Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time – TTT

Hi everyone! I’m not yet back to blogging regularly, but today I want to bring you a quick blog post. And what better format for a quick article than Top Ten Tuesday? This weekly meme is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Now, this week’s theme is “Books on my Fall 2021 TBR”, but my TBR barely changed since last year’s Fall post due to the massive reading slump I’ve been in. So I decided to instead make a top ten of books I wish I could read again for the first time (which was the TTT prompt a couple of weeks ago). Ready? Here we go!

The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien

I first read this when I was 14, in the middle of the movie hype. I realized how much I loved epic fantasy, but I think I missed a lot because I was still quite young and didn’t fully appreciate the writing in addition to the story.

Daughter of the Forest – Juliet Marillier

I feel like I mention this book so much here, but it’s one of those books that shaped me as a reader. It’s a retelling of the fairytale of the six swans with a swoony romance, set in Ireland and England; and one of the few books I’ve ever re-read.

Outlander – Diana Gabaldon

Another one of those books that strongly influenced my reading tastes. And it indirectly made me fall in love with Scotland! This book inspired me to go on a hike there and I still think about that holiday every day.

Matilda – Roald Dahl

A classic, and a great companion for a little girl like me who loved reading and didn’t quite fit in.

A Curious Beginning – Deanna Raybourn

Victorian murder mystery with a kick-ass heroine, a rough-on-the-outside-but-cinnamon-roll-on-the-inside hero, and so much chemistry! The Veronica Speedwell series is a treat! It’s one of those books I read again if I need a little pick-me-up.

Harry Potter – JK Rowling

I’m so conflicted about this series and the author by now, but I remember when I was a teen and I practically grew up together with Harry, Ron and Hermione. I probably wouldn’t start reading these books considering Rowling’s opinions, but oh! To go back in time and explore Hogwarts as an innocent youngling!

A Song of Ice and Fire – George RR Martin

I wish I had taken more time to read these books the first time, instead of rushing through them to catch up with the TV show. There is so much hidden in those pages, little things, hints that are easily missed. (And it would make the long wait for The Winds of Winter a bit more bearable, I suppose)

The Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan

Yep, another MASSIVE fantasy series! I always tell people it took me a whole year to read this series – partly because the series consists of 14 chunky books and partly because I only read 50-100 pages per day. To be honest, I have forgotten most (if not everything) about the story, so I could read it again for the first time, sort of! But don’t expect me to finish before the TV show is here…

Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor

I remember wanting to savour every word and even hugging this book every time I closed it. The writing in this one is exquisite and you really need to take your time for it. If only I could experience this feeling again…

American Gods – Neil Gaiman

Ok, adding this one to my list because I absolutely hated it. Say what, An? Yeah, you read that right. But since everyone loves Neil Gaiman and this book, I think the issue might have been me instead of the book. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right place mentally to fully appreciate the story? Who knows…

What about you? Are there books you wish you could read again for the first time? Let me know in the comments below!