Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

There’s something uniquely special about your first time. Something that can’t be replicated, no matter how many times you try to capture it again.

I’m talking about books, of course. You can re-read a beloved book as many times as you want (and honestly, you should, because why not) but it’s still never quite the same as the first time you read it. You know the feeling. The starry, curious, naive eyes, not quite sure what to expect when you crack the cover open. The first impressions of characters you’ll come to love or hate over time. The banter and sarcasm and exchanges that crack you up or make you cry. The plot turns that make you gasp out loud or threaten to throw the book. It’s something special that you can’t get back once it’s gone.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about books I want to read again for the first time. Sure, these are books that I either have or intend to re-read, but it’s not quite the same as the first time.

If you haven’t read these books yet, you obviously should. And then message me. Let me live vicariously through you. *grabs your coattails and clings to them*

Anxious People

A poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined

Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix up their own marriage. There’s a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

If I’m honest, I feel this way about most Backman books. Which I have read multiple times. It’s just never quite the same as the first time, though. Backman’s books feel like nesting dolls, where each chapter gets you deeper and deeper and reveals a little more of the overall picture until you find the treasure at the heart of it.

I actually listened to this one on audiobook, so I plan on my next read-through being my hardcover copy, so the experience may be slightly different. Still, there’s nothing quite like that first feeling when things start clicking into place and you start realizing what’s going on, even before the characters do.

Mort

Terry Pratchett’s profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestseller in England, where they have catapulted him into the highest echelons of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.

In this Discworld installment, Death comes to Mort with an offer he can’t refuse — especially since being, well, dead isn’t compulsory. As Death’s apprentice, he’ll have free board and lodging, use of the company horse, and he won’t need time off for family funerals. The position is everything Mort thought he’d ever wanted, until he discovers that this perfect job can be a killer on his love life.

This first was special on several different fronts. Not only was it the first book in the Death trilogy and the first time reading this book in particular, it was also my very first Terry Pratchett. Pratchett hadn’t even been on my radar, sadly, until right after his death when everyone was talking about him and people were insisting that I give his work a try.

There’s nothing quite like your first experience of the Discworld, nothing quite like meeting Death for the very first time. I’ve got plenty of Discworld books left to read, with a ton of firsts, I’m sure, but Mort will always have a special place in my heart.

Illuminae

Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Have I already read this one multiple times in multiple formats? Yes, of course. Nothing is quite like the first time, though, as I’ve said! Especially considering what a unique format the story is written in! It totally took me by surprise, and I loved discovering all the different formats and unique ways the story was presented along the way. I do confess that listening to the full-cast audiobook afterward was like experiencing it for the first time again, just in a completely different way, and I absolutely loved it. AIDAN still gives me chills every time.

I never did listen to the second or third books on audiobook, though, so I suppose there are at least a few more first experiences to be had with this series!

Thunderhead

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

I realize this is technically the second book in the Arc of a Scythe series, but it’s my favorite. Faster-paced than the first book and without the disappointing ending of the third. Perfect! Sure, the way this ended absolutely obliterated my soul . . . but it’s the sort of spirit-shattering ache that you can’t deny was masterfully delivered. I can read the book again, but it’ll never have that sort of visceral shock again!

The House in the Cerulean Sea

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

Nothing quite like discovering a new favorite author! From the moment I set this book down, I knew I had to read everything T.J. Klune had ever written and would ever write. It’s such an exciting moment, getting so deep into an author’s words that you never want to leave. I fell into this world from page one and was so sad to hit the end (even though it had such a wonderful ending). I definitely intend to read this one again (probably multiple times), but there’s nothing like having no idea what to expect and falling for its charm anyway.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it — is that a doll? — and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

Surprise! Bet you didn’t expect this to be here, right? I’m sure you’re just gobsmacked. I waited so long for a book like this. It would’ve changed the game for younger me, and I’m so glad the youth these days have it (you know, because I’m so old now). I’d love to have the experience of discovering this world again and watching all the folk heroes I grew up with come to life!

Warbreaker

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.

Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.

By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

I just loved this book so freaking much. The chance to discover Lightsong again? To fall in love with him all over? To meet Nightblood and get to gush over him again? Okay, to be fair, I haven’t stopped gushing about Nightblood since I read the book, but still. Fresh eyes and all that.

The Trials of Morrigan Crow

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world – but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart – an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests – or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

This series is ongoing, so there are plenty of firsts still to be had with it. Still, there’s nothing quite like the sensation of discovering a new world that you love so wholeheartedly that it transports you back to that whimsical, magical time of childhood. I try to convince pretty much everyone I see to read this series, especially if they are/were a fan of Harry Potter. The waiting for more books is always hard, but I’m excited for a fun, long-lasting series that always keeps me wanting more.

Wicked

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum’s classic tale we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn’t so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Gregory Maguire just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature.

Confession: I have always hated The Wizard of Oz with a passion. Why? I don’t know. Just do. Never understood why people enjoy it so much. I always thought it was ridiculously shallow and left me wanting more and wholly unsatisfied. So imagine my surprise when one of my friends forced this book into my hands during high school and told me I absolutely had to read it. She wouldn’t take no for an answer (believe me, I tried).

You know what? I loved it. Shocked me too. I loved the idea that there was this whole gritty, dark world behind the scenes, that characters were deeper and more than they seemed, that the world took a toll on each and every one of them, for better or worse. Most of all, I loved that villains could be heroes and heroes could be villains. (Uh-oh. Talk about hindsight!). My love of this book actually sparked me to start writing fanfiction during my high school years, in a way that really boosted my writing ability!

A People’s History of the United States

Library Journal calls Howard Zinn’s iconic A People’s History of the United States “a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those…whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories.” Packed with vivid details and telling quotations, Zinn’s award-winning classic continues to revolutionize the way American history is taught and remembered. Frequent appearances in popular media such as The Sopranos, The Simpsons, Good Will Hunting, and the History Channel documentary The People Speak testify to Zinn’s ability to bridge the generation gap with enduring insights into the birth, development, and destiny of the nation.

I feel like this needs to be said upfront: I DO NOT want to read this book again. I took AP US History and this book was the bane of my existence for an entire year. I’ve served my time, okay? In fact, I actually just got rid of my copy (which I really didn’t want to part with) a couple months ago when I was cleaning out my home library because I really never intend to read it again (or if I do, I can always borrow it).

Still, it’d be remiss of me to say that this book didn’t leave an impression on me. My AP US History teacher loved Howard Zinn, so this book was basically akin to her Bible. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book. Not the sort I’d normally read on my own, though, and history has always been kind of meh to me. More than that, it’s an important book, one that I think everyone should take a crack at sometime. I learned so many things from this book and have so many fond memories of it.

Our class actually got to do a tele-interview with Howard Zinn! You know, waaaay back when these things were really novel and it was cutting-edge that our school had those facilities. Zinn has unfortunately passed on, but I would love to be able to go back and recapture those feelings of sharing in something my teacher loved so much and was so passionate about, as well as all the things I saw for the first time without ever knowing they were a thing!

(Oh no. Now that I type this, I almost regret giving away my copy of the book. xD But really, I am NOT going to read it again, sentimentality aside, LOL.)

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