DOON, A Second Read

I hate rereading my favorite books. I know this sounds like some kind of an oxymoron, but it’s true. I’m always afraid that when I reread a book I loved, I won’t like it as much. I’m afraid that the first time I read it, it was so perfect because of when and where I read it, because of who I was then…and there’s no way I can recreate that for the second read. Some of my favorite books I’ve only read once.

Of course, since I’m on a street team to help promote the sequel to Lorie Langdon and Carey Corp’s YA fairy tale DOON and since Lorie sent word last Thursday that the ARC’s of DESTINED FOR DOON are on their way to us, I knew I needed to reread DOON. Back in January when I first read it, I loved it so much that I tweeted, wrote a blog post (go here), and tweeted some more. I gave it five stars on Goodreads. I told everyone I know who likes YA that they should read it.

 

But rereading it now? Did I mention that I hate rereading my favorite books?

Still, when a book’s a part of a series, I like to reread the whole series to make sure I’m not missing any details. I took DOON from my bookshelf Thursday evening. Friday, I began reading it at lunch…and I read half an hour past the end of my lunch break because I was so wrapped up in the book. I read every spare minute I had this weekend and finished the book during my lunch break today.

What I learned? I loved DOON the second read almost as much as the first. It’s still a fairy tale about best friends, princes, true love, and evil, but I forgot so many details, like Ken and Duncan’s pants exchange (which made me laugh again because I had a similar thing happen to me when I was in England). I forgot about Fergus and Fiona, about the black flowers around the witch’s cottage, about all the references to so many books and musicals, about how well Carey and Lorie describe the attraction between not just Vee and Jamie, but also Ken and Duncan.

Which isn’t to say I forgot all the details. I remembered the end, which—as a writer—gave me a new perspective on the rest of the book. I paid attention as Carey and Lorie dropped hints about what happens to Ken and Vee. I analyzed the way they foreshadowed the journal, Gideon, Ken’s decision about the Centennial, Vee’s visions of Jamie. There’s also all the subplots, the way they weave together and untangle at the end. I made mental notes on how to use some of the same techniques in my own writing.

More than lessons for my own writing and rediscovering the details of the story, rereading DOON has made me want the sequel NOW. I want to know how Carey and Lorie deal with the Ken cliffhanger at the end of the first book.  I want to read more about the witch and the evil that balances out Doon’s existence. I’m hoping when I get home today the ARC will be in my mailbox. I can’t wait to read DESTINED FOR DOON.