I’ve
been doing a lot of binge rereading of my favourite series lately, and I’ve
been trying to figure out why.
I
have eight books on my To Be Read shelf right now, so why is it so much easier
to pick up an old favourite than a new book, which ought to be more interesting
since I don’t know the plot by heart?
What
I think it comes down to is a guarantee. I know that if I reread a book that I
love that I will enjoy it. Some days I don’t have the energy for uncertainty. I
need the comfort of the guarantee.
Next
best is reading a new book by a trusted author. Dark Queen by Faith Hunter,
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells and Planet Dragos all release this month.
As soon as I purchase my copy, they will shoot to the top of my TBR pile and I
will crack them open with a smile.
However,
right now my TBR pile is rather more lack-luster. Three new-to-me authors, one author
whose books I usually like but who disappointed me last time out, and four
authors that I’ve only read one or two books by and thus don’t fully trust yet.
I
simultaneously yearn for the joy of discovering a great new author whose backlist
I can then glom (current gloms: Jennifer Estep and Peter Brett), and dread the
possible disappointment. Statistically, about half the new authors I try prove
to be not to my taste.
The
math then is simple:
Reread
a favourite book = 100% guaranteed enjoyment
Trusted
author = 90% probability of a good read
Liked
one or two books by this author = 65% probability of a good read
New-to-me
author = 50% chance of a bad read
What about you? How often do you reread? How frequently do you try new authors?
