I was feeling pretty awful last weekend and Thomas Hardy just wasn't going to do it for me. Instead, I decided I wanted some comfort. After staring at my shelves for all of five minutes, I grabbed this one and settled in to read.
It was the perfect choice for an achy and exhausted me. The story is so familiar that it really does feel like visiting an old friend rather than reading something new. And you might think, that after reading this so many times, that I'd be sick of it.
Nope.
The book still felt fresh and innovative, even after all this time-and movies, and theme parks, and everything in between. I was taken back to my first read and all the rereads of this title and felt a great deal of comfort from Rowling's story.
I think that sometimes, we just need to feel comforted by what we read. And revisiting books that we cherish from our youth is a big part of that. It makes it even more special when you love the book just as much on each reread (if not more so).
I'm not sure I have anything more to say about this that I haven't already said somewhere else. I did spend a lot of my attention focusing on the development of friendships between the 3 main characters, as well as any scene Snape was in (because he has always been my favorite character). I don't think I learned anything new, but rather acknowledged the craft it took to write this.
In any case, I'm pretty positive that I'm going to be rereading the rest of the series in the new future-probably not one right after the other-in hopes of gaining a little inspiration and getting that comfort when I need it.
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”
I am a big fan of books as comfort, and I am an avid re-reader. I've been toying with re-reading Harry Potter - and it would be like the seventh time I think...
ReplyDeleteEvery time I go back to reread these, it feels like meeting with an old friend. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter books are some of my favorites to re-read -- I don't make as much time for re-reading these days as I would like, but it's so nice to cozy up with an "old friend" :)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how often I can read these and really feel both comforted and amazed at the books. They feel like home.
ReplyDeleteI've only read these once, a few years ago now. You're making me want to re-read them - I need a comfort read!
ReplyDeleteI love revisiting Hogwarts when I need an old friend. I keep one version close at all times.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you listen to audios, but the audiobooks for this series are FANTASTIC! I listened to them last fall, and it was like reading this series for the first time...it was a really special experience for me!
ReplyDeleteBut I completely understand about finding comfort and inspiration in a familiar story. I just love that feeling!
I reread this whole series (again) last summer before visiting Harry Potter World. I was blown away by the fact that they are new each time I read them. I love these books and they are the perfect comfort reads.
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