On Rereading.

A book called Countdown City just came out this week, and it’s the sequel to one of my favorite books from 2012, The Last Policeman. Policeman is/was a clever noir/mystery that takes place in a speculative future where the earth is about to be destroyed by an asteroid in six months. The central mystery is pretty interesting, but even more engaging are the details surrounding it—the small (and large) ways that society begins to crumble, and the moral ambiguity that accompanies the impending apocalype. As the tagline on the book states, “what’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway?” and I find that to be a pretty compelling question.

Of course, whenever a sequel in a series comes out, I feel the need to go back and read the books that came before it so I can have the whole story fresh in my mind. A friend once told me that she likes to reread The Unbearable Lightness of Being every few years, because it gives her a sense of where she is in her life. While I like that idea, my rereading goals are much less lofty. Here are three series I hope to revisit sometime soon:

The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman

Not just for kids or teens, this is a deeply moving fantasy series about very adult topics, like theology, science, and the nature of existence. Plus, it features a totally great talking bear.

 

 

 

The Magicians & The Magician King by Lev Grossman

This is also a dark, very adult fantasy series—and the third installment is coming out next year! What if instead of Voldermolt, Harry Potter’s biggest enemy was his own disatisfaction and ennui? That pretty much sums up the particular flavor of this series.

 

Love & Rockets: Locas & Locas II by Jaime Hernandez

These collections are probably one of my favorite reads of all time—not only is this series funny, subversive, and deeply strange, but it’s also moving to see two female protagonists change and age so gracefully.

So how about you? What books do you enjoy rereading?

-Tara