Recently, I've found myself rereading a lot of books. Most of these we've read in class, but a few have been personal favorites that I read on my own free time. Here's a list:
1. Great Expectations: I've forgotten how much I truly loved this book. The plot is so cynically twisted that it gives me shivers. Of course, like every reread, I've picked on little subtleties that I hadn't picked up my freshman year. For example, at Mrs. Joe's funeral, Pumblechook yells "handkerchiefs at the ready!" and systematically instructs the mourners to wipe their tears in a rather oddly general-like fashion. These fine points slipped my mind the first time through. I also loved noticing the hints to later events that seemed so blatantly evident my second read through. I became excited at my sort of omnipresence whenever I came across these. It felt that I had some secret that no one else knew about.
2. A Man for All Seasons: I came across this in my room while I was cleaning out my bookshelf the other day. I read it all in one sitting (it probably took an hour or so). I was amazed by how much my PoV concerning Sir Thomas More had changed. I had always viewed him as a martyr, but it was only after my reread that I had fully come to appriciate how he stood by his belifs so whole heartedly. I distinctly remember a fishbowl we had about this book in freshman Block. Someone had actually chided More for beign strong and not giving in to King Henry VIII. I think that if we had had the same fishbowl now, this comment would have not been made due to our increased maturity.
3. Little Women: I absolutely adore this book. It is a perfect, cheerful, light read fit for any leisure filled day. I read it in about two hours and fully understood the playful humor in the book this time around. It was definately enjoyable to reread!
4. Pride and Prejudice: I had read this book and Jane Eyre and Robinson Crusoe in 8th grade when I was over at my relatives' house, bored to death by lack of children my age. We were staying over at their house for a whopping month, and luckily, the my relatives' college aged daughter had left a few books in her bookshelf. Due to my boredom and the availability of books, I read for that month. However, as an 8th grader, Pride and Prejudice's full meaning did not entirely enter my head. This past reread has allowed me to understand not only understand the more complicated aspects of 18th century English, but to understand the major themes in the novel. On a side note, I really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice more than Sense and Sensibility.
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