished in a few hours, but because I like to re-live a good experience if I can.
< lurk >
11/14/2006 06:42:00 PM
I love rereading Julia Quinn. Just like SEP and JM, she's a great writer. I don't keep a book I don't like, so I have a very small collection of books and most of them I've read more than twice.
I've read Garwood's HONOR'S SPLENDOR more than any other book, but I don't this it's my favorite, lol. Janet Evanovich is my favorite author but I've read her books mostly just twice. I always reread her latest Plum book though whenever there's a new one coming out.
11/14/2006 07:02:00 PM
I re-read books all the time. I noticed that where each re-read it's different.
Depending on my mood, each reread will either be a success, a flop or fucking annoying.
I always like Kiss and Angel...not matter what that heather Trollop thinks. I like Alex and Daisy.
I re-read Diana Palmer. I know she doesn't have a lot of hot sex scene, but she appeals to me. I like the first 10 Long Tall Texan. A lot.
Although I am afraid that if Harlot reads them, she'll fall asleep. No sex. Or they had sex, but it's never detailed.
Maybe I'll let Harlot read them and see if she hates them, and then we'll have a bet going about whethere she hates them or now, winner gets 25$ from amazon...what do you think of that Harlot?
Anyways, there are books I will always love, but too tired to think it through right now. I have this horrible headache that won't quit! And I think I'm supposed to see a doctor for my eyes, which I don't want to do yet. OY!
11/14/2006 07:17:00 PM
or not.
The phrase is "hates them or NOT"
See, I can't type. I need my optomet-whatever.
11/14/2006 07:17:00 PM
"I always like Kiss and Angel...not matter what that heather Trollop thinks. I like Alex and Daisy."
Was the one with the circus? I liked that one too; it's probably one of the few books in which the "animal communication" didn't bug me too much. Although the beginning was rather contrived - and I read it just after another one of SEP's that had a similar forced marriage type deal, but I can't remember the title right now.
11/14/2006 07:33:00 PM
I re-read books all the time.
I think I've read each Judith McNaught's books so many times, I know each scene by heart.
And I'm re-reading J.R. Ward's BDB series, even though I just finished it...
I hesitate on reading really emotional books just because it's so draining -- even if I love it, like TBH or The Time Traveler's Wife.. I'll reread it someday.
And the good books -- you can reread over and over and it'll be better each time.
11/15/2006 04:24:00 AM
I actually don't reread very often at all. This year I have reread one book out of all the books that I have read! It's not that there aren't a ton of books that I want to reread but more that there are a ton of new books out there that I want to read for the first time!
11/15/2006 07:36:00 AM
Ms Adventures,
12euros is brutal! Yikes. Actually, Trollop complained to me about the same thing, and she's stuck in that bloody land where English bookstores are scarce. *snickers*
And, please do tell, why are YOU lurking, hmm?
Mike,
Welcome. *g*
Shosh,
Only 25$? I'll say yes if i get free books. :P LOL
AYAMTD,
Yep, that's KISS AN ANGEL. I lub that book. Trollop doesn't though, mostly because of Alex and his costume. Honestly...
Mikal,
Oh LOL! I read that as BOB series! I thought, WTF? :P
TBH is my favorite book evah. But have to say, i've only read it like 4 times. It sucks the bejebeez out of me LOL.
Marg,
Ohh, have to email you, have something to ask. :)
11/15/2006 08:12:00 AM
I'm not a big rereader. I usually prefer reading something new. But yeah, there are books that deserves to be reread over and over again. :P Like McNaught's SOMETHING WONDERFUL. I also love Crusie's BET ME. When I was little, I love LITTLE WOMEN and I think that's the book I've read the most. Hey, I like KISS AN ANGEL too!
11/15/2006 09:10:00 AM
I rarely have time to read a new book lately much less to reread. I'll probably reread the DH books when the newest one comes out this Feb.
Kiss an Angel? Isn't that the one in the circus right? I didn't like that one. The hero is sexy though, lol. I remember what the heroine has said during their wedding, awfully wedded? I LMAO with that one!
11/15/2006 10:22:00 AM
I love to reread books that makes me cry. Sometimes I even skip to the part that makes me tears up. Hehe.
11/15/2006 11:35:00 AM
I think a book comes out differently every time I reread. It depends on the mood.
I didn't like SEP's books before. I thought they were too silly for me but now she's one of my autobuy authors. IT HAD TO BE YOU has an over the top ending but now I love it.
I used to love Sandra Brown. But after rereading her old books, I had to ask myself why did I ever buy her books. LOL.
I always reread Jenny Cruise, I love her books. Linda Howard too. Well her old books like the Mackenzie series, HEARTBREAKER, MR PERFECT...
Olly
11/15/2006 11:44:00 AM
Lollie Rose, we are opposites. When I reread I usually skip the part that makes me cry.
Olly
11/15/2006 11:49:00 AM
I love re-reading McNaught's books. Her old historical books at least. Almost Heaven, Something Wonderful, Once and Always, Kingdom of Dreams. Garwood's historicals are great for rereading too.
I think every time you reread, books come out in varying degrees depending on one's state of mind. Good books will always be better though no matter how many times you read them.
11/15/2006 01:08:00 PM
I reread all the time. It's one of the perks of buying your own copy. If you ask me, with hardcovers now ranging from $15-23, you should read them at least twice.
I love rereading the HP series. The audios too are fantastic travel companion.
I grew up with Tolkien's books and I read his books probably twice a year. Just to visit Middle Earth again. It always reminds me of my father reading to us when my brothers and I were kids.
11/15/2006 05:39:00 PM
I read A Tale Of Two Cities once a year, and The Kent Chronicles by John Jakes every 3 or 4 years (there are 7 books, it takes me awhile!)
When they're good, they're good, and they deserve a reread!!
11/15/2006 05:57:00 PM
I love A Tale of Two Cities. That's a great book (though I hated it when I was in high school lol).
11/15/2006 06:45:00 PM
Hello.. I just finished reading Judith McNaught's new one called Every Breath You Take.. and it really took my breath away.. ;) Huge fan of you, JM (in case she is reading tis!)
11/16/2006 10:35:00 PM
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