Do you ever indulge in story idea spotting when reading a favourite novel? I do!
I love looking for what I think are the influences for a writer. To me this adds extra enjoyment to the story and gives me the perfect excuse for re-reading a book. Not that I really need one but never mind.
It's my experience you never find all the influences/links in one read through! Sometimes not in two reads either!
Sometimes I know what the writer's influences are in advance because I've read interviews etc and can then have fun seeing how these play out in what they have produced. Other times I don't know and I get to play detective here.
What I like best is when spotting an influence in a book and it is clear the writer is a fan of another writer I also love. Double whammy!
Reading is fun anyway of course but for me this is extra and I love that.