It’s world book day! And I love celebrating my favourite thing (after my kids of course!) Ever since I was a child I've adored books; there’s something magical about reading a book that completely consumes you – the kind that makes you forget the real world exists, keeps you awake when you really need to sleep, and lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
But as much as I love revisiting favourite books (when life doesn’t get in the way!), nothing quite compares to that first read – the unexpected twists, the emotional gut punches, the feeling of pure discovery. If only I could erase my memory and experience them all over again! (Maybe one day AI will be able to do that!)
Here are 5 books I wish I could read again for the first time:
1. The Secret History – The One That Left Me Speechless
You know the kind – where you reach the final page, stare at the wall for a while, and question everything you thought you knew. The twists, the writing, the emotional rollercoaster – Donna Tartt wrote an unparalleled book of pure genius. I’d give anything to relive the awe of that first read.
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – The One That Made Me Fall in Love with Reading
We all have that book – the one that turned us into lifelong readers. Maybe it was the first story that transported you to another world or the one that made you realize how powerful words can be. If I could go back and experience the joy and wonder of discovering Narnia for the first time, I absolutely would.
3. Apple Tree Yard – The One That Had the Perfect Twist
There’s nothing like the moment a book completely outsmarts you. That feeling of thinking you’ve figured everything out (and we’re all super sleuths, aren’t we?) – only for the author to pull the rug out from under you. I still remember my jaw literally dropping when I hit that reveal at the end. Imagine getting to be blindsided all over again? Yes, please.
4. The Catcher in the Rye – The One That Felt Like Coming Home
Some books just get you. The ones where the characters feel like old friends, the world feels familiar, and you never want to leave. Even though I’ve re-read this book countless times, I’d love to go back and experience that first-time connection—the comfort, the excitement, the feeling of finding a book that feels like it was written just for you.
5. Of Mice and Men – The One That Made Me Ugly Cry
Weirdly enough, I’d willingly put myself through this emotional devastation all over again. There’s something cathartic about a book that breaks your heart, especially if you don’t see it coming. When I was a teacher, I taught this book many times so I can’t recall the first time I read it, but I’m sure I was completely unprepared (although I should have seen it coming -the foreshadowing was there throughout.) If I could relive that raw, gut-wrenching experience of George and Lennie's story (with tissues at the ready this time), I absolutely would.
So, to celebrate World Book Day, tell me:
🖤 Which book do you wish you could read again for the first time?
📖 What’s the last book that completely hooked you?
🔪 Which thriller left you utterly speechless?
Let’s celebrate the power of a great story!
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