Is rereading books worth it?

What a second read gives you

The first time through a novel, much of your attention goes to finding out what happens. The second time you already know, so you notice how it happens: the hints the author planted, the lines that meant something else than you thought, the characters you misjudged.

A book can also change because you have. A novel read at twenty and again at forty is in a sense two different books. The novelist Vladimir Nabokov went further and said that “one can only reread” a book.

And sometimes rereading is simply comfort. A familiar book asks little of you and gives back a lot, which is exactly what you need in a busy or difficult week, or in the middle of a reading slump.

Which books are worth returning to

• books you loved but now remember only vaguely;
• books with a twist you would like to see coming;
• dense books you read too fast the first time;
• books you read at school and may understand differently now;
• the book you turn to when you need something reliable.

Compare with your first impressions

The most interesting part of rereading is seeing what changed. If you kept notes the first time, read them before you start again and notice what you agree with now and what surprises you. If you did not, write a few lines this time; the guide to taking notes while reading shows how.

Do not let rereading crowd out everything else

Rereading is good when you choose it, not when it becomes a way to avoid anything new. A simple balance works for many readers: one reread for every few new books.

Reread in Pagetime

When a book is on the Finished shelf, its main button says “Read again”. It starts the book from the first page; if you stopped partway through a reread, the button says “Continue” and picks up from your bookmark. The book stays on the Finished shelf with your notes, rating and earlier reading time. New sessions add to the time you have spent with the book, and new notes appear next to the ones from your first read, each with its date.

The free version holds up to 5 books and includes 20 page scans with text recognition in total. Deleting a note does not restore a used scan. Notes and the timer work offline without an account; sync is free after signing in. A subscription removes the book and scan limits and unlocks your full stats history, year in review and folder export. Pagetime is coming to iPhone and Android; you can leave your email below to hear when it is available. Until then, take down a book you loved years ago and read the first page.

This independent guide is published by Pagetime and is not authorized, sponsored or endorsed by Apple Inc. or Google LLC.