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Do You Re-Read?
i though your comment about re reading was critical, took ages for my comment to be placed so missed the flow of the dialogue
I do like to reread my favourite stories. I usually wait a year or more, and I find that I get something different out of it each time. Probably the best example for me is Shane. I first read it as a teenager, and I've read it about once a year since. I've come to appreciate it even more over the years.
Sanford wrote: "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."
Totally agree - I hardly re read nowadays, there is a fear that(particularly if it's a classic from your youth) that it may no longer seem as good and the memory of it will then be tarnished.
It was with some trepidation that a few years ago I reread one of my all time favourites 'Isle of the dead' by Zelazny, needn't have worried, still fantastic - now if I can just motivate myself to reach for 'World of Null A'...............
Totally agree - I hardly re read nowadays, there is a fear that(particularly if it's a classic from your youth) that it may no longer seem as good and the memory of it will then be tarnished.
It was with some trepidation that a few years ago I reread one of my all time favourites 'Isle of the dead' by Zelazny, needn't have worried, still fantastic - now if I can just motivate myself to reach for 'World of Null A'...............
I do re-read some things, mainly series that I'm actively following. Stand alone books not as much. Some authors will take a year or two, maybe more, to put out the next book in a series. Who can remember all the characters, sub-plots, etc if you don't go back and re-visit the series prior to the next book coming out. I know I don't.
Tony wrote: "I do re-read some things, mainly series that I'm actively following. Stand alone books not as much. Some authors will take a year or two, maybe more, to put out the next book in a series. Who can r..."I find it hard to go back and read books a second time. I'm not sure why I feel that way. When it comes to reading the next book in a series after it's been a while, I go to Wikipedia and read the plot summary to catch up.
I have a collection of over 700 paper books, and a lot of ebooks. I have decided to reduce the paper books, which means re reading to see if I still like them.Dam , spent the past week re reading one series Lisanne Norman's sholan series . Will keep those 5 books, moving on.
I find that I only reread books from when I was a kid. There are a couple series I've reread and then a few stand alone books that are like comfort food. They are short enough to read in a day and I find myself looking back at them every five years or so.
Megan wrote: "I find that I only reread books from when I was a kid. There are a couple series I've reread and then a few stand alone books that are like comfort food. They are short enough to read in a day and ..."mmmm sorry to ask but how long ago was "being a kid" . Some of my collection have been around for 50 years
@kateb - I guess probably 20-25 years ago. Those were my prime teenage reading years. But I guess I'd have to look back and see how old my favorite books are. Most came from the library or my dad's shelf. Those books just have a certain nostalgia that are fun to recreate. I've noticed it does not work as well for me with more current books. Though reading Harry Potter with my 4 year old is fun!
I reread intentionally. Especially books that I didn't like at first. Often books that affected me. Definitely books that I learn from.
Lexxi Kitty wrote: "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.
I'd replied to this thread on Apr 30, 2015 and mentioned I'd reread maybe 6 books (by that point it had actually been 7 or more). Two years later and I'm up to 40 books reread. Some of which are actually even Science fiction or fantasy.
Why did I start rereading 'so much' (at least compared to my life before that point)? Well - Simon Hawke started putting his books up on Kindle, and his TimeWars series was seriously hard to find when I had originally read some of it, and I never had read all of them. So I started rereading the series from the beginning. Then Jack McDevitt put out a sequel to Ancient Shores, so I had to reread Ancient Shores (though I've still not read the sequel).
Then I just started rereading books I'd really enjoyed . . . just because. Oh, wait, no, I remember why I reread 'A Date with an Angel' and 'The Raven' - I was testing my ability to be satisfied with audio books.
Then more books in a series were appearing, so I started to reread prior books (here referring to the Parasol Protectorate series and the Micky Knight series).
Oh! I forgot those. I read 4 books I really loved, only to later find out that the books had previously been released under a different name and with different . . . um . . genders. Or, more simply - the same author had released the books as heterosexual romance books, then rereleased them later, under a different name, as lesbian fiction romance books. So I reread all but 1 of those books. Well, read the heterosexual versions. It was like rereading the lesbian books.
I really have no clue why I reread all of the fantasy series - The Shape-Shifter by Jae, but for 1 book and 2 short stories. Just . . . felt compelled to do so. That was in July of this year.
So why have I been rereading? New books in a series appear. And/or, because I wanted to do so.
I generally only re-read absolute top-tier favorites of mine, and even then it's not super common. I'd like to do it a lot more than I actually do, it's just hard to bring myself to when I could be reading something new instead. I've been toying with the idea of re-reading all of The Dresden Files for years but I just never get around to it. I'd also love to re-read The Queen's Thief series and House of Leaves at some point, but alas. I think there are multiple good reasons to read a book again. If you really loved it, you're guaranteed a good time. If you read it a long time ago it's a way to indulge in delicious nostalgia. And if it's a very good book it's likely offer up something entirely new a second time through that you didn't notice/understand the first time. I've found a good way to re-read a book is to get the audiobook. That's how I re-read both Kingkiller Chronicles books, Elantris, Warbreaker, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book. Just have that be your go-to while doing mindless chores, or if you have the kind of job that lends itself to audiobook consumption, as I did at the time.
I started collecting sci fi and fantasy books in the 1960's, so every now and then I re read a series to see if it is taking up space ( for the new books I want to buy) . I have a fast reading speed and now that I am retired I probably read a 400 page book in 2 days. ( and no I don't spend all day reading )But I so enjoy some of the old stuff, even though styles have changed and some context is really out dated.
Just re read stranger in a strange land, great, and then ender's game.
Yes. I also listen to songs and CD multiple times if I like it. Yes, it takes time away from new things, but it also provides enjoyment. Again.
I do reread some books. Those which I feel I can get more out of from a second or third reading.Must books ae a one and done, but it is those rare gems (the ones I want to get in hard back) which I feel are so good that I need to read the a second time.
Jasemhi wrote: "Yes. I also listen to songs and CD multiple times if I like it. Yes, it takes time away from new things, but it also provides enjoyment. Again."Amen.
Joseph wrote: "Jasemhi wrote: "Yes. I also listen to songs and CD multiple times if I like it. Yes, it takes time away from new things, but it also provides enjoyment. Again."Amen."
agreed
I think I have a disease for re-reading. I've re-read books which are fast paced from beginning to end. Books such as Warship by Joshua Dalzelle. I even read it three times. It's just such an intense thing the battle that takes place in the book.Normally a book in one location is a long shot but he pulled it off. It even got better the second time around. Mistakenly I first read it in paper back. It was poorly formatted by createspace with huge spaces inbetween paragraphs. Re-reading on kindle was awesome.
I've also read over the Man of War series. Again books with a lot of flowing action or tension keep me coming back despite I know the outcome. There are so many books I would love to re-read but lost my entire paper book collection when I moved to a new house. My entire life of paperback scifi collection. :(
Books which I know I can't remember.
Mod
One of my most enraged reading experiences is hating a book, successfully blocking it from my memory, re-reading it and like halfway through realizing that I'd been here before. That's when I came back to GR. Never. Again.
I often feel that the reason I re read a book is the fact I read to fast. I tend to skim when it is the exciting part. Then again with reading at least a book a week , plots blend together.IF the writing style is interesting then I can read that book a 3rd of 4th time, it just means a few years between each read.
I have to be amused though when people who are only in their early 20's say they don't re read, mmmm not yet you don't , who knows about in the future
with some series, when a new book in the series comes out, I like to re-read the whole series and then read the new one. I will do this whenever Martin & Rothfuss publish their next books. Obviously i don't do this for really long series, but mostly for 3-5 book series.I can even reread mysteries if I really liked them - it's like settling down with an old friend.
I never reread anything, because life is too short, and I have an insanely good memory. But I don't consider listening to an audiobook after reading the actual book "rereading", for the same reason I wouldn't consider watching a film adaptation of a book I've read "rereading". Not that I've actually listened to any audiobook versions of books I've read, but I might one day, just to experience the story in a new way. I won't read the book all over again, though.I'll listen to music over and over again because I mainly just listen to music while driving, and it's not exactly easy to constantly find new music, especially then. I'll watch a movie more than once because I can do other things while it plays as background noise. Plus, both of those are relatively short forms of entertainment in comparison to the time commitment of a book, so I don't really see them as the same thing. But I just can't bring myself to read the same book twice. It's a serious time commitment, I can't do anything else while doing it, and I already remember the whole story in vivid detail, no matter how long it's been since I finished it.
Ironically, if I ever did reread something, it'd likely be the ASoIaF series, just because it'd be fun to read the completed series straight through from start to finish at some point instead of having to wait years between installments...and that's one of the lengthiest rereads I could possibly choose for myself. But I doubt I'll ever do that. (And Martin would have to actually finish the series first, in any case...)
Nothing against those of you who do reread, though, of course. I see the appeal; it just doesn't appeal to me. (Although you're right, Kateb -- that could change as I get older. I doubt it will, in my case, but...never say never, I suppose. Though I'm in the mid-thirties, not the early twenties.)
I have an awful memory, so it is quite easy to re-read after a while, especially if we're talking about a series. Often it is nice to re-read a complete series, since there is no time gap between each subsequent book.
I reread about five books on a somewhat normal rotation. I read them between five and ten years since I last read them. It allows me to find new aspects. Three of them are Sci/fi-fantasy two are military history. Occasionally I will see something on my shelf and know that I have read it, but wonder what it was about. I reread them as well.
Sometimes you get a completely different take on a book after re-reading it. I recently re-read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and where before I thought it had a happy ending, now I don't.
I VERY RARELY re-read, but certain books I have.
Mike wrote: "I never reread anything, because life is too short, and I have an insanely good memory. But I don't consider listening to an audiobook after reading the actual book "rereading", for the same reason..."*Likes comment*
My reasons for not re-reading pretty much anything is the same as yours. Haha. And I agree with the music and movie bit.
If the supply of excellent books was unlimited, I might never re-read. Unfortunately, this isn't the case, and there are often long dry spells when I can't find anything new that appeals to me, so I am driven to re-visit old friends.
There are a few books I re-read. Re-reading one right at the moment.It's a short read, and pretty good. it takes my mind back to the time of Mani.
The Gardens of Light
I do occasionally, especially if I don't feel up to reading a novel for a first time (if that makes sense)
V.W. wrote: "I have an awful memory, so it is quite easy to re-read after a while, especially if we're talking about a series. Often it is nice to re-read a complete series, since there is no time gap between e..."Same for me.
My memory is crap, and I love binging series I've been following after it's all over and i can reread in one go.
I won't even start a series unless it is complete because patience is not one of my virtues. That is why I haven't read Game of Thrones. If he ever finishes it then I'll read it. Of course I could be dead by the time that happens. lol
I do all the time. Sometimes it is to catch up on a series, but a lot of the time, it's just because I love the book/series so much. I usually have a pretty good memory, but of course there are times when I forget part of what happened in a book, so it is nice to jump start my memory.The thing I like most about re-reading is finding foreshadowing that I didn't realize was there. It happens in just about all good books/series. The author will casually mention something in book 1 that doesn't fully get exposed until a book or two later. It's especially impressive in the really long series.
My current re-read is The Malazan Book of the Fallen. I have read the first 9 but not the last one. There are also books by the author's writing partner set in the same universe with some of the same characters, so I plan to read those as well this time around. The 10th book came out years ago, but I wasn't ready to commit to a 10+ book read at the time, and I just never got around to it. Now it has been long enough that I've got a fresh view of it, and I am on book 3 really enjoying getting back into this world. It is amazing how many things I catch the second (or fourth for the first 4 books) time around. Sometimes it's foreshadowing, but sometimes it's just subtle things that offer clarity that I didn't have the first time.
I am likely to re-read when a next book is coming and there was longer delay since the last (year or more). Or if I just want to revisit something I really liked.
I don’t reread anything either. I tried to break my rule by re-reading THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by Ursula K LeGuin and was a really disappointing DNF although I remember being completely blown away by the book the first time.Besides there really are so many books out there that I haven’t read yet that I would rather try to find the next GREAT book than spending time confirming that I still like a book I previously liked.
Allison wrote: "One of my most enraged reading experiences is hating a book, successfully blocking it from my memory, re-reading it and like halfway through realizing that I'd been here before. That's when I came back to GR. Never. Again."That's so funny. It's happened to me a couple of times, too!
My memory's fairly good, although once twenty years have passed, it starts fraying around the edges and I can reread a book without feeling like I'm wasting my time. Twice is plenty, though. Once a book has its second run, I won't read it ever again. I have a simple brain that likes simple books, and almost never read things that might take several read-throughs to fully understand.
I sincerely hope that GR is around in another twenty years. It really has been a good memory aid as I try to put together thoughts for reviews, and later on when I reread the reviews as a refresher for earlier books in a series.
I have reread Harry Potter heaps and I pick up something new each time. I’ve also reread the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series a number of times. Other than those I used to reread a lot of Agatha Christie. Mostly the ones with Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence. I love rereading when I’m feeling down. Slipping into an old favourite does a lot to boost your soul. It’s the same when rewatching an old favourite movie or TV show. There was a study done that said that rewatching or rereading is good for your mental health. It’s got a lot to do with being in control and knowing the outcome and feeling safe when everything else in your life is so confused and all over the place.
Lately since I rediscovered reading I’ve had heaps of new books in the house so I haven’t reread anything. Up until recently I only had my favourites with me so that I could reread them if I felt like reading anything and all of my other books are all stuck in boxes at my Mothers house where the excess gets left every time we move. I’ve had a bit of a breakout and bought quite a few newer books which will probably also end up at my Mothers house in boxes when we move from here.
Jacqueline wrote: "There was a study done that said that rewatching or rereading is good for your mental health. It’s got a lot to do with being in control and knowing the outcome and feeling safe when everything else in your life is so confused and all over the place. ."This study brought to you by the International Re-Reading Council. :p
@Jacqueline: and that's the main reason my husband decided I needed a Kindle back in 2009. He was tired of lugging books around when we moved and felt that spending 400USD for one was totally worth it for his back even though he's a person who is reluctant to buy big ticket items.
Haha Trike....no it was an actual Mental health study done last year sometime. I had it on my computer but can’t find it. Can’t remember who did it. I was particularly interested in it because of the habit of my 23 year old daughter to rewatch some things when she is particularly “fragile”. She puts a movie on (usually Disney) and then it just repeats until she is ready for the world again.
Jacqueline wrote: "Haha Trike....no it was an actual Mental health study done last year sometime. I had it on my computer but can’t find it. Can’t remember who did it. I was particularly interested in it because of t..."I actually read years back that this is actually also while children enjoy re-watching the same cartoon or movie over and over again. They feel safe knowing what's coming.
I enjoy re-reading old favorites every now and again. Mostly because I love the message or the language used in a book and like to revisit it. My other book club was reading Fahrenheit 451 and after reading the comments in the threads, I felt I needed to read it again. It was my third read through of that book and I loved it just as much as the first time.
I will also occasionally reread when the new book in a series is coming out. Though I haven't had occasion to do that in quite some time.
I re-read too much! I find myself going over the same books again and again because I'm too scared to waste time on bad books... I tend to only read new books when they have been recommended to me by a friend (which is one of the reasons why I've joined this group to be honest).
DSM wrote: "I re-read too much! I find myself going over the same books again and again because I'm too scared to waste time on bad books... I tend to only read new books when they have been recommended to me ..."Same here. Word of mouth works well for me. I've got a couple of friends who recommend books all the time, and they're not even on Goodreads. Sometimes though I grab a book that I see someone else is reading and take that leap of faith. Most of the times I'm delightfully surprised.
I always tell myself I will re-read certain books I really enjoyed the first time, but I never have the (bookreading) time to do it. Or maybe, when the book I've enjoyed is too emotionally draining/requires a lot of brain work, I want to keep myself from reliving those "dreadful" moments. This year I told myself I'd start re-reading my favorites, but .. yeah.
I find if I pick a new book in Goodreads that has more than a 1000 ratings and is over 4.0 thenIt is pretty good and I have not been disappointed. Sometimes it’s not my cup of tea but I’m not mad that i read it.
Trike wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "There was a study done that said that rewatching or rereading is good for your mental health. It’s got a lot to do with being in control and knowing the outcome and feeling safe ..."That is messed up...Funny, but messed up... 8^)
Yeah CBRetriever it would be much easier and better when I moved. I had a cheap tablet that I used as an ereader that I took on holidays with me and my daughter gave me her old iPad mini for Christmas after she bought herself a bigger iPad and now that is full of books but I have trouble reading off a screen too much so I still have to read proper physical books more than ebooks. I’m hopeless when it comes to buying physical books though. We flew down to Sydney a few months ago and I took my tablet with me. We only had small carry on bags and I read fast so it was a good idea. Until I made the rounds of all of the Sydney bookshops and came home with at least 10 not so small books that I then had to try and fit into 2 carry on bags which were already full since they had 3 days of conference and going out clothes in them along with everything else you need. Yeahhhh I did it though.
Australian paperbacks are physically larger than American paperbacks, too.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Lord of the Rings (other topics)Old Man's War (other topics)
Casino Royale (other topics)
Orlando (other topics)
Underworld (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Marlon James (other topics)Jennifer Roberson (other topics)
Adrian Tchaikovsky (other topics)
George R.R. Martin (other topics)
Philip K. Dick (other topics)
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This thread was to comment on who re read and what they like about this. So Trike you don't re read, good , as to the rest of your comment , mmmmmm!!!!