Do You Re-Read?

[Sandi]

I tend to reread a lot. I especially like to have a book to reread in bed at night when I need to get to sleep, since I can wallow in the story but do not feel the mounting tension of having to stay up to see what happens next.

[Felicia]

Sandi wrote: "I tend to reread a lot. I especially like to have a book to reread in bed at night when I need to get to sleep, since I can wallow in the story but do not feel the mounting tension of having to sta..."

Yes, good point! Except when I did this with Harry Potter, I still forgot to go to sleep.

[Lexxi Kitty]

I rarely re-read. So many things to read, so little time. I did reread Casino Royale, though, just before the Daniel Craig version came out in the theaters.

If I recall correctly, I've re-read . . . maybe 6 books.

One was an accident (some of Dean Koontz story-lines seem remarkably similar, then I realized I was reading a book I had already read).

Two in the same series and were attempts to re-read a series that was hard to find when it first came out, and I never did find some of the books. So I had originally read it out of order. Only got through 2 of the books in the series before I stopped.

Oh, wait. The Princess Bride. I've re-read that one several times and enjoyed each time. And I keep re-reading The Raven, but that's a poem.

[Mary]

I re-read quite a bit.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I used to re-read a lot. And then I found Goodreads, added too many books, came to terms my my mortality within the average human life span, and consequently have re-read less often. I'm gonna have to chance dying before I finish my TBR though for a Harry Potter re-read soon ;-)

[Bill's]

I am re-reading some books that I read a long time ago. I don't remember much details from books that I read 30 to 40 years ago.

[Susan]

Allison wrote: "I used to re-read a lot. And then I found Goodreads, added too many books, came to terms my my mortality within the average human life span, and consequently have re-read less often..."

I'm having the opposite experience. In the past, I rarely reread anything except a few favorite Vonnegut and Hesse novels. Lately I have been rereading fairly regularly. I attribute the change to my reading of An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis and my participation on Goodreads.

[Trike]

Allison wrote: "I used to re-read a lot. And then I found Goodreads, added too many books, came to terms my my mortality within the average human life span, and consequently have re-read less often."

I love these words.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Susan wrote: "I'm having the opposite experience. In the past, I rarely reread anything except a few favorite Vonnegut and Hesse novels. Lately I have been rereading fairly regularly..."

There is something deeply satisfying about diving back into a story you loved before. I just feel guilty now, like the Ghost of Future Books to Read is going to come haunt me.

Trike: It would have been better if I'd proofread! But I'm glad someone else is ready to laugh at death with me and to stave it off with a good hardbound book (or a bad tablet!)

[Scott]

As a kid I read The Hobbit and LOTR at least six times each. Since then really nothing has captured me enough to do so until this past year. I'll end up re-reading the Stormlight Archive books before the new one comes out in November and now that I've completed the entire Malazan book of the Fallen I re-read the entire epic.

[C.]

Very, very rarely. There are far too many new discoveries to be enjoyed in my TBR mountain! :D

[MadProfessah]

I used to re-read the DUNE series by Frank Herbert when I was younger (and there was less freely available information about new and wonderful authors).

Nowadays I think there's no time to "waste" rereading old favorites and oftentimes when I try I am disappointed. (That's what happened with THE DISPOSSESSED when I tried to reread it.) Then again my reread of THE HYPERION CANTOS by Dan Simmons about 5 years ago confirmed what an epic masterpiece it is.

[Michael]

I do a fair amount of rereading. Some like The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings I consider so good that I enjoy reading them again every year or two. Others, I might not read as often but as someone else mentioned I often pick up different things when I reread a book that I missed the first time through. Really, it seems the only books I never reread are books that I didn't enjoy all that much the first time through.

[Holly]

I re-read as the mood strikes me and many of my repeat reads are seasonal. I am also likely to go on a re-read binge if I read two or three disappointing books. My tastes in literature are out of the mainstream and it isn't always easy to find books I will like, so I. do feel the need to revisit my faves.

[Michael]

This also reminds me of a friend of mine who once asked me why I kept books (I've got a whole room set aside as a "library" full of bookshelves). It wasn't that he didn't read, he just never reread books do he saw no reason to keep them. Most of the books he bought he gave away after reading them.

[Papaphilly]

Michael wrote: "This also reminds me of a friend of mine who once asked me why I kept books (I've got a whole room set aside as a "library" full of bookshelves). It wasn't that he didn't read, he just never reread..."

I give away most of my books too. I tend to keep first edition hardbacks or rare books to find. As I noted earlier, I do not reread. If I do on very rare occasion, it is probably history books.

[Kateb]

Felicia wrote: "I do some re-reading - for a lot of the same reasons as the rest of you, it seems. Mostly to remember them when I start to forget or because I really liked the story and just want to experience it ..."

I re read a lot. I have a book collection of what I have really liked and like to re read. But Felicia you are right , it is because I liked the story so much I like to re experience the whole story. I no longer have to rush through the story to find what happens, I can enjoy each chapter.
I have a kindle and if I like the book I buy the paper version.
My family feel it is tragic.
There are so many books to read, I am overwhelmed, but then I look at my collection and think mmmmm I might just read that one again!!!!!!

[Grace]

I can't NOT re-read. Once I've read it for the story, I have to read it for everything that lies under the story--sub-plots, random bits of imagery, Easter eggs and references and points that I just didn't catch the first time around. The sections that gave me major emotions or blew my mind with their literary genius get read over until the pages fall out--I never feel like I've really gotten to the heart of a book if I've inly read it once.

[Holly]

Grace, I am the same way. When I shop for second hand books I am always looking for replacement copies of my favorite books that have literally been read to pieces.

I am very grateful for all the readers who read a book once and pass it on; their copies are always in nice condition! I only give away the books I didn't like.

[Bree]

I rarely like to re-read stories. I will read The Hobbit every couple of years, and Howl's Moving Castle, and a few others, but I'm always looking for awesome new stories.

[Kateb]

i often wonder if people who re read are like me and just read too fast.
I find that I like the story that I cant wait to find out what happens I race through the pages.
the next read of the book means I find a lot of things I missed on the quick read.
then a year later I think mmmmm I really enjoyed that book , maybe I missed more details?
When it is a series I find reading the first few books shows links that I missed etc.
oh the joy of re reading a fav series

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Holly wrote: "I re-read as the mood strikes me and many of my repeat reads are seasonal. I am also likely to go on a re-read binge if I read two or three disappointing books. My tastes in literature are out of t..."

I do this, too. Last year I hit several reread binges 'cause I was just so blah about everything new I tried. And then once I'd reread something, I started hankering for the whole series, so then I just kept reading.

[AndrewP]

As I ran out of space I started giving away the books that I know I will never want to re-read. I just keep the good ones, signed copies, 1st edition hardbacks etc.

[Ilona]

I don't reread often (and I rarely rewatch). The books I reread are mostly loved books I read while I was a child or children books, or few books I really loved but relatively short. Now too many books I can get, too few time. It's probably why I regret not discovering earlier The Count of Monte Cristo, it is an amazing read but I can't convince me to reread it.

[Bargle]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Yes.

I don't really have a lot of rentention for details - never have - so there are times I find myself in the position of remembering I liked a book, but only remembering the bare bones of the actual story, so sometimes I like to go back and reread those. "

That goes for me as well. I often only remember the broad outlines of a story (like the good guys win) and enjoy the smaller details all over again.

Ones I reread:
The Foundation trilogy and Asimov's short stories.
The Harry Potter books
The ACD Sherlock Holmes stories
The Nero Wolfe stories by Rex Stout
The Abhorsen stories by Garth Nix
The Lord of the Rings
The short stories of Saki

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

I love to re-read. It's one of my favorite things to do. THe first read is to fall in love. The 2nd is to cement the relationship. The rest of the re-reads are [re]affirmations of love.

I re-read the Belgariad/Malloroean every year. Or more. I love the series and I always feel like I'm back with old friends again.

I also re-read to pull myself out of reading slumps.

I re-read when I'm in desperate need of comfort.

I re-read when I'm exhausted. I have no room in my heart and no energy in my system to court a new book...but I'm a major asshole if I've been denied reading time.

I also love to get to the end of a new book that I've thoroughly enjoyed and then either re-read the whole thing or re-read huge chunks.

[Sarah]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I love to re-read. It's one of my favorite things to do. THe first read is to fall in love. The 2nd is to cement the relationship. The rest of the re-reads are [re]affirmations of love. ..."

I like this. This is very similar to what I experience.

[Bill's]

I am now reading Larry Niven Known Space. I am about half way through. Soon I will be reading Ringworld and Ringworld Engineers which I have read many years ago. Some of the short stories early in the timeline also seemed very familiar, so I likely read some of them in the 70s & 80s.

I am also reading the Dune series. This will be the second read for most of the Frank Hebert books and the third time for Dune.

I hope to soon read Asimov's robot and foundation books. Most of them I have read at least once already. This will be at least the 3rd read for some of the robot books, Galactic Empire, and Foundation Trilogy. I never did read all the ones written later and have only read one of the books written by the Killer Bs.

[Trike]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I love to re-read. It's one of my favorite things to do. THe first read is to fall in love. The 2nd is to cement the relationship. The rest of the re-reads are [re]affirmations of love. "

Renewing your vows, bookishly.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Trike wrote: "Renewing your vows, bookishly. ."

I like this. :D

[Lars]

I reread (or listen) to audiobooks when I'm running, walking the dog or doing chores around the house, this way I can manage to miss the odd word here and there.

This year I have revisited Lord of the Rings in Phil Dragash's wonderful version and I'm working my way though Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle at the moment, an experience I highly recommend, after that I plan to revisit Clarke's RAMA Novels.

[Thaddeus]

Rarely. I've read The Silmarillion a couple of times, likewise Outlaws of the Marsh and Three Kingdoms, but for full-scale re-reads it's rare. I often flick back to histories for reference (although I've read Norwich's excellent three volume work on Byzantium twice) but for fiction it's rarer and there'll be years between it.

[Mae]

I love re-reading those books that touched me (whether because I found them amusing, thrilling or anything else).

It's like revisiting old friends, it's "because" they're old friends that you want to see them again. Depending on your mood, you can choose to go on a grand adventure or relax to a comforting tale. A book that can make you hold your breath, or clench your heart, when something serious happens (or something worthy of an "awwwwww....so cute" for that matter) despite you knowing the ending, is one that speaks to you in ways mere paragraphs of text doesn't.

Also, even after many, many visits, you often still discover something new about them - not because they've changed, but because you have.

[Kateb]

recently a friend asked me about a series I read years ago, I have the set in my shelves. I thought I might just have a quick look.

Now I am 5 books into the series, and so enjoying it. It is Anne McCaffrey's talent in space series , so great.

[Amber M.]

I can almost say Never. But now that my kids are getting old enough to appreciate books that have more words than pictures, I am of course breaking that "rule" to read the books to them that I enjoyed years ago. But I don't actually like it. No matter how much I love and appreciate a book, and no matter how long it has been since I read it, the idea of reading it again causes my brain to threaten collapsing in on itself. I just can't. For the same reason I never re-watch movies. I already know "what happens." The experience of it has already been had, and can't be had again. For me, it is a one-time acquisition: it may stick with me forever, if a story especially touches me, but it is no longer contained within the book itself.

This has actually proven to be an issue in a few instances, when I inadvertently started series that weren't yet completed... and by the time the next installment came out, I couldn't remember the previous well enough to continue on, but also couldn't bring myself to re-read. As a result, that is also a "rule" that I try hard not to violate - I won't begin a series until I have access to the entire thing.

[Tom]

I have re-read in the past, but not much lately. There are too many books in my TBR pile to ignore!

I will re-read the first 100 pages or so of Snow Crash because it's such an entertaining intro to the story.

The first two chapters of The Hunger Games gets a re-read every now and then as an object lesson in setting up and launching a story.

[Noor]

Felicia wrote: "Sandi wrote: "I tend to reread a lot. I especially like to have a book to reread in bed at night when I need to get to sleep, since I can wallow in the story but do not feel the mounting tension of having to sta..."

Yes, good point! Except when I did this with Harry Potter, I still forgot to go to sleep."

Yes! I once stayed up until 4am re-reading Goblet of Fire and then I thought to myself that I must be crazy - I already knew what was going to happen, but there's so much more to a good book than that!

I think most if not all of my reasons for re-reading have already been mentioned, but I like lists, sooo...

- To re-immerse myself in a world I like to visit
- Because I know it will be good, especially after a reading disappointment!
- There are always little details that I will have missed or forgotten the first few times
- Because the author's style and voice, their use of language, make it enjoyable even if you already know what happens!
- To introduce to younger people
- Can't find anything new/can't get to the library

Books I've re-read multiple times include Harry Potter (except the second one for some reason) and the Hobbit and LOTR, and of course Charles Dickens books. Also to a lesser extent particular Pern books.

Books I've tried and failed to re-read include Narnia and Redwall.

This topic has made me wonder if some other books I read ages ago would be re-readable. For example Anne of Green Gables (I think I did read this more than once, but when I was much younger) and the Little House on the Prairie books as well as some of Roald Dahl's books.,, hmmm...

[Oganalp]

If I love the story, I re-read / re-watch. I read The Riftwar Saga of R. Feist a few times and a new reread is in order for me. I love the characters and the tone. It makes me smile.

[Kateb]

I wonder how many people who re read are doing so over a number of years. I have been collecting my fav books now for many, many years ( over 40) and find that every now and then I go through "old " favs to see if I still like them.

The good books are not just the story but how the story is told. I enjoy the wording, the way people "speak" , the unravelling of the story line.

There are so many books to read but I still revisit many of my favs, it takes a few years just to go through my collection. Even though I read a few books a week .

After such a gap of years since I read a book I have forgotten all of the details , yes I know the outline but it is the details that make or break a book.

Many a time I have read a book and felt that the story line was good but the writing didn’t hold my attention : wont re read that I would say !!!! Then other books are written in such a way that I speed through often missing details in the excitement of the book. Those I can re read many times and find choice little bits I missed.

At the moment I am re reading the Anne McCaffrey Pern series, haven’t read it in over 10 years, Raymond Feist another great read

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Kateb wrote: "I wonder how many people who re read are doing so over a number of years. I have been collecting my fav books now for many, many years ( over 40) and find that every now and then I go through "old ..."

I re-read my favorites on a regular basis. Some are yearly and the rest are by mood - but its doubtful that my absolute favorites go more than 2 years without a re-read.

[Sanford]

I have been re-reading Robert Silverberg's boods and Roger Zelazny's books. I highly recommend them to anyone who has not read them.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It has occurred to me that I only have reading "moods" during re-reads. If I have new books, I can read them no matter what (which is a double edged sword, really). If I'm left to stare at my bookshelves for what I want to read next, I suddenly become quite picky. This likely contributes to my infrequent re-reads.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Allison wrote: "It has occurred to me that I only have reading "moods" during re-reads. If I have new books, I can read them no matter what (which is a double edged sword, really). If I'm left to stare at my books..."

*Jealous*

I'm just a moody reader. Sometimes, I just can't handle "new" people and places. But this has happened more as I've gotten older...and as my TBR EXPLODED into a billion-million-trillion fragments since joining GR.

hmmm...

[Kateb]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Allison wrote: "It has occurred to me that I only have reading "moods" during re-reads. If I have new books, I can read them no matter what (which is a double edged sword, really). If I'm left to s..."

what a great way to explain GR, I have the same problem with so many new books. The comfort of reading an old loved series is great

[Angela]

I don't reread as much as I use to. Mainly since I've joined Goodreads. These days when I reread it is either before a new release and it's a while since the last book came out, so I'll reread to refresh my memory.

Or like others have said it's a mood thing where I just want to blob out and I'll reread something I've read before. Usually a favourite romance book if I just want to not really think about what I'm reading.

[Trike]

I probably mentioned this elsewhere, but a few months ago I accidentally reread a book.

It was the umpteenth installment of the Destroyermen series, Straits of Hell, and I had just read it like 7-8 months earlier. Which is kind of embarrassing, but I didn't recognize any of it until I was more than 300 pages into it. I mean, I totally should have checked my "already read" list, so that's on me, but the guy wrote such a completely forgettable book that I have to say some of that is on HIM, too. :p

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Trike wrote: "I probably mentioned this elsewhere, but a few months ago I accidentally reread a book.

It was the umpteenth installment of the Destroyermen series, Straits of Hell, and I had just..."

Haha! Yep. Did that, too. Except a decade had gone past between readings soooo...

I'm not saying anything, I'm just implying it as hard as I can.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

lol

[Lexxi Kitty]

Trike wrote: "I probably mentioned this elsewhere, but a few months ago I accidentally reread a book.

It was the umpteenth installment of the Destroyermen series, Straits of Hell, and I had just..."

I did that with a Dean Koontz book. Though I eventually 'figured it out' that I was rereading a book I'd just read. This was the early 1990s so no idea how long in between reads.

[Micah]

My first experience with re-reading was when I was a young teenager. I was reading a lot of Louis L'Amour westerns. I had read a good dozen of them or so (it seemed). I was 2/3rds of the way through one of them when I suddenly realized I had read it before ... I put the book down and never read any more of his!

But, yes, some books I re-read. Usually they are ones I really loved the first time through, AND, which are complex in their world creation; the kind of books where more and more detail is revealed with each read. The ones I have re-read are:

The Hobbit
Lord of the Rings
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Hyperion & The Fall of Hyperion (Dan Simmons)
The Forge of God (Greg Bear)
...uh...all of Vonnegut and Philip K. Dick (sometimes an author just clicks with you and you have to revisit their catalog often to recharge the batteries.)

And on my list to re-read are:
Endymion & The Rise of Endymion (Dan Simmons)

At some point I'll probably re-read Alastair Reynolds's Revelation Space and maybe a few of its follow-ups.