"Seeing someone
reading a book you love
is seeing a book
recommending a person."
- unknown
Asking you to name your favourite book would be cruelty itself, so instead I would like to ask you this: What one book do you think you've read the most times in your life, and why have you revisited it so much?
In the spirit of fairness, I will answer this myself: The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers. I have devoured this book numerous times, thrust it into the arms of anyone who would take it, and read it aloud to my family. Whenever someone asks for book recommendations, this is the first to pop to mind. My copy is ragged, with dog-eared corners, a crinkled cover, and streaks of mascara on the pages from a little too much crying. But I don't mind. This book is well-loved.
The first time I picked it up, I was fourteen and learning a lot about life and growing up and knowing where I stood and what I believed in. From chapter one, I was sucked into the story of ten-year-old Cadi, who was facing many of the same issues. My young mind was in a whirl as Cadi failed to escape her incomprehensible guilt, met someone who told her about the real Sin Eater, and discovered the truth that would give her freedom. By the end of the book, she knew who she believed in and why she trusted Him, and though she was terrified at first, boldness overtook her soul. And that's when I realized what it meant to live fearlessly. Young as they were, Cadi and her friend Fagan (the best character in the book) were passionate Jesus-followers, regardless of the danger to themselves. They simply took joy in speaking of the Lord. When I closed the last page that first time so long ago, I knew right then that fearless was how I wanted to be defined. Fearless for Jesus. Fearless for love. Fearless for the truth that sets free.
Between that aspect of the book and the tremendous supply of stirring characters (Miz Elda and the man of God and Bletsung, oh my!), The Last Sin Eater is one I have revisited time and again. If I were to take a modest guess, I'd say I've read it at least six times.
Okay. Your turn. Readysetgo.
(It's less than a month until England, guys. Kinda freaking out.)
(It's less than a month until England, guys. Kinda freaking out.)
This is a tough question. When it comes down to it, I think my Most Read Book would be either UNDERSTOOD BETSY by Dorothy Canfield Fisher or A LITTLE PRINCESS by Francis Hodgson Burnett (that is, if we cancel out the American Girl and Ramona Quimby books I devoured over and over as a child). These two classic children's books are ones I've probably read a good four or six times each -- not to mention the picking out of my favorite sections and reading them for pure pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a lover of lighthearted reads, but a good gut-wrenching book is always welcome. (Except for THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. She is not welcome.) For example, I finished reading MOONBLOOD by Anne Elisabeth Stengl about two weeks ago. Oh my soul.
Anyway, I love that quote and I'm having a feeling I need to read this THE LAST SIN EATER. ^.^
Hey Petie! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you got my email! now your question:
"What one book do you think you've read the most times in your life, and why have you revisited it so much?"
Gosh Almighty! ummmm I think probably Harry Potter.. as cheesy as it sounds... or "The Famous Five" by Enid Blyton.. They offer a sense of comfort to me. I don't know why though...
ah well! I enjoyed your post. My copy of the last harry potter is all blotchy from my tears.. also I am watching Downton Abbey now :D
You've gotten me really interested in that book. It sounds great.
ReplyDeleteThe book I've revisited the most? That would probably be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - my favorite in The Chronicles of Narnia. I've read that one (and listened to the radio theatre) so many times that I've lost count.
Johnny Tremain hands down. I wouldn't call it my FAVORITE {one can't really have a favorite book I believe} but it is the one I have read the most and turned to the most. It's not a blatantly christian book but there's something about it that calms me and stirs me at the same time.
ReplyDeleteBeauty by Robin McKinley. Just like you said, it always the first to pop into my head when someone needs a book suggestion, I have read it at least 10 times. It is the book I read when I am tired and need comfort. Each time I read it, I fall in love which the story again because it so beautifully written and such a lovely enticing story. It is a retelling of the classic story, beauty and the beast. Over the course of the book, she grows so much in becoming a young lady you in comfortable in herself and the world. ---
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, I could on on about this book forever, so why don't you just try it out, before I give away the entire story line. ; )
~Rose
little-rose-serendipity.blogspot.com
Mmmmmm, I love when a reader has a rambling passion for a certain book, so this is a title I will be checking out. :)
DeleteGoodness, I think I'd have to go with either Anne of Green Gables or An Old-fashioned Girl. I think I picked up the latter at least once every month when I was 12-14. Not necessarily to read the whole thing, but just to look over my favorite bits again. And L.M. Montgomery is one of those authors who speak to my soul. I can't count the times she's put my feelings into words...Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the island, and Rilla of Ingleside -and even The Blue Castle, which is newer to me- are books I keep coming back to over and over again.
ReplyDeleteOoh...hard one! A Garland for Girls (L.M. Montgomery) is one I've picked up and re-read many times over the years, but not recently. I think I love it because it's just stories of the mundane, the everyday, and how people blossomed in it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've always had kind of a bias against Christian fiction - I'm not exactly sure why, maybe because a lot has little depth and can be a bit sappy? Probably just a stereotype - but I'm interested in the Last Sin Eater.... I'll have to try it out. :)
Girl, if anyone has a bias against Christian fiction, it's me. I pretty much stay away from it at all costs. But The Last Sin Eater is a definite exception that busts through that stereotype you mentioned! It's really incredible and certainly restores *some* faith in Christian novels. :)
DeletePride and Prejudice I think....my parents have seen the movie of the Last Sin Eater. I should read the book though:)
ReplyDeleteseriously. that book though. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITEST BOOKS EVER. also, AHHHHHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SOON IT IS TILL YOU'RE HERE AHHHHHH.
ReplyDeleteHey Petie! I've tagged you over at my blog:-) bethcreative.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi Petie! I discovered your blog a little over a year ago, and although I have never commented before, I absolutely love your writing! I especially love this post, because my standard for how much I like a book is how many times I reread it! I have lots of books that I have reread many, many times (every Sherlock Holmes story ever written, all of Lucy Maud Montgomery's works that I can get my hands on, the Scarlet Pimpernel... the list could go on...), but To Kill a Mockingbird is right up there near the top. I have reread it at least a half-dozen times in the last two years alone. It is hard to pin-point exactly why I love it so much (since I haven't your gift for writing :D), but it's just... so... real. I can feel every ounce of Scout's pain as she tries to understand this crazy, mixed up, messed up, adult world. It's like the Bible; every time I read it, I notice something that I didn't catch before!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the blogging, Petie! I've been going back and reading your old posts (from before I discovered you), and you really have a gift for writing. I'd love to read a whole book by you! :)
Well, hello there, dear! Lovely to meet you. :) Oh my goodness... You hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately I've only read To Kill A Mockingbird once, but I count it among my favourite books. And yeah, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly about it draws me so much, but man... that book gets me. I need to give it a re-read!
DeleteWhile reading some of your old posts, I found the site PaperBackSwap.com... Wow! Free books!! I joined yesterday, and my first book (The Atonement Child, also recommended by you :D), should be here in a few days! Thanks for posting about that! :)
DeleteStepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss comes to mind, as do the Narnia books. :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the books I have reread (mostly I peruse instead of rereading the whole book) is "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. Its has been a refreshing read - encouraging and challenging.
ReplyDelete