I am a reader who seldom rereads unless I do not understand what I am reading at all, which can be both helpful and hurtful. During timed tests, it becomes an advantage. When it comes to reading books, however, I sometimes miss important details in the passages due to speeding through and not looking back. I do not have much patience when it comes to reading books; I loathe taking time up to look back at something I have read when I could keep on reading and get deeper and deeper into the plot. Reading a book can be compared to white water rafting. The experience is more enjoyable and an easier ride when flowing with the river, not when trying to paddle back upstream. Because of this, typically, I save rereading for when I do not understand something I have read.
However, I do not think rereading should not just be for people who do not understand. If there is anything about my reading habits I wish I could change, it would be training myself to reread more. When looking back at what has already been read, the reader tends to notice details she previously had not. The last time she looked at a passage she didn’t see the symbolism, or maybe she couldn’t place herself in the character’s shoes fully. Maybe after rereading she would be able to understand why a certain character acts a certain way, or you would be able to see the escalation of their character development. Those are things that I have missed due to my speed reading habits, but after glancing back--- or even rereading the whole book again--- my enjoyment of the book increases exponentially.
While I may not be a loyal rereader, this skill has helped me out in multiple situations. While reading Hamlet, I had to reread the first couple of pages several times to decipher what was being said. Further on in the book, I often looked back on previous acts and scenes to help deepen my understanding. Similarly, I reread To Kill A Mockingbird, to understand Atticus’ character and behavior better. Outside the world of books, rereading has helped me with assignments and reading data to help form a good argument for a persuasive essay.
Rereading is a very helpful skill; if it were not, test makers would not advise students to double check answers and reread the passages multiple times. Yet, sadly, rereading is not my forte. However, if anyone is ever hiring a speed reader, I am the girl for the job.
Unlike you, I am not a speed reader. I'm actually one of the slowest readers I know. I like to take my time while reading and reflect on what is being read. Still, we definitely have something in common: both of us are not, as you put it, “loyal rereaders.” I agree with your white water rafting comparison, which is a really creative way to put it, by the way! Still, rereading does have its good qualities. After rereading a book, I enjoy it a lot more, as well. Rereading ultimately makes the reader appreciate the work of literature more than he or she had before.
ReplyDeleteThe reference to whitewater rafting is thoughtful but I don't think it thoroughly grasps the potential of rereading. Instead of going against the wake of the river, rereading is simply a stop in the path. For most occasions, rereading is done after a piece of literature is complete in its entirety. However, on occasion, when one stops their reading to thoughtfully review a piece of information, I find it beneficial to understanding the ending. Most pieces of literature have connections and information that many often overread. Without rereading, many would miss what may be the most important aspect of a piece of literature.
ReplyDeleteI am also not a frequent rereader. I often like to think that I picked up every detail on the first read, but those few times I do read a text through a second, third or even fourth time, I pick up more detail than I did on my initial read. I agree with you on test taking though because it is very difficult to reread a passage when one is being timed. I need to start making myself reread books more often because they are the most difficult for me to make myself read over a second time, but they also have the most detail which can be looked over when only reading once.
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