5 Types of Books to Savor

Some books deserve to be revisited, from familiar childhood favorites and school assignments to books that challenged or shaped you

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me she rarely reread books. I remember feeling a little confused—mostly because it never occurred to me that some people might NOT reread favorite books. In my mind, they’re akin to that rare breed of people who don’t rewatch movies. 

But, then, I’m the same person who sometimes avoids ordering new things at my favorite restaurants simple because I know I’m going to enjoy that old favorite. All that aside, there are a few types of books that deserve to be savored—and revisited! 

The book you loved as a child

A few years ago, I went back and reread every book in the Little House on the Prairie series. I grew up in Missouri (where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived when she wrote the books) and have been a big fan for as long as I can remember. But the experience was so beneficial, like going back to visit old friends you hadn’t seen in a while. It was fun to re-experience the things I remembered so vividly from the books I’d read as a child and experience again the things I hadn’t recalled as clearly. So, think about your favorite books or book series from childhood, from The Chronicles of Narnia to Ramona the Pest, and make a plan to revisit them. You won’t be disappointed! 

The book you were assigned to read 

We all probably have a mental list of books we were assigned in high school or college that we were assigned—and sort of read because we were going to have to take a test on it. So think back to a few of the books you were assigned and didn’t really give a chance. Do a little research on them and see if the subject matter or plot appeals to you more as an adult. Then pick one to reread (or read entirely) and see if you connect with it more as an adult. Years ago, I decided to reread Great Expectations. What I discovered in the process was that I had read most of the book in high school, but I don’t think I ever actually finished it. While I probably wouldn’t count it among my favorite books of all time, rereading it was a good experience. 

The book you say is your favorite

To Kill a Mockingbird. Jane Eyre. Or in my case, Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. The fact is we all have a book (or books) we often describe as favorites—but truth be told, we haven’t read them in a decade or more. Maybe your list of favorites has changed over the years, but it can be rewarding to return to a book you’ve regarded as a favorite in the past and see if it hits differently now that you’re older or in a different place in life. 

The book that changed you

Sometimes, we read a book and it challenges or changes our way of thinking. Obviously, here at The Bookery, we believe the Bible is the best example, but there are probably other books that have shaped or altered your understanding of the world and what’s most important. Last year, I read Eugene Peterson’s little book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, which is based on the Psalms of Ascent and uses them to help us see what it means to be a disciple: someone who is in this for the long haul, who with fits and starts and ups and downs is seeking to walk in obedience to Christ. While most of what Peterson wrote wasn’t necessarily new, he helped me to see discipleship in a new way. I’m hoping it becomes a book I reread every year! 

The book you never quite finished

Maybe it’s been on your reading list for years and you’ve even started it one or two times, but you’ve never quite finished it. You may end up hating it—or you could discover a new favorite. Sometimes, the books it takes a little bit of time to get into turn out to be some of the most rewarding reads. (Notice I said, “sometimes.”) 

What books bring you delight? Are there any books you enjoy rereading? Tell us all about it in the comments!