The Joy of Rereading

While I was making myself french toast this morning, I ruminating over some things. The one that stands out most prominently however is my tendency to reread my favorite books. I have always thought this a sort of weakness, something like a fear of breaking out of what is comfortable. This summer, my thoughts on this tendency changed when I had an interview at the library for my dream job: stocking shelves. Although I didn't get the job (they didn't like that I lived about an hour away), I came home with a new found respect for rereading books.

Within the interview, one of the librarians with whom I was talking asked me what books I like to read. My goodness, she opened the floodgates. We then talked about books for about 5 minutes, and when I mentioned Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, she told me that she rereads it once or twice a year.

This woman inspired me to not feel shame in my desire to reread books. She is in charge of shelving and sees new books come in and out of the library all the time, and yet, she continues to reread books.

My desire to reread books was then fueled. Though I will read new books, I never again feel like there is anything wrong with rereading a quality book. I feel joy in them and want to experience it again and again. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Here are some of my favorites that I have reread at least once:

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (every time I finish this book, I get the feeling that I could never read again and still be happy; and that is significant when you are a reader)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

East by Edith Pattou

Peter Pan by James M. Barrie

And some I plan on rereading:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Northlander by Meg Burden

Foundling by D.M. Cornish

Lamplighter by D.M. Cornish

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

These are not all of the books I love, but these are many that have I have either read twice or three times (or more). Hope you can find some here that give you joy like they do for me!

Happy reading and rereading!

Time

But there is something about Time. The sun rises and sets. The stars swing slowly across the sky and fade. Clouds fill with rain and snow, empty themselves, and fill again. The moon is born, and dies, and is reborn. Around millions of clocks swing hour hands, and minute hands, and second hands. Around goes the continual circle of notes of the scale. Around goes the circle of night and day, the circle of weeks forever revolting, and of months, and of years.

--Madeleine L'Engle, The Small Rain, pg. 152

Slightly Failing to Meet Expectations

So I know that I kinda failed at my "reading a book a week over break" goal. However, I did read quite a bit. More than some people might think healthy.

Not only did I finish Little Women and Foundling, I completed A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper, and am about 10 pages from the end of Lamplighter, the second in the Monster Blood Tattoo series.

That's somewhere around 1090 pages. That's pretty good if I do say so myself.

Though I may not have finished all the reading I wanted to, I did read. And that soothes my soul to no end.

I'll post again soon with some wisdom about classes. Or some such nonsense.

Glory be to the one who created words! Praise God!

A Review and Praise for Alcott's Most Famous

So with about 80 pages left of Little Women, I settled into bed last night. It was a perfect way to end a day.

In the pages of Alcott's novel, I found little intrigue or conspiracy, but I found reality. However difficult the life, it was a peacefully simple one. I wonder about the complexity of our world today when I read books such as this, and I find myself desiring the more simple life. I know it was not easy or happy, and one had to work hard for everything they had, but it was less complicated in it's struggles. For the most part. And I am basing my analysis solely on books. I have no experience or anything...

There were so many moments in this book that I would like to relay, but I would also encourage you to read it if you have not already, so I will refrain from giving anything away.

Let's just say, I found a lot of myself in this book. It was very shocking and enlightening to see myself written on the page. I wish that I could always live in this world, coming back daily to the simplicity, if only to dream.

Fantastically written and honestly true, I would recommend this book to any and all. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Little Men, and then later, Jo's Boys.

O my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this! (Alcott 669)

Lesson #1 from Miss Alcott

Jo March is one of the four girls who are the main characters of this story. She is a tomboy who loves to write and who cannot control her temper (sounds like someone I know...intimately...). After a big fight with her littlest sister, Amy, Jo has a good conversation with her mother. Marmee (their mother) tells Jo that she also has a terrible temper, but in her forty years, has learned how to control it. Her husband, Jo's father who is away at war, has been a constant help to her. As he is gone, Marmee does not show her sadness even though it exists. She explains it to Jo like this:

I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty, and will surely be the happier for it in the end? If I don't seem to need help , it is because I have a better friend even than Father to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust him, the nearer you will feel to him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother. (Alcott 111-112)

This gave me pause and served as an incredible reminder.

Praise be to God! His love never changes and is all encompassing.

Wandering with Jane Eyre

I have, lately, been enamored with the concept of wandering. I think it all started with the line from the Fellowship of the Ring:

Not all those who wander are lost....

I then discovered that I love the song I Wonder as I Wander*, a very lackadaisical melody, seeming content to just wander through the notes.

Soon after, I picked up Jane Eyre. I had never read this book and was struck by the mention of wandering in the second line.

This led me to picking up the book and purchasing it. I was shocked by the quality of its words, and how riveting the plot line was. I have attempted to read other classics in the past, but this one is the best to date.

As I read it today, I stumbled along a passage that struck me. I was amazed at the truth I read in it. Truth was not what I was expecting here, but as I wandered through the pages, I discovered it:

"She has been unkind to you, no doubt; because, you see, she dislikes your cast of character, as Miss Scatcherd does mine: but how minutely you remember all she has done and said to you! What singularly deep impression her injustice seems to have made on your heart! No ill usage so brands its record on my feelings. Would you not be happier if you tried to forget her severity, together with the passionate emotions it excited? Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. We are, and must be, one and all, burdened with faults in this world; but the time will soon come when, I trust, we shall put them off in putting off our corruptible bodies; when debasement and sin will fall from us with this cumbrous frame of flesh, and only the spark of the spirit will remain,--the impalpable principle of life and thought, pure as when it left the Creator to inspire the creature: whence it came it will return; perhaps again to be communicated to some being higher than man--perhaps to pass through gradations of glory, from the pale human soul to brighten to the seraph! Surely it will never, on the contrary, be suffered to degenerate from man to fiend? No; I cannot believe that: I hold another creed; which no one ever taught me, and which I seldom mention; but in which I delight, and to which I cling: for it extends hope to all: it makes Eternity a rest--a mighty home, not a terror and an abyss. Besides, with this creed, I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime; I can so sincerely forgive the first while I abhor the last: with this creed revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low: I live in calm, looking to the end." (70-71)

Though not all of this seems relevant, I ask you to read it over. I found hope in this passage this morning. I am always on the lookout for Biblical truths in my reading of fiction, and today, Jane Eyre, through the character of Helen Burns, gave me a slice of what I long for. Her words were brought near to my heart, as I have been thinking about the glory of Heaven and how we are to make that our goal. We are aliens here, and we must, MUST, remember that, just as Helen Burns does.

So if not for wandering, I would not have found this passage. I would have passed it by. I would encourage a little wandering in life. It's good for the soul.

*The version I am referring to here is by David Nevue.

All that is Gold and All those who Wander

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be the blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

--The Fellowship of the Ring