I know I’ve talked about rereads before, about how revisiting a favorite story is an excellent way to keep a book funk at bay and how (for me) sometimes rereading is necessary b/c my memory sucks and series can drag out for many, many years, but another reason I’ll always be #teamreread is the new perspective you gain after you’ve survived the initial roller coaster.
Book bff has been lamenting the fact that I haven’t read OATHBRINGER for months now, and between her an another friend’s harassment gentle chiding, I decided to just go for it, so I’ve been rereading Brandon Sanderson’s WAY OF KINGS this week, and yes, I do mean the whole week—that sucker is 1000+ pages—b/c it’s been three years since I first read it.
It’s been an adventure.
Firstly, I’ve been alternating between reading it and listening to the graphic audio for it, and people, graphic audio is kind of amazing. I didn’t even know there was such a thing (a movie for your MIND *giggle snorts*), but book bff was so excited when I told her I was finally doing it that she shared, and now I think I’m going to have a hard time going back to plain old audiobooks. #firstworldproblems
Graphic audio is an audiobook on steroids. It’s a full ensemble narration reminiscent of old school radio shows, and if you have the means to check it out, I highly recommend it. The actors are fantastic, and with books like WoK that have elventy billion characters, giving not only your favorite MCs but your favorite secondaries a voice as well, is truly an experience.
So there’s that.
But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here b/c of the way a reread can change your perspective, change your overall understanding of a book. For the life of me, I can’t remember who, but someone suggested that perhaps Sanderson writes with rereads in mind, and whether or not that’s true, I can’t say, but after this, I don’t doubt it.
All those baffling chapter headers make sense. All the little betrayals I missed b/c I didn’t know to look for them had flashing neon lights. I appreciated everything that blew my mind in that last 12 – 15% (Sanderson’s calling card) that much more, b/c I saw the traps being laid.
And that’s the tip of the iceberg. For those of you not familiar with Sanderson, the majority of his books take place in the same world—the Cosmere—and they’re all interconnected, but in subtle, sometimes easy to miss ways.
Having read several more of his books since WoK (the first Sanderson book I ever read), I’ve better learned how to spot the signs, I now know the terms, so more than the usual reread, this was like one giant AHA.
SO.
Even though most series aren’t as intricate as a Sanderson series, if it’s a series you love, you should consider giving it a second glance. You’ll be amazed at all the things you missed in your ignorance. And if you already know love it, it’s a win/win, and that’s a rare scenario when it comes to hunting what to read next, am I right? #yesiam
What about you? What authors have blown your mind on the second pass? What books would you like to reread?
My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
I’ve never heard of a graphic audiobook, but it sounds like something I might actually enjoy. I’ve sampled several audiobooks and never understood their appeal, because it was akin to listening to a bedtime story for me, at best. At worst, they were OTT with the “acting”, or the voices just…not what I’d expected. But an ensemble may be something I’d listen to.
Just learned that Rabid Reads is shutting down, and that’s a bummer. I’m trying to find your new site, but the link is broken in the farewell post from Carmel. Hopefully I can find you on Goodreads, because I’m having trouble with links in general it seems (on my Kindle Fire HDX aka my “laptop”). Best wishes going forward!