As a self-proclaimed bookworm, sometimes I’m not in the mood to search for my new literary fling. I just wrapped up some Baldwin, and Gilbran is in daily rotation. Now, I felt ready for some good fiction, something that would take my imagination on a ride.
So, after driving home the other day blasting Missy Elliot’s “Beep Me 911” (serious throwback bop, by the way), I felt nostalgic and cozy. I thought about the last time I felt that exact way, the warmth and comfort of worry-free living, and it was reading in my 14-year-old bedroom. One of my favorite books at the time was The Coldest Winter Ever by Sista Souljah.
Recently, I decided to revisit that portion of my childhood, those warm feelings I once felt by rereading this book that served as a rite of passage for me and so many other millennials. Once I dug back into the book, I found that there are so many benefits to rereading old literary loves.
First, can we pause and appreciate the dynamic words of Sista Souljah and the imprint her books have left on Black culture? This novel by this Black girl made my teenage brain imagine all the things my parents would ban from LIFE if they could. But this book, this fresh group of words, was the introduction into what it meant to be a true teenager (well, us fast-paced city slickers anyway).
This text lined me up with my peers, including me in conversations I didn’t know they were having. At the time, I felt like I could now relate to some of the other teens that were discovering this next level of growing up, but it was probably me losing a degree of innocence. Ahh, the joys and exposure of reading. I’m sure my parents would disapprove of that book, but hey…I was reading!
Check out these six reasons you should pick up one of your old favorites and then jump in.
Deeper Understanding: Rereading allows you to uncover new layers and insight that you might have missed the first time. This time, I realized I was reading things my younger self had no clue about at the time. I now have a deeper comprehension and appreciation of the text.
Emotional Resonance: For many, books can bring out different emotions at different times in your life. As you grow and change, so do your interpretations and emotional responses to a story. Now, as a parent myself, I fully realize Winter’s dynamic with her parents…wow…but not in a judgmental way. Okay maybe.
Memory Reinforcement: Apparently rereading helps reinforce memory retention. So go ahead and sharpen up, it’s lit.
Appreciation of Craft: Rereading allows you to appreciate the author’s craft, such as narrative structure, language, and symbolism, which you might not fully grasp on the first read. The artistic merit of Sistah Souljah is multifaceted. Chef’s kiss to every word she puts to paper!
Personal Growth: As you change, so does your perspective on a book’s themes and messages. You need this reread, and you don’t even know it. This choice to revisit has, at moments, served as a mirror to who I once was and still am. Some of these characters in our childhood favorites, we have now become.
Love of the Characters: In this case…. Midnight. This guy was probably one of my major crushes at this age. His background was so interesting. I’d forgotten how cool he was, and for what it’s worth, I knew a Midnight or two growing up. This aspect reintroduced me to the depth of this character and made me appreciate how well evolved he had become by the end of the book.
