December 17, 2015 | Mary Finn | 0 Comments

Hello, Old Friend, Time to Read You Again

On the fresh pleasures and insights that can come from revisiting a favorite book.

Dec. 15, 2015, Wall Street Journal

…So too, the most familiar books reveal more about themselves when we attend to them anew. And our growing experience allows us to approach our favorites from different angles. In a sense, rereading the same book produces new insights because the reader is a different person. Indeed, a good book is very much like a mirror: The glass is the same year after year, but the reflection in it changes over time.

Don’t pay any attention if your conscience tries to make you feel guilty for taking the time to reread a favorite book this winter. It is more fruitful and satisfying to read one good book well than a thousand poorly. And the best books cannot be read well without rereading.