The Stories we Keep Coming Back to Every Year

Often in our lives, there are stories that touch us in a way like no other. These are the stories that we like to experience over and over again. Whether it be a film, a novel, a tv show, a video game, these stories are the ones we keep coming back to at least once a year. In this Slogging thread, the HackerNoon community discusses what stories made a big impact on us.

This Slogging thread by Limarc, Adebola, Celine Aju, Adrian Morales, Evgeny, AdrianMurage and Karkuzhali occurred in hackernoon's official #fellowship-central channel, and has been edited for readability.

Hey Everyone! What is a story you absolutely must experience once a year? Meaning, what film or tv show do you rewatch every year? What book do you read every year? What game do you play every year? And most importantly, why do you love it so much?

SO I have soo many answers to this question. But one film I watch once a year is About Time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7A810duHvw

While it’s marketed as another heartwarming rom-com. It’s much more than that. The core story is about a father and son who share the ability to travel through time. And the truth is. the film is about time. How should we best spend our time? What is the key to a happy life? And I don’t want to ruin it for you because I hope you do watch it. But the advice given at the end of the film is a philosophy I try to live my life by and following it has helped me understand what matters in life and how to get the most out of each day.

Home Alone for sure!

Wasn’t expecting that lol. Why?

The only book I read every year is the Bible but there are some themes and subject matters I ensure I read at least one book on every year. They include love, finance and purpose. I guess I like to find new perspectives on these themes.

Haha. I guess it's the nostalgia for me Limarc. Brings back Childhood Christmas memories

I have two stories that never get old and have to experience every year. The first is The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Extended editions, of course. I mean, what can I say about these movies that have not been said already. They are epic in the fullest sense of that word. At a minimum, I find myself rewatching The Return of the King. Every other scene in that movie is filled with exhilarating monologues and great action sequences.

Additionally, I go back and replay Silent Hill 2 every year. Video games are still a very young medium, and there is always debate about whether or not games are genuinely art. I will always point to Silent Hill 2 as proof that games are viable art forms. It has a dense, mature story based around Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, and many times feels like I'm experiencing an art-house movie fever dream nightmare. It really is a remarkable game to me.

I've been rewatching Interstellar pretty much every year since the moment it was released. Idk why but it just gives me a boost of inspiration because it's a such a good story about hope and love.
Another one is Her with Joaquin Phoenix. It's a story about a guy who falls in love with his new AI OS. Without spoilers, it's a very emotional and heartbreaking story that touches upon such topics as loneliness, relationships, friendship, and past.

https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Decade-Your-Twenties-Matter/dp/0446561754

Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Really great insights for whenever I'm feeling lost as a 20 something year old

she covers three broad topics in the book:

It has always has new insights for me!

AdrianMurage I sometimes feel lost in my twenties but the title of that book scares me. “Defining Decade” kin of implies we really gotta make things happen in our twenties. I hope reading the book won’t make me feel worse? 😄 lol

Adrian Morales I see…that’s why you joined…The Fellowship 😏 but seriously, me too. I love the series so much that I almost love the making of documentary as much as the actual series. I cried when I watched the scene where Peter Jackson hugs Elijah Wood, knowing that it’s the end of an era and the end of something great they created. The way the cast describes that moment…I wish to have similar impactful moments in my life.

Evgeny Her was unexpectedly good. Like really, really good.

This one may be a cliché 🤔. So Mine HAS to be the Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame.

I watch it at least a couple of times a year, mainly for Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth. His journey in both the movie is so deeply moving as he loses all his loved ones and still finds the will to keep going, only to lose it all, all over again. Such a profound character arc.

Overall It's a great pick-me-up movie for me.

Sometimes I also just watch this compilation clip that does a pretty good job at rendering me awed.