# Books you reread over and over **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [December 8, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325 "2024-12-08T02:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 8, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/21 "2024-12-08T15:54:32Z")
When I was ten, I received Gone With the Wind as a Christmas present. Three days later, I finished it, and immediately turned back to the first page to start again. Since then, I’ve read it well over a hundred times. I haven’t picked it up in years, but I don’t really need to anymore. Jane Eyre is another that I’ve read many times. I didn’t care for it at first, but during a time in my life when I had access to few books, I tried it again and dug it a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/22 "2024-12-08T16:15:43Z")
_Jane Eyre_ is one of mine- I especially like re-listening to Thandie Newton’s audiobook. My others are Lonesome Dove (all of the series, especially _Lonesome Dove & Dead Man’s Walk_) though I don’t re-read Streets of Laredo often, and Stephen King’s _The Stand._ ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/23 "2024-12-08T17:42:08Z")
It’s OK. Not one of his better books, IMO. The four I listed are his best, and if I had to pick just one it would be “The Moneychangers”, about the banking industry. Of course, when I was a kid I was obsessed by airplanes, so it was “Airport” I read over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/24 "2024-12-08T17:44:27Z")
The Lord of the Rings and everything I own by Arthur C Clarke and Jack McDevitt. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/25 "2024-12-08T17:57:36Z")
Huh. I think the only time I’ve ever reread a book is when it was part of a series that was currently being written to refresh myself for the new books. Like, I reread the first 3 ASOIAF books before A Feast for Crows came out. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/26 "2024-12-08T18:05:51Z")
All of Alice Munro’s short story collections, again and again. Until recently. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/27 "2024-12-08T18:50:55Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I’ve read Herman Wouk’s “main work” (as he himself referred to it) — “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” — several times. Me as well, first started reading them around 6th grade and have been rereading them up until today. I’ve seen both miniseries multiple times as well. I’ve also read The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy many times over the years. I’ll add Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Before the Kindle era, I’d have an old paperback copy permanently in my shaving kit to bring along on trips. Edit: I’d also include just about every single one of the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, especially Hound of the Baskervilles. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/28 "2024-12-08T19:08:13Z")
Ah yes, I’ve also read “Murder on the Orient Express” several times. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/29 "2024-12-08T19:32:52Z")
I don’t think these count as part of a series, but I have often re-read Heinlein’s juveniles, as well as his other standalone (as in not part of his Future History books) such as _Double Star_ and _Citizen of the Galaxy_. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/30 "2024-12-08T19:45:04Z")
The ones I’m more or less proud to admit: Dune (1, 4-6) Tigana and Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay The March series by David Weber The earlier Raj Whitehall novels by Stirling Not recent, and somewhat embarrassing to admit: TT-RPG manuals - MANY. Because I am/was a power-gamer / rules lawyer sort, and I used to (my in person group fragmented a decade ago and almost all live out of state these days) and I would happily re-read trying to find new, unexpected synergies, as well as thinking of making characters for games I’ve collected but never had a chance to even play. And then there’s a large quantity of junkier pieces that I re-read over an over that I won’t list because they’re the familiar junk reading for riding the stationary bike or while in bed. Because then I don’t want to concentrate, I just want to be distracted but not too involved. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/31 "2024-12-08T21:44:30Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’m assuming we’re talking fiction books here. You can throw in an entertaining non-fiction book, like Asimov or Bryson. But right, not reference books. > [@glee](#): > > Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe. > > C.S. Forester’s Hornblower. > > George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman. All great choices but all series- not standalone books. > [@mbh](#): > > Robert Heinlein’s _Starship Troopers_ and _The Rolling Stones_ Nice ones. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > When I was ten, I received Gone With the Wind as a Christmas present. It is as racist as the film was? > [@dalej42](#): > > I’ll add Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Try-"_The Napoli Express"_ a Lord Darcy Mystery, which I would have included except it is a couple + books. Randall Garrett. A fun take on a great mystery. > [@LurkMeister](#): > > I don’t think these count as part of a series, but I have often re-read Heinlein’s juveniles, Not really. Each stands alone. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/32 "2024-12-08T22:09:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It is as racist as the film was? If not more so. It went over my head for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/33 "2024-12-08T22:35:21Z")
_The Fool’s Progress_ by Edward Abbey. Beautiful language, and a heartbreaking story. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/34 "2024-12-09T01:13:20Z")
It’s part of a (loose) series, of course, but I’ve read P.G. Wodehouse’s “The Code of the Woosters” at least 10 times (and I re-read it whenever I’m of a mind to acquire a silver cow creamer). On a somewhat different tack, I’ve read John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” and “The Grapes of Wrath” probably five times each. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/35 "2024-12-09T01:30:00Z")
I’m another one who only rarely rereads a book. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/36 "2024-12-09T01:38:51Z")
_Alas, Babylon_ – Pat Frank _Metzger’s Dog_ – Thomas Perry _Lest Darkness Fall_ – L Sprague de Camp _Final Blackout_ – L Ron Hubbard _Replay_ – Ken Grimwood _Star Rangers_ – Andre Norton _First Cycle_ – H Beam Piper and Michael Kurland _Tunnel in the Sky_ – Robert A Heinlein _Tarzan of the Apes_ (Burroughs) and _Swallows and Amazons_ (Ransome) are the books I’ve read most often – eight or nine times each – but they’re both the initial book in a series. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/37 "2024-12-09T01:53:41Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > _Lest Darkness Fall_ – L Sprague de Camp Fantastic book! And I do reread it- also not as good but interesting- Household Gods by Judith Tarrand Harry Turtledove. My wife is the big Burroughs fans here. ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/38 "2024-12-09T02:29:26Z")
_Jitterbug Perfume_ by Tom Robbins (best novel ever written, IMHO) _The Garden of Forking Paths_ and _The Aleph_, by Jorge Luis Borges, master of the short story and, of course _The Lord of the Rings_ by J.R.R. Tolkien ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/39 "2024-12-09T03:05:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not really. Each stands alone. True. Some of them have tie-ins to other books or stories, such as "Space Cadet (and I believe some others) mentioning Ezra Dahlquist from “the Long Watch”, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325/40 "2024-12-09T13:46:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@SCAdian](#): > > > > _Lest Darkness Fall_ – L Sprague de Camp > > Fantastic book! And I do reread it- also not as good but interesting- Household Gods Have you read _Island in the Sea of Time_ and its sequels, by S M Stirling? The same sort of thing, but instead of one person going back in time it’s the entire island of Nantucket, along with a passing ship. I like it much better than Eric Flint’s ‘1632’ series. And speaking of _Household Gods_ – much of Stirling’s latest book, _To Turn the Tide_, is set near 2nd-century Carnuntum, and the main characters visit Umma’s tavern near the end of the book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-you-reread-over-and-over/1011325.md?page=3)