# Book Series you can reread over and over **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [September 22, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580 "2024-09-22T06:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/21 "2024-09-22T16:37:33Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee books hold up well and I’ve made two complete passes and may return for a third at some point. I’ve done at least three complete passes, not to mention the times I’ve read favorite sections of some of the books. The only reason I haven’t done a fourth is that my copies have been packed up along with most of my previously read books since my move from Chicago back in 2006. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/22 "2024-09-22T19:00:19Z")
Charles Todd’s\* Inspector Rutledge series – 27 books, UK, first quarter of the 20th century. Scotland Yard detective, shell-shocked veteran of WWI, solving murders, driving all over the British Isles in his _motorcar_. Trains trigger his memories and claustrophobia. I adore this character. I’m currently rereading the series for the third time. * * * \* “Charles Todd” is a mother-son writing team. The mother died recently, and the son should be coming out with another book soon. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/23 "2024-09-22T19:49:16Z")
> [@steepone](#): > > The Dragon Riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey My wife is rereading those. There are a LOT of books in that series! > [@madmonk28](#): > > Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series. I reread those several times, even owned a complete set. Two small things started to annoy me so much, that i couldn’t reread them again- The joke where Aubrey shows the Doctor a new sail, whereupon the Doctor is confused, and vice versa- where the Doctor shows the Captain a small dot of a bird- and the Captain is confused. That joke falls flat about the 16th time. And worse is the “lucy and the football” O’brien keep pulling with their finances- Aubray is RICH- no he is poor, now he is rich- no poor, etc etc . But only on the like 4th redeading did those start to grate on me. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I read the Narnia books many times as a kid, and will no doubt read them again. Same here. Also the Dark is Rising Sequence. > [@dorvann](#): > > Does The Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series count? I enjoy those also. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/24 "2024-09-22T19:58:23Z")
Nero Wolfe for sure. Robert Parker’s Spencer books Archer Mayor’s Gunther series ---
**Author:** ![sboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/25 "2024-09-22T20:02:56Z")
Yes awesome and their grouchy cook! ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/26 "2024-09-22T20:05:18Z")
Flashman, the archetypical problematic fave, is fun enough and rich enough in historical interest to withstand several rereads. Also Cryptonomicon and the Baroque Cycle, for similar reasons although later Stevenson has been a disappointment. Wolf Hall definitely repays a reread, as much for the writing and psychology as for the history. Dorothy Dunnet’s Lymond books I have reread constantly, sworn off for about a decade, but may be due another go soon. Le Carre’s Smiley books, and in a similar vein, Len Deighton’s Bernard Sampson series. The Arkady Renko novels also scratch a cold war (and latterly a post cold war) itch. For sheer fun, Wodehouse and Heyer. Having read India Conquered recently, I’m keen to reread a bunch of Kipling’s short stories which I think do chime very closely with IC’s thesis, namely that the British in India were supremely detached from the business of ruling, and hence driven by fear above all. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/27 "2024-09-22T20:09:13Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Flashman, the archetypical problematic fave, is fun enough and rich enough in historical interest to withstand several rereads. Good choice, but maybe not many times. I love the series but to reread it every year would be a bit too much. > [@Stanislaus](#): > > I’m keen to reread a bunch of Kipling’s short stories I do enjoy those. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/28 "2024-09-22T20:14:31Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > A lot of my faves have already been mentioned (JRRT, PTerry, McCaffrey, Williams, Doc Smith) but I also can’t go more than a couple of years without re-reading King’s _Dark Tower_ books. The _Dark Tower_ stuff here, too. Including the books that tie in, like _Talisman_ and _Black House_. I know most of King’s works fall under that umbrella, but some more than others. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/29 "2024-09-22T20:16:09Z")
And at the risk of sounding terribly wanky, the Iliad and Odyssey are always worth a revisit. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/30 "2024-09-22T21:39:30Z")
I’ve read all of Nero Wolfe and Discworld at least twice through, and most of them many more times. There are a handful in each series I just don’t like as much: for Nero Wolfe, it’s the ones that are set well outside the metro NYC area, _The Black Mountain_ and the couple that are set out west. I’ve taken to inserting notes on the title pages of each indicating the dates I’ve read them. I didn’t start this until I’d been through each series two or three times, so the first note usually says something like “Third or fourth reading on [date].” ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/31 "2024-09-22T21:47:50Z")
I’m a big fan of the Nordhoff and Hall trilogy: Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea and Pitcairn’s Island. I’ve read them numerous times. They wrote some other good stuff too. (Aside: I’ve always wondered how two people can collaborate on writing a book.) ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/32 "2024-09-22T22:12:49Z")
Definitely the Vorkosigan saga and really anything by Lois McMaster Bujold (5 Gods, Penric, Sharing Knife) Deed of Paksenarrion and all the subsequent novels, by Elizabeth Moon. The Lord Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy L Sayers. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Yeah, kids books, but comfort-reading. Some of the Dragonriders of Pern books. Ann McCaffrey That’s all I can think of off the top of my head, but I know there’s more. StG ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/33 "2024-09-22T22:59:20Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > (Aside: I’ve always wondered how two people can collaborate on writing a book.) I don’t get that either! Of course, I haven’t written any books, alone or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/34 "2024-09-22T23:12:23Z")
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn for sure, but I also love rereading Tad William’s Otherland series. And just about all of Bernard Cornwell, especially the Saxon Chronicles and the Sharpe series. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/35 "2024-09-22T23:17:39Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > I’m a big fan of the Nordhoff and Hall trilogy: Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea and Pitcairn’s Island. All good. Especially _Men Against the Sea._ Also i want to add the Lord Darcy Fantasy Alt-hist mysteries by Randall Garrett. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/36 "2024-09-22T23:24:32Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > I might, in an alternate reality, reread Sue Grafton’s alphabet series, but every time I’ve thought about it, I was daunted by the number of books. So I guess my limit is some not-precisely-determined number between fourteen (for KV and Dortmunder) and twenty-five (for Grafton). I started when the first one came out, so it was easy to keep up that way. I was bummed not only that she died, but that she never did Z. So, I have all the books on one shelf with a bookend made out of an old Reader’s Digest Condensed Books book carved in the shape of a Z. But there are always so many new (and new to me) books out there, that I always want to read something new before re-reading something I’ve read before. And I’m getting old! I’m running out of time! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/37 "2024-09-22T23:29:42Z")
Nice! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/38 "2024-09-22T23:35:40Z")
Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories Nero Wolfe C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower Robert Heinlein’s juveniles Lord of the Rings Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, believe it or not Dave Barry’s books Robert E. Howard’s “Conan the Barbarian” stories ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/39 "2024-09-22T23:55:21Z")
I recently reread the Hunger Games series. And I’ve reread the James Herriot (Alf Wight) series multiple times. They are lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580/40 "2024-09-22T23:58:45Z")
Oh my goodness, yes! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-can-reread-over-and-over/1007580.md?page=3)