Reading books can become a hobby without end. There are just too many books one would like to read. The list of potential reads usually grows way too fast and finding time for a return to a book I liked makes it even worse, especially when I juggle it with my own writing and self-made proofreads/edits.

Yet, going back to something I liked has its appeal. The reasons for such a return might vary – and I’ll look into some.

The question I had first on that matter when I decided to write this post was: is the desire for a re-read a measure of quality? My answer is: I don’t know. More likely, it’s a measure of enjoyment. What I’m the most likely to re-read is a book I had a lot of fun with – even if the fun came at the cost of other aspects. After all, some humorous books don’t tend to have a complex plot.

Anyway, onwards to the potential reasons for re-reads:

Sequel time!

The very basic for a re-read is the approach of a sequel, especially if it was a while since the last book came out. There’s no simpler reason to return to the story than the intention to continue it.

Fitting the mood

Roughly a year ago, I went on to re-read The Picture of Dorian Gray. Truth is that it was not a complete re-read, my first read was translated book while this time, I read it in English. Also, the 10-year break and the fact I was no longer concerned by a deadline for school reads made it much enjoyable. Still, I felt it’s a good fit for the usually gloomy November days. It could happen again that I return to something because I believe it fits the time of year – or my current mood.

For giggles and stuff…

There are books I remember by a small number of witty one-liners or funny quotes. Tying into the previous point, those are some I’d be likely to reach for (not literally as I am an e-book reader) if I wanted to have some light-hearted read with more emphasis on the fun factor than anything else. This might especially be the case for shorter books.

Fond memories

Probably the strongest factor is having a fond memory for a book, be it the story or a specific character. It might combine with the previous aspects – coming sequel or memorable lines – but in this kind of case, it’ll be more wholesome.

That’s all I’ll say this time. Feel free to share your reasons for returning to books you’ve read already.