What's your all time best novel that you can repeatedly read ?

[Lexi]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I aspire to be as funny and witty as Douglas Adams.

[Edward]

Lexi wrote: "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I aspire to be as funny and witty as Douglas Adams."

I love this goal!

[Kathy]

Lord of the Rings. Absolutely formative for me.

[Rodrigo]

Harry Potter!

[HelenMurray]

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

[Jim]

I have read The Stand-Stephen King four times already, so I guess that is the one.

[Clemens]

Certainly not The Hobbit. I enjoyed the Hobbit but to read it again? Why?

I have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a couple of times and at a different age when I got even more out of it.
Great Expectations is another one I am reading a second time.

I think for books to be re-readable they need to address some (often uncomfortable) truths in life. And when you read them at various ages, you get even more of the truth that was revealed and you find yourself wondering why you didn't see it the first time.

[Papaphilly]

For me,

If you are going to reread a book multiple times, it probably should be Dandelion Wine. It works for multliple generations with something for each. I have read it when I was young, a late teen, my early thirties and now I am closing in on 60, it is coming up and I hope to read it when I am about 80.

[Christian]

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Also, The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis.

[Bill G]

The Hobbit I've read more than any other book. It's so well written, funny, endearing, and filled with the spirit of epic adventure.

[Danika]

Mine is Alice in Wonderland and We Were Liars. Both big must reads!

[Tekener]

Just finished rereading the Wheel of Time series. Quite the accomplishment ;-)

[Neels]

Dune - Frank Herbert
The Faded Sun Trilogy - CJ Cherryh
Hitchhikers Guide - Douglas Adams
Mort - Terry Pratchett
Polity series - Neal Asher
Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov

[Shayde]

War and Peace

[Eni]

The Winternight Trilogy, The Night Circus and Nevermoor series, probably. I usually don't re-read but those three just make me so happy and at the same time they hurt the most out of all the books I've read.

[Jim]

Christmas Carol.

[Mark]

Jim wrote: "Christmas Carol."

Yep--every December...along with the George C. Scott version of the movie...

[Ave]

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. I alternate between the manga and the novel for rereads.

[Stella May]

Memoirs of A Geisha

[Stella May]

Serpent and Dove, Truly Devious

[Olivia]

Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini. all time favorite book

[Andreas]

Mine would be Dune, problem is once started with first book I have to read them all again

[Hank]

How about Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle?” A masterpiece.

[Paul]

The Hobbit, something about that simple journey that sparks my imagination. The images I have of those characters, from long before I saw the movies, are etched in my mind. I like to read it to my children as a bedtime story now.

[NormaCenva]

The book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison is my to-go-reread. It is a dark tale yes, but it is so good!

[Brooklyn]

The Mystery of The Clockwork Sparrow (and the whole Sinclair’s Mysteries Series) by Katherine Woodfine.

[Lova]

For me that is probably Fire by Kristin Cashore. I've read the book a bunch of times but it is still as good as the first time.

[Papaphilly]

Hank wrote: "How about Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle?” A masterpiece."

See the Cat? See the Cradle?

[Papaphilly]

NormaCenva wrote: "The book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison is my to-go-reread. It is a dark tale yes, but it is so good!"

I really enjoyed the first book.

[Maki]

Persuasion by Jane Austen.

I used to read it every morning while having beakfast. I can open it at any page and start reading anywhere and I'll know exactly where in my beloved story I am. Pure comfort.

[Sandra]

Amberlori wrote: "There are three for me.
1) The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
2) The first book in the Wheel of Time serires by Robert Jordan
3) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Over the last 20 years I've read each ..."

All 3 of these for me as well!

[John]

Hatchet, Interview with the Vampire, The Firm, Jurassic Park, any Harry Potter book.

[Alex]

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is my favorite of all time reading experience.

[Janis]

I reread the Lymond Chronicles approximately every seven years. I've also reread many of the CJ Cherryh Alliance books, as well as the Chanur books. I read a lot of different genres of fiction but when I'm reading sf/fantasy trilogies, I will often read the first two books again before the last in the trilogy just so I'm on top of the story going into the last book.

[FD]

The Belgariad and Mallorean Series by David and Leigh Eddings are like old friends that I visit every other year since 1988. I read them to my daughter when she was little, and she ended up taking my copies.

[Papaphilly]

FD wrote: "The Belgariad and Mallorean Series by David and Leigh Eddings are like old friends that I visit every other year since 1988. I read them to my daughter when she was little, and she ended up taking ..."

I have not read them in 30 years. I did enjoy them when I read them.

[R.S.]

John wrote: "Hatchet, Interview with the Vampire, The Firm, Jurassic Park, any Harry Potter book."

I do enjoy some Anne Rice now and again. I'd add LOTR, Enders Game and I enjoy the SM Stirling Dies the Fire books.

[Renée]

The Hobbit

[R.S.]

I was reading the comment above yours and totally agreed with that person's reading list. Then noticed it was my own comment from Jul 12th. I've also read Battlefield Earth about a dozen times....

[Robert]

If a series counts, the Aubrey/Maturin books by Patrick O'Brian.

[Gav451]

FD wrote: "The Belgariad and Mallorean Series by David and Leigh Eddings are like old friends that I visit every other year since 1988. I read them to my daughter when she was little, and she ended up taking ..."

When I first read the series friends borrowed the books after me and then ended up really worn. Beloved, but knackered. The current edition I have is one the of the few books I absolutely WILL not send to the charity shop as I know I will read it all again.

[Judith]

I read the Lymond Chronicles every year. I get a new detail previously not noticed or understood every time! I read the Niccolo series over 2 years. The same as to detail and understanding. The most amazing body of work in historical fiction, with charismatic and complicated characters ever written. Treat yourself to the experience of a lifetime and read the works of Dorothy Dunnett.

[Ave]

Jane Eyre, Battle Royale, Fellowship of the Ring, Pachinko.

[Kristina]

Mika Waltari's Johannes Angelos (The Dark Angel) and Sinuhe Egyptiläinen (The Egyptian)

[Boyet]

Anna Karenina, for me the GOAT of all novels.

[HelenMurray]

Maki wrote: "Persuasion by Jane Austen.

I used to read it every morning while having beakfast. I can open it at any page and start reading anywhere and I'll know exactly where in my beloved story I am. Pure c..."

I concurr! I use the Audiobook in the same way to help me sleep sometimes.

[Morgan]

The Hobbit (of course) and The Airman by Eoin Colfer.

[Mark]

Gav451 wrote: "FD wrote: "The Belgariad and Mallorean Series by David and Leigh Eddings are like old friends that I visit every other year since 1988. I read them to my daughter when she was little, and she ended..."

The Belgariad is recommended on a list of "must read" in the book "The Dangerous Book For Boys".

[Mark]

Clemens wrote: "Certainly not The Hobbit. I enjoyed the Hobbit but to read it again? Why?

I have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a couple of times and at a different age when I got even more out of it.
Gr..."

Your comment put me in mind of something CS Lewis said: "But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."

[Mark]

Mark wrote: "Jim wrote: "Christmas Carol."

Yep--every December...along with the George C. Scott version of the movie..."

PRECISELY !!!