Most of these books fall into a couple of categories, I either forgot all about them and I really don't want them now, I want to keep them and read them for nostalgias sake - or I've actually been wondering where they are. Books like my Wishbone books, Scooby-Doo mysteries, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. (As of writing this, I've not found them yet but I also have some Baby Sitters Club and Trixie Belden books somewhere.) And I've been rereading some of them.
Now, these books really don't have the crossover appeal that a lot of YA books nowadays have - and even some of the MG books. In fact, if I hadn't read them when I was a better age for them, I'm not sure I'd like them now. But I'm having a lot of fun rereading some of them. ('Cept I can't stand Ned Nickerson. He's like wallpaper paste.)
I know that a lot of people in the book blogging community - especially the part that I'm most active in - read young adult books. But these are mostly new books, which leaves me wondering; do any of you go back and read books from your childhood or youth? I'm not talking about the books that were actually for adults (that would be like me rereading Agatha Christie books) but the books that were for younger readers.
Honestly, what I find very fascinating is how most people read these books when they're young, but then they hit a certain age and think they're 'too childish'. Then, quite a few of these people find their way back to younger books over the course of their lives.
Do you ever come across some of those old books you read before you became a teen? Do you still like them? (Would you like them if you read them for the first time now?) Do the books just not hold up well? I'd love to know what you think.
Logging you in...
FoolsIngenuity 93p · 487 weeks ago
I don't reread my old books I kept as much as I may want to, but I do occasionally dip my toes in and reminisce. I do think a lot of the book purging which occurs isn't only because you think you're 'too old' for those books, but also because you know you loved them but that you wouldn't enjoy them in the same way now. You grow as a reader as you age and some things you enjoyed before you don't any more. I will always have a special place in my heart for a lot of my books, but sometimes you've just changed too much to relate to them in the same way you once did. Also, not everyone's book shelves are big enough to accommodate all their books and a cull is necessary.
My recent post The Emperor’s Edge // A Book Where The Humour Doesn’t Try Too Hard, The Characters Are Perfect, And The Cover Doesn’t Do It Justice
AmyAelleah 80p · 487 weeks ago
Seriously, I probably have three times as many books off my shelves as I do on them - but that's because I really have no way to either sell them or give them away. (And if they're perfectly good books, I refuse to throw them out.) I've thought about selling on amazon, or something, but haven't gotten there yet.
Veronika · 487 weeks ago
I love rereading and reread quite a few books I'd adored when I was around 12 - especially, I'm talking about Meg Cabot books. They were tons of fun to get back to and I think I enjoyed them just as much as for the first time. I think rereading older books can be a great way to remember your childhood, and even relive it a bit. :)
Amazing post!
PS: Great minds think alike, I'll be posting about rereading, too. :D
My recent post Rick Yancey - The 5th Wave (The 5th The Wave #1)
AmyAelleah 80p · 487 weeks ago
Yeah, I don't reread a lot, but some of those old books can be so much fun to reread. And after so long, my memory's always forgotten most everything about the book. It's fun rereading those old books and seeing how your outlook has changed - and maybe even your favorite character in those books too.
Great minds indeed! :)
Ruzaika · 486 weeks ago
I've still not parted with the books from my childhood, so I still take them out and just flip through them when I feel like it. No, that's not weird at all. Oooh and I still have my first ever Ladybird book- for sentiment's sake. I do so wish I could get my hands on a few Baby Sitters Club books- we had them in our school library so I never actually bought the books. Nostalgia, nostalgia. I know why I liked them when I was younger, so I have no problem relating to that little nerd still in me :D
AmyAelleah 80p · 486 weeks ago
Yeah, it's still fun to read some of those old books - and sometimes you pick up on things that you didn't/couldn't when you were younger. I don't reread a lot of them - I'm usually too focused on what I am reading for my blog - but sometimes it's just so much fun to read books that are easier to read, and books where you don't have to worry about going 'I hate this character.'
Unfortunately, I borrowed most of my Baby Sitters Club books from the library, too. I think I own a few, but I still haven't come across them. I'd love it if my library got them on e-book - I'd totally reread some of them. I also borrowed a lot of Nancy Drew books too - though I'm slowly making my way through the ones I do own, then I'm going to read my brother's old Hardy Boys books that he doesn't want any more. (I think I've still got that little nerd in me, too.)