Are there any books that you haven't finished? Are there any that you've read more than once?

[Ashley]

Have you started a book but couldn't get into it enough to finish? What book(s) and why? Likewise, what book(s) have you read more than once and what was it about them that made you want to do so?

[Rose, Mod]

I have the second book from the Song of Ice and Fire series still waiting to be finished. I'm sure by now if I ever finish it I would have to read it over from the beginning just to remember all the details. I'm sure there's more books that I haven't finished but that would mostly be because I didn't read them in time before having to return them to the library. I have a habit of signing out a billion books at once...

I've read the Hitchhiker's Guide series, Harry Potter series, Animal Farm, 1984, Night...oh and a few classics like a few of the Sherlock Holmes books and The Great Gatsby (there's a movie coming out with Leo Dicaprio... I raised an eyebrow.)

I like to re-read books that have made memorable impact on me and I know that I'll always enjoy reading. A lot of the YA novels I read when I was younger I'll probably never read again since I've changed so much and can't relate to any of it.

[Ashley]

I started Life of Pi years ago and didn't find it interesting- rather, I found it boring so I stopped reading it after a few chapters. I KNOW it's supposed to be amazing and all that, and maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance. I might give it another try sometime in the future.

I also tried reading Tales from Earthsea long ago but couldn't get into it- maybe it was too high fantasy for me at the time. I surely plan on picking that series back up now that I appreciate the genre more.

I have yet to read a book twice. I know what you mean about not being able to go back to old YA books, Rose. There are some that I really loved when I was younger but now when I glance through those old books they don't capture me like they once did.

[Rose, Mod]

Ashley wrote: "I have yet to read a book twice. I know what you mean about not being able to go back to old YA books, Rose. There are some that I really loved when I was younger but now when I glance through those old books they don't capture me like they once did. "

There are some books that are timeless, and others that really aren't. At almost 25, I don't really relate well to coming-of-age YA tales because I'm well past trying to develop my character and relating to characters that are trying to "find themselves." Really, really few books in this genre really appeal to me any more, but if they do, I think of them as books that I can pass to a younger generation.

[Andrew]

I never finished Don Quixote because well.... its really really long, i just couldn't be bothered carrying it around any more

I Don't actually think I've actually ever re-read a book, my sister does all the time she can read the same book something like seven times and i just don't get that.

[Stephanie, Super Mod]

I didn't finish , it was Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. - How the Working Poor Became Big Business I got through half of it when it was becoming repetitious. I might go back to it though. I don't read nonfiction often.

I also barely, struggle, and really force myself to read Fifty Shades of Grey and only because I got tired of hearing, "Hey Annie! You read a lot, I bet you read 50 shades." Now when I'm ask that, I give them a huge Yes I did and I did not like it, almost hated it.

Most of the time, people's reactions are either 'well it's a silly book anyway (although I know they loved it,' to being completely flabbergasted.

I think part of the reason I just couldn't get into it is because years and years ago I readThe Claiming of Sleeping Beauty and was just spoiled by that work.

As for reading books twice, The Time Traveler's Wife I rarely read books twice, but sometimes I crave certain sections of this book, especially when I was on a road trip to Chicago last year.

[John L, Mod]

I haven't finished A User's Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantum Uncertainty. I bought the audiobook on sale expecting to get a feeling for the topics if they were conveyed in a manner that would be easy for me, someone that never was amazing at science, to understand.

I was wrong. I was lost extremely quickly. So lost I didn't even try to go finish and pick up as much as I could. If I did, that probably would have been none of it.

[Danielle]

I didn't finish Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. I got halfway through and just couldn't stand it any more. The author attempts to make out Genghis Khan as a good person, or at least justified in his genocides because he was able to bring peace. This was actually what was taught to me in high school. We weren't told about all the murder and rape, and he was made out to be more of an Abraham Lincoln figure, unifying all of the misguided peoples. Beyond that, the author uses the Secret History of the Mongols for many historical facts, describing the mythical stories as if they actually happened.

I used to read a lot of books over again when I was a teenager. Until the Harry Potter books started being written more slowly, I was always the same age as Harry growing up. All of my friends and I would re-read all the previous books in anticipation of the new release every year. I don't even know how many times I've read the first one now, probably a dozen. But once I figured out my tastes better and got braver about trying new things, I stopped re-reading books.

[Philip]

I struggled with "His Dark Materials" by Phillip Pullman, I think I started trying to read them when I was too young and I tried to read them about once a year till I finally succeeded, and then read them again the following year.

I've read most books on my shelf multiple times, I must have read dragon flight by Anne Mccaffrey 10+ times and of course that leads to a re read of my favourite books from that series. I'm currently on a re read of the age of the five series by Trudie Canavan. If I didnt re read books I'd either be broke, or not reading.

[Danielle]

Aren't there any good libraries where you live? I haven't paid for a book since I graduated college.

[Roberta]

Annie wrote: "I didn't finish , it was Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. - How the Working Poor Became Big Business I got through half of it when it was becoming repetitious. I might go back to it thou..."

I reread Time Traveler's Wife after I was done with it. I was trying to figure out why the photograph kept being mentioned. I noticed the symbolism with the birds and wings a lot more the second time around.

[Roberta]

I don't reread books all that often. But read Things Fall Apart, Frankenstein, Hamlet, Macbeth in HS and then again in college. Read Henry IV part I twice in college once for British lit and once for Shakespeare course.

My son is six and have read Charlotte's Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Great Glass elevator, Fantastic Mr. Fox. It was very enjoyable for me to go back and revisit these books from my childhood. So many things I had forgotten or things that were in the books that had more adult humor (in Glass Elevator) or science info in Charlotte's Web.

[Philip]

Danielle wrote: "Aren't there any good libraries where you live? I haven't paid for a book since I graduated college."

There might be but the one in my home town but that has a small selection of books so I'd have to get the bus to one further away. So by the time I've paid bus fair there and back I may as well buy the book. Hopefully once I graduate and settle somewhere I can exploit a local library as much as possible.

[Danielle]

Philip wrote: "There might be but the one in my home town but that has a small selection of ..."

Here we have regional libraries, so if the closest library doesn't have what you want, they have interlibrary loan to get it for you. You can request it all online so you don't need multiple trips. I think that's pretty common, so your small library might have it too. We also have a huge digital library, so I'm able to check out a few books a week with out ever actually going to the library. Most libraries also have a recommendation system, so if they don't have what you want, they'll buy a copy for you.

[Philip]

Danielle wrote: "Philip wrote: "There might be but the one in my home town but that has a small selection of ..."

Here we have regional libraries, so if the closest library doesn't have what you want, they have in..."

Yeah I imagine our libraries would do that, I guess I've never investigated well enough, I've always preferred to just be able to browse my book shelf and pick one to read on impulse. But there we go, to each their own.

[Megan, Mod]

I have to admit that I never finished Dune before, guess it wasn't the time and place for me. I am reading it now though and it is not bad. I have a habit though of not finishing a book if it doesn't grab me in the first chapter or two. I feel that there are so many good books out there that why waste my time on one that I am not enjoying? I spent 6 years reading so many textbooks that now I am just in it for me! Selfish huh?

[Rose, Mod]

@Megan reading is a personal experience, I really believe that being selfish in this regard is perfectly A-OK!

[Ashley]

@Megan, I'm the same way! I read mostly for enjoyment so I will often move onto a different book if the one I'm reading doesn't capture my interest quickly.

I also have trouble focusing on a book if there's one that I want to read more. Currently, I'm liking Dune, but I have two or three books that I'm really looking forward to so it's making it difficult to keep focused, but I'll perservere!

[Megan, Mod]

Thanks Rose and Ashley I agree with you on Dune. I am reading The Night Circus and really liking it plus with my MS, sometimes focusing is a real problem! that and being an old lady! (53) LOL!