The Sword and Laser discussion
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Foundation
To reread or not to reread
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George wrote: "So, I finished Assassin's Apprentice early and am looking ahead to see that September's book is Foundation. I read Foundation some years ago, and I have never reread a book in my life. I'm curiou..."I've found that as my free time for reading is reduced I can make up for it by listening to audiobooks in my car, while working, ect.
Michael wrote: I've found that as my free time for reading is reduced I can make up for it by listening to audiobooks in my car, while working, ect.See, I won't be commuting, and I don't know what of my work will allow me to listen to audiobooks. I most certainly can't listen to an audiobook while reading or writing something else.
Darren wrote: Seriously?"Nope, I cannot recall ever rereading a book. I've never felt the need to. It could be an age thing -- as I'm only 24.
George wrote: "Darren wrote: Seriously?"Nope, I cannot recall ever rereading a book. I've never felt the need to. It could be an age thing -- as I'm only 24."
I'm around the same age, and I reread books all the time.
Wow. The only books I don't read more than once are books I didn't like. Do you have a huge budget for books? I could never afford to buy a new book every time I want to read... Though I don't mind. I like revisiting old favorites.
I love re-reading. I think I often see something knew to a book I love on a second read, knowing where the story is going, more aware of how the twists are being set up. However, if I were you, I wouldn't bother this time, since you'll get a fresh view point just from reading people's comments. Better to catch up on other books on your list, or continue with the current series.
I like rereading my favorites, like the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Otherwise, once is enough. I may try to reread Foundation to keep up with discussions.
Kiska wrote: Do you have a huge budget for books? I could never afford to buy a new book every time I want to read.I've not really thought of it that way. I took a long time where I wasn't reading much at all. I do buy a lot of Kindle books now, but I think if I had no money for books I would entertain myself in other ways, like listening to podcasts.
There are very few books that I re-read,but I go back to them time and again. They are like old and treasured friends.
I've never thought of it that way, either, but for different reasons. My family have always liked reading, so there were always lots of books around when I was young, and we often see books cheap that we fancy and grab them while they are on offer, even when there isn't a current need. People know I love to read, so I get books as presents, and I've used the library or borrowed friend's books now and then, so there has never been a time when there isn't an unread book just waiting for me to find the time for it. And I still re-read all the time!I re-read books either simply for the pleasure of enjoying a story I love, or to refresh my memory when a new book in the series comes out.
Kiska wrote: "Wow. The only books I don't read more than once are books I didn't like. Do you have a huge budget for books? I could never afford to buy a new book every time I want to read... Though I don't mi..."do you ever try used bookstores/amazon or library book sales? i've added easily 30/40 books to my collection from library booksales for under 20 dollars...giant bag of books 3 bucks.
I almost never reread books. I prefer to use my time to discover new things.If you want to take part in the discussions on goodreads it helps to reread the book.
I read Assassin's Apprentice about a year ago and I've forgotten most of the details.
The rest of the Farseer trilogy is even more time-consuming than Assassin's Apprentice.
-> Take some time to clear a few other books off your reading list.
I rarely reread. There are just to many books out there that I want to get too. Though I do have a few favorite series books that I go back to every few years (HP, Dark Tower, Dragonlance).
I've been a big re-reader for a long time. My favorite books seem to get better each time I revisit them. There are actually some books that almost require re-reading unless the reader has an extraordinary ability to retain information. Specifically, GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire and Frank Herbert's The Great Dune Trilogy had so much going on with so many characters that it can be overwhelming on a first trip through and easy to forget details. Once I was familiar with the series I was able to enjoy the books so much more the second(or even 3rd) time through.Also, I listen to audiobooks while I work outside and summer in Houston can be tortuous. While re-reading I rarely feel a need to back up and listen to a passage again(which is annoying while suffering the heat) since I already have a good understanding of the context.
It's like a movie- how many times have you watched Star Wars or Raiders Of The Lost Ark? Great stories need to be experienced more than once.
Philip wrote: "It's like a movie- how many times have you watched Star Wars or Raiders Of The Lost Ark? Great stories need to be experienced more than once."Watching a movie more than once, however, is a significantly shorter time investment than reading the average novel. I like to invest my reading time in things that I haven't read before.
George wrote: "Philip wrote: "Watching a movie more than once, however, is a significantly shorter time investment than reading the average novel...."But the time becomes shorter the more you read. I have been reading a "lot" for the past 40 years and now books like the "Assassin's Aprentice" only take about one or two days. When I first started reading it would have taken a few weeks.
I used to re-read a lot more in the past though. I would run out of books to read, or I just loved a certain character in the book. But now, with all those indie authors and their low cost ebooks, I have more than enough to keep me occupied
I've reread many books and series in my life. With the especially good books I often find that I discover new things each time which is what makes it great. Take Hyperion, the recent book pick. Its my favorite book of all time and I've read it now at least five times and maybe more. Every time I pick up something new.
I reread books because not long after I read them, I mostly just remember how I felt about them, with only a very general outline of what they were about. Sometimes I reread so I can remember why I have such a positive feeling toward a book.My mother never rereads books because she always remembers the whole plot in detail. She needs to have that feeling of suspense or surprise that you get reading a book the first time. I can still be surprised in a reread because I just don't remember what happened.
Nowadays, I have so many books on my "to read" list that I'm a lot more reluctant to reread. But if my memory is so poor, maybe there isn't much difference between reading and rereading. I guess I should focus instead on reading whatever will give me the most enjoyable reading experience. Sometimes that might mean rereading something I know I've enjoyed in the past. Do other people feel this way?
I have done alot of rereading before which is actually one of the reasons I got interested in joining in with the sword and laser bookclub to try and expand my reading a bit. There was a period where I had enough free time to be able to reread the entire Discworld series before each new book came out and fit in rereading the whole hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy series inbetween but I wasn't reading much outside of those two series. There aren't that many books I own that I have only read once but then that is in part down to me not owning that many books. Hopefully S+L will help change that. :)
I do find that rereading books can be a whole new experience. I started reading the Discworld books when I was in school and there were a whole bunch of references and levels of satire that I just didn't understand the first time I read them. Everytime I went back there were things I missed and jokes I didn't get on first reading so I would definately recommend rereading books.
Books on my re-read list from long ago (and haven't so far because I don't want to ruin the treasure of my youth):The Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
Elric of Melnibone series by Michael Moorcock
...as much as I loved them then, I'm terrified of hating them now. Afraid of being too jaded to enjoy what I used to love.
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Dune Trilogy (other topics)The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (other topics)
Foundation (other topics)
> Go ahead and reread Foundation, possibly early.
> Take some time to clear a few other books off my reading list.
> Go read the rest of the Farseer trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice
Of course, it may all be moot, as I am going to be starting graduate school, so by the time September rolls around I may be too busy for fiction reading. We'll have to see.