Great Books Week: What Book Do You Read Over and Over?

The question of the day on the Great Book Week website is What Books do you read over and over?

As we packed homework for the night, The Bee told me she had to do her reading record. When I asked her what book she was reading she told me the book she’s reading at school is The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. (Like her mom she reads more than one book at a time!). Despite having read this book twice in the last year, she said she reads it again because she learns something new (she’s awesome!).  I started to fuss; The Bee is at that stage where she tries to take shortcuts but when she shared that she liked reading about Turtle I relaxed and shared some of the books that I have read over and over.

Way back in a former decade, for a few months my high school English class had to read, and re read Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. After dissecting and discussing this book I realized that I actually enjoyed and have read and re-read it savoring the way Toni Morrison uses language, the symbolism and just the plain crazy dynamics of people in love, lust and desire.

When The Bee was a mere bump, The Ex and I watched a segment on some chick by the name JK Rowling and were fascinated by kids wearing nerd glasses and decorating themselves with lightening bolt temporary tattoos. Having just joined a book of the month club I quickly ordered copies of the first three Harry Potter’s and was instantly hooked. Getting lost in a world of magic and wizardry (really, who doesn’t wish they could conjure something with the flick of a wrist?). Over the years Harry Potter has been like my favorite sweatshirt; something I am comfortable picking up and reading, from cover to cover or sometimes just randomly opening  the book and browsing through a few chapters.

The D’Aularies book of Greek Mythology was another favorite. WHy couldn’t I be wise Athena or quick Artemis? At the time this was a library only book but our school librarian took pity on my sister and I and would allow us to check it out and we would take the book home and devour it. Over and over we would read and write (our tween aged version of fan fiction) using this book as a guide.

When The Bee was smaller I remember being able to recite all of the words to Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Hippos Go Beserk by Sandra Boynton and Chicka Chicka Boom, Boom by
Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. There’s something so satisfying about the way the words flow and something sweet about sharing a book.

There are so many more books that tumble through my mind! Anne of Green Gables, Laura Ingalls Wilder, East of Eden (twins!). Signing off; I need to catch up with some old friends!

-r