What Books Have You Re-read the Most?
by Ryan Vlastelica
The book we've re-read the most is probably Under the Volcano. We are a sad and bitter old man clinging to the last shreds of meaning in this great, unholy mess of existence. Good night.
SEAN
Where he presides: The Central, Union Square
Favorite drink: Patron
The Prophet — my mother gave it to me. And The Lord of the Flies, because my Dad told me to read it. [Regular: I love Lord of the Flies. I had a babysitter who was always telling me to be a Ralph, not a Jack.] Yeah, Jack's a douche. Oh, and Catcher in the Rye, which of course I read in high school, and I was like, I don't get any of this. Then I reread it at 22, and I was like oh THAT'S what this is about. There was a lot of sex stuff I didn't understand the first time around.
NICOLE
Where she presides:Levant East, LES
Favorite drink: Manhattan
The Art of Living by Joseph Campbell. It's my bible. It's about mythology, and how every story from every culture is supposed to teach you something about life. This book will totally amaze you. I've read it so many times. I was reading it in my car this morning when I was waiting, like, an hour and a half to find a parking space. It keeps me sane.
RUBY
Where she presides:Dalton's Bar & Grill,
Midtown
Favorite drink: Jägermeister
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff — And It's All Small Stuff. I re-read it because I sweat the small stuff all the time. I've maybe read it five or six times, and I always go back to it. I may not read the whole thing again, but I'll definitely go over parts again. It's helpful, even if I don't learn from it all the time.
MEGAN
Where she presides:Landsdowne Road, Hell's
Kitchen
Favorite drink: Magners
Oh gosh, I'll kind of read one and then be done with it. But there is one I keep coming back to, called Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. It's about how we have too much stuff. I've read it once and then have gone back to reference it maybe 10 times. Like, I'll think of something and go back to re-read parts of it, say, something related to sports. It's all about pop culture and everything that's wrong with us.
WILL
Where he presides: Cypress Avenue, Park Slope
Favorite drink: Corona, no lime
I read a lot, but I rarely re-read things. But if I were to say? It would be Julius Caesar or Fahrenheit 451. I went to many high schools, so I read Fahrenheit 451 three different times. Believe me, I got all the symbolism in that book there was to get.
