AA: To re-read, or not to re-read?

[Kirsten]

I am so excited that this is the book choice for August! It's one of my all time favourites. I'm really happy for the chance to re-read it - and I'll probably re-read the whole series because I love it so much.

My husband disagrees with me though - he thinks that life is too short to re-read books - there are too many new ones out there to read.

I've always been one to go back and revisit my favourite books, but I was wondering which 'camp' you all fall into - are you a re-reader, or not?

[David(LA,CA)]

I've re-read in the past. For me, it's usually due to restarting a series. Like I'll stall midway through book 4 of something, then a few years later, I'll get a bug to try and complete the series again. So I'll start over at book 1. Or I finished all the books that were out in the series at the time I read it, and now I'm starting over at book 1 again because more books have come out.

And there's probably a good chance I'll reread something if it comes up as a book of the month here and I haven't read it over a year.

[Phil]

I used to re-read a lot but now I'm more like your husband. I've got limited time and too many new things to read. Once a year though I do pick one book by Robert Heinlein to re-read because his books meant so much to me growing up.

[Sandi]

I rarely re-read. Lately though, I have been using audiobooks as an alternative when it's a book I really want to visit again. My backlog of books to read is way too large to spend time on a re-read, but audio adds a different dimension and my attention span isn't as important when I'm already familiar with the story.

[Michelle]

I re-read books I liked all the time. There are some books/series I've read several times over just because I love it so much. Currently I'm doing my best to restrain myself from re-reading stuff though because I have a bad habit of just re-reading old favorites over and over instead of getting to all the hundreds of books I want to read and haven't yet.

[Casey]

If the story sweeps me away, I am most certainly a re-reader. No questions asked.
"Life is short" but this is the sort of mantra to employ when reading a lousy book.

[Richard]

For me, it's like saying you shouldn't have dinner with an old friend because there are so many people you haven't met yet. I'm more likely to re-read an old favorite than I am to take a risk on something new.

[Kirsten]

There is of course the risk that I will read it again and not love it as much as I did when I read it the first time! Worth the risk though I think.

[Kirsten]

Sandi wrote: "I rarely re-read. Lately though, I have been using audiobooks as an alternative when it's a book I really want to visit again. My backlog of books to read is way too large to spend time on a re-r..."

@Sandi - when you mentioned using audiobooks as an alternative to re-reading, I thought 'what a great idea!' and went straight over to audible - where they did not have Assassin's Apprentice :( (They only have the newest trilogy).

Anyone know if there is a downloadable audiobook elsewhere? - I don't really want to buy CDs.

[Kirsten]

OK, I've just realised that the reason I can't get the audio book is because I'm in Australia. That makes me so mad!

[Kim]

I can only very rarely do a reread. It has to be a very good/special book for me.

[Kirsten]

Scott wrote: "I try to reread books backwards or upside down to make a new and refreshing story each time. With audiobooks you can backtrack the audio with Audacity and War and Peace becomes a Zen experience, k..."

LOL - I have a bad memory so usually it's like a new book every time for me anyway :D

[Napoez3]

You can listen to it this time, I'm sure it's a different experience ;)

[Kamil]

it's one of those books that loose it's charm on re-reading, you already know who is the mastermind behind the scheme and how it will work out

[terpkristin]

Funnily, I was certain I had this book in my Audible account, so I thought I might give it a listen instead of a re-read. But it turns out I don't...so now I'm contemplating spending full price to buy it, instead of waiting for my credits to roll on the 10th. We shall see...

[Snarktastic Sonja]

I re-read for a simple reason: It is cheaper :D. When I get on a roll, I can read through a book a day (well, 'cept a Jordan novel). This can become a rather expensive habit to keep up. Re-visiting a book I know and love makes me feel warm and tingly inside.

That being said, I read books much more for character than for plot - though a book surely needs some of each. If a book has characters I LOVE, I am more likely to re-read - just for the joy of spending time with treasured friends.

[Kate]

Kamil wrote: "it's one of those books that loose it's charm on re-reading, you already know who is the mastermind behind the scheme and how it will work out"

I suppose it depends on the re-reader. I've read the series several times because I love the characters.
Which is probably why I haven't reread her Liveship trilogy, everyone's such a jerk.

[Alexpope]

I'm a very slow reader with little time to read, so it tends to put me in the non-rereader camp. Especially with a long series like WoT. I recently read book 12 and 13 after a multi year hiatus from the series, and just accepted that I'd be missing some details due to not rereading. It worked out well.

That said, I may just reread this one, it's been way too long.

[Phillip]

This is a question that I asked myself when I heard that this was the next book pick and I'm still not sure what I will do. I read this series years ago and while I did really like it, but I'm not a huge fan of re-reading books. I've only done it a handful of times in my life and have found it to usually not be worth it, especially since there are still so many other new books out there that I still have to read. Most likely I'll just follow along on the pod cast and videos and not re-read. It's a good book though, for those that haven't read it is a great pick.

[Random]

One of the reasons I have joined book groups is to get me away from rereading the same old and sampling books I haven't read before. This doesn't mean I don't reread so much as I try to limit them to books I really want to reread.

I read this series a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the first two books, but the first two thirds of the last book put a significant dampener on things for me as it seemed to drag on absolutely forever. The last third, however, was excellent and worth work. :)

Since I'm one of those people who hates to reread the first book of a series without reading the rest, I'll skip the reread this time. I may not remember enough details to participate a lot, but I should be able to follow along.

In the mean time, maybe I'll manage to get to some of those books that have been on my to-read shelf for way too long. :)

[Thomas]

I reread because it is hard for me to find a book that gets me hooked by just going through the bookstore and most of the employees are not of the sword or laser type when it comes to commendations.
That ist the main reason I join the book club to find new books to read.

[Joe Informatico]

I read this shortly after it was published (15 years ago, give or take), and haven't reread it since. So I'm rereading it. I seem to have forgotten a lot of it, but as I read it's reactivating memories.

[Dharmakirti]

Noramally, I quite enjoy re-reading a work. However, my to-read pile is quite high and I very recently read Assassin's Apprentice so I won't be re-reading the book at this time. I am going to try to finish Shadowmarch by Tad Williams.

[Martin]

We've talked about re-read before. A solid life of reading for the average individual gives you about 2600 books (40bpy, 65 years). It should be a good book if you re-read it (or movie, or tv show etc).

I won't be re-reading AA. I enjoyed this when I first read it but the next two in the series almost destoryed by will to read ever again. I actually did try liveship traders after that, but lemmed the first book.

[Kamil]

Kate wrote: "Kamil wrote: "it's one of those books that loose it's charm on re-reading, you already know who is the mastermind behind the scheme and how it will work out"

I suppose it depends on the re-reader...."

My point is that once a reader re-reads the trilogy, he/she would see everything in a different light. For example the little girl was adorable but when I was re-reading the story a second time I was all "somebody kill this little bieatch"

[Mohrravvian]

I re-read books if they are good and I want to experience that story again. Some I've read multiple times. Even with my ever growing list of TBRs, I will still go back and re-read my old favorites.

[Nikki]

I don't normally re-read book. However, I read this when I was quite young (and disliked it) and so I've decided to give it another go (based on people I like loving it). It will be interesting to see what I think now.

[Kirsten]

I read the whole trilogy in one hit quite a few years ago, and I've realised the three books are kind of melded together in my head. I have to re-read it just to make sure I don't accidentally spoil people about the next 2 books. I didn't even realise (view spoiler)[ Nighteyes isn't even in this book! (hide spoiler)]

[Tracy]

I re-read Tolkien several times in my youth but I am definitely in the "life is too short to re-read" camp now.
I'll never make it through my to-read list as it is because every time I read one I add two or three others!
Same with movies, there's just too much media out there.

[Mykander]

I enjoy re-reading fast paced or action filled books but for everything else (including this one)? Not so much, it just drags on and on and on and on and unless you've totally forgotten the story you gradually remember what's coming and just want it to happen already.

[Brett]

I read the assassins apprentice trilogy, and finished it last month, I probably won't retread it yet! I do sometimes enjoy revisiting books that I read a few years ago and re-experiencing them, I sometimes get more up of a book, knowing how the end is.

[Travis]

Richard wrote: "For me, it's like saying you shouldn't have dinner with an old friend because there are so many people you haven't met yet."

That argument never made sense to me either. I re-watch TV shows and movies constantly, and I re-read books I love whenever I strike-out at the library.

[Ashley]

I am unquestionably a re-reader. A few times upon finishing a book, sighed happily and then, without setting it down, opened it back up to begin once more from the beginning.

Especially if I'm in love with the characters, or the world. I simply want more of it.

There is a risk involved, two even. Books that I read when I was young, before I developed taste, sometimes disappoint the critical eye I've developed. As I've gotten older what I want and expect from a book has also changed.

The second risk is re-reading a book so many times that there's no thrill left at all. It's all familiar and reading it gives nothing else than what already haunts my mind.

I have to assume that's how you non-re-readers feel!

But time? For me there's never a risk of lost time in reading a book again. Books are forever! I've even picked up a book just to read one particular scene. This by the way is one of the reasons I try to make a point to buy tangible versions of e-books I read and loved. It's difficult for me to find a favorite passage if I didn't bookmark it on an electronic version! But in a book I can turn to it lovingly and sink immediately down into the scene.

[Brian]

Books are like friends, no matter how many new ones you make it is always good to go back and visit and old one. I recently went back and reread a series I hadn't read since high school and was amazed how much I had forgotten in the intervening years.

I am conflicted about reI reading Assassin's Apprentice though. I really enjoyed the first book, but as the series went on it got worse. I HATED book 3. I don't know if I can reread the first book and enjoying it knowing how it all ends.

[Don]

I don't re-read many books, just Tolkien Deathly Hallows before the movies, and I just read this one late last year. I decided to read Red Seas Under Red Skies, second book in The Gentleman's Bastard Series.

[Paul R]

ah, i have one of those deadly brains that remember book plots years after i read them. that said- i can re-read Tolkien whenever. that is the one i always can pick up again and become immersed in - just like when i was a teenager.

[Brian]

For many years it was a tradition for me to reread Tolkien every summer, but I don't think I have done it since the movies came out. Ofcourse back then it was so much harder for me to find new stuff to read. I think I read every sci-fi or fantasy book in my little public library!

For me there is a nostalgia in reading a book I know and love. David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean are ones I come back to every couple years because the characters and their banter are like getting together with old friends. It's like comfort food for me. There are definitely better authors out there and all his other series kinda just rehashed the same thing but the warmth of the books and remembering how I felt when I first read them back in high school pulls me back to them.

I think I read books the first time because I want to KNOW what happens. I reread books because I want to FEEL things again. I can't reread George R R Martin because my motivation was always "what happens next", but the books where I deeply connect with characters are the ones I go back to again and again.

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Brian wrote: "are ones I come back to every couple years because the characters and their banter are like getting together with old friends. It's like comfort food for me.

. . .

I think I read books the first time because I want to KNOW what happens. I reread books because I want to FEEL things again. I can't reread George R R Martin because my motivation was always "what happens next", but the books where I deeply connect with characters are the ones I go back to again and again. "

YES! You hit the nail on the head for me.

And, you are better than I, I can't even get through Martin the FIRST time as I am SCARED at what might happen. :D

[Kimberly]

I always plan to re-read books that I've loved but always find myself getting caught up in something new and shiny.

I find that I'm more likely to re-read a book that I fell in love with when I was younger. Books like Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia.

That being said, I absolutely loved The Farseer Trilogy and will probably re-visit it someday.

[Malin]

I re-read books all the time, for comfort, to experience new things in them, to re-visit characters, worlds and stories that I love. Frequently, I discover new dimensions to the stories upon re-reading, and with some books, age and axperience make me see the books in a completely different light.

[Gechi]

Definately a re-reader, usually it's a series though. I think I've read the first 6 books of the Wheel of Time 5 or 6 times, I usually start from the beginning every time a new book in the series has been released.

I will usally go back and read Lord of the Rings every couple of years along with many of the Discworld books.

Other series like Dark Tower, Necroscope, the Night Angel Trilogy and The Riftwar Saga I've read several times over the years as well.

This is partly why I joined this group, to find some new authors in the genre's I love and open my mind some. Saying that I will probably end up reading the farseer trilogy again now though.....

[Ed]

I almost never re-read. I have too many unread books that I want to read to spend time re-reading stuff I've read before. The only exceptions for me have been Tolkien's books, which I've re-read a couple times but not more than once per decade or so. I've also re-read Dune and Neuromancer, but many years after my initial reading.

I don't re-watch TV series either, but I will re-watch movies I really, really liked. Not as much of a time investment in re-watching a movie, I think.

[Ulmer Ian]

I did re-read the Dune series in college, when I first read it I was in junior high or high school. I could see myself re-reading other books that I read before I was 17 or so, maybe Asimov's Foundation is due for another visit.

But in general I don't re-read much (YOLO!), only when it's "going on an airplane, need a book NOW" type of situation (the solution there is always Terry Pratchett). Though I sometimes listen to an audio book version of a book I've already read. My main problem with audio books not-while-in-a-car is that I sometimes get distracted and miss what happened... not an issue with a 're-listen'. :)

Also re-read the first three Harry Potter's in Spanish. And now German Harry Potter taunts me from the shelf. Good practice for any language you are learning... no need to worry about losing track of whats going on.

[Meg]

Brian wrote: "Books are like friends, no matter how many new ones you make it is always good to go back and visit and old one. I recently went back and reread a series I hadn't read since high school and was ama..."

Have you read the Tawny Man trilogy? Because (view spoiler)[ Fitz gets a happy ending in it. (hide spoiler)]

I reread books quite a lot. Name of the Wind is a book I read at least once a year.