# Do you ever re-read books, or re-watch movies and TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587 "2006-06-06T07:49:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/21 "2006-06-06T12:49:46Z")
I’m definitely a re-reader and re-watcher. I’ve read almost all of Stephen King many many times. Especially _The Stand_ and the _Dark Tower_ series. I have tons of favorite movies. Stuff I can quote while the movie is playing. Like _The Breakfast Club, Toy Story, Pulp Fiction_ - it’s all so comfortable, or something… ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/22 "2006-06-06T13:05:35Z")
I’ve read the _Harry Potter_ books 4 times each. I’ll watch _X-Files_ reruns if they’re on. I’ve watched _Twister_ 3 times in a weekend, I can’t seem to get enough of that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/23 "2006-06-06T13:19:20Z")
I don’t watch TV, but barring that, I re-read or re-watch everything that’s good. I also feel if it wasn’t worth at least one re-read it wasn’t that good in the first place. Or was interesting but not precisely my cup of tea, you know? [QUOTE=MrDibble] I want to get the David Attenborough nature shows on DVD so I can watch them, and watch them, and watch them… [/QUOTE] I have Life in the Freezer. _preens_ You wanna come over and watch? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/24 "2006-06-06T13:21:14Z")
I like rereading a well-written book. Anything from Dick Francis through Isaac Asimov to Rex Stout. 😃 However I have only read the Lord of the Rings twice in 36 years, because it moved me so much. But I have enjoyed Peter Jackson’s extended film version several times, e’g’ using a different commentary each time. And ‘The Usual Suspects’ is worth watching more than once. :eek: I like reading books aloud to kids. It doesn’t matter how often I repeat that. [hissing voice ON] ‘Precious! Where’s my precious?!’ [hissing voice OFF] ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/25 "2006-06-06T13:35:24Z")
I’m re-reading “Otherland” right now. There are so many parts that I don’t remember (especially in book 2) that it’s again new to me. I had to pick up all 4 at once so that I’m able to go straight through this time (unlike the years wait for the end of the tale). I’ve read all of Martha Grimes Detective Jury novels a few times each. I love them. I can pick up “Araminta Station” and the 2 sequels or anything by Joan Vinge and re-read as well. Or Dune or… almost any scifi I own. I read Pride and Prejudice annually - I think it’s my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fromage\_A\_Trois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fromage_A_Trois)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/26 "2006-06-06T13:48:04Z")
I’ll re-watch some things, but not others. For example, I recently got some X-Files box sets, and I’m really enjoying watching them again after 10 years. However, once I’ve made my way through the series, I probably won’t go back to watch them again (well, maybe in another 10 years). However, I’ve seen Southpark the Movie 1,000,000 times (approx.). I used to read anything and everything, until I found the Discworld. Now I (almost without exception) read and re-read Discworld novels, too scared to try anything by other authors in case they’re not as good. Damn you Pratchett!!! I agree with **Mangetout** - there’s nothing wrong with re-reading a book even though you know the butler did it. I get more out of a book or film the second time I experience it (normally), by spotting things I didn’t originally see, or that only make sense once you know the end. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/27 "2006-06-06T13:53:03Z")
Definitely a re-watcher, only sometimes a re-reader. I own quite a few television DVDs and watch them all the time (since I don’t have cable, they’re all the TV I have). I’m sure there are some Simpsons episodes I have seen over 100 times and they still make me laugh. Movies I re-watch less often, and usually only after a gap of a year or so. I find that comedies are better for re-watching than dramas–dramas don’t have the same emotional impact the second time around, but I still laugh at Office Space despite having seen it probably 10 times. The in-between medium is, of course, MST3K, and that’s a show that’s wonderful for re-watching. I have probably seen some episodes (off the top of my head, Space Mutiny and Mitchell) over a dozen times and they are still funny, and I still get new stuff out of them. (I just realized that I have seen Space Mutiny more times than I have seen Citizen Kane. I wonder what that says about me.) I don’t re-read books super often, because I’m a slow reader (bad eyes, hello) and have a lot of stuff I still want to read. But I do re-read them sometimes; this past year I re-read three “classics” that I hadn’t read since high school because I had mostly forgotten the plots. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/28 "2006-06-06T15:40:32Z")
I am a dedicated re-reader, which is one of the reasons I can’t use the library. (Bastards want the books back.) I re-watch some TV and movies as well. I’ve noticed that sometimes, I won’t like a show, or a particular episode, but after re-watching, I’ll like it. (Took a long time for “Family Guy” to grow on me.) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/29 "2006-06-06T15:41:56Z")
In general, I won’t actively re-watch movies more than about once. That said, if _The Rock_ or _Wayne’s World_ happens to be on, I’ll definitely leave that on in the background while I’m online. TV shows, on the other hand, I’ll watch quite a bit. I’ve watched _Firefly_, _Wonderfalls_, _Undeclared_, and _Arrested Development_ several times over. I think it may simply be that any two hours will get repetitive after a few viewings to me, but TV show will usually have at least six or seven hours of material, so it’ll last longer. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/30 "2006-06-06T16:58:01Z")
I’m not much of a re-reader – there’s so much good stuff I haven’t gotten to and I’m running out of time. I watch episodes of **Deadwood** multiple times – you almost have to, to really appreciate it. When I’m channel surfing and run across **Keeping Up Appearances** , I’ll stop and watch. Poor Richard. I’ll re-watch favorite movies, but only after some time has passed. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/31 "2006-06-06T17:13:12Z")
I’m a re-reader, although not to the extreme that some of the other respondants seem to be. I like visiting the library and finding new things to read (or old favorites to re-read). Often if I re-read, I will skip over parts of the book–but not always, and I do tend to find that I get more out of rereading if I don’t skip much. It’s the journey, not the destination which is important. I’m not a re-watcher. Once in a while I’ll view something again, but in general, I’m not much of a watcher of TV or movies in the first place, so I usually want to watch something new if I’m going to watch something. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/32 "2006-06-06T17:53:23Z")
I used to re-read books quite often, but in the last few years I’ve really put an effort into finding new stuff. There are several books I intend to re-read at some point, and there are a few particular books I will probably re-read every few years for the rest of my life. Sometimes if I’m feeling moody I will pick a book off the shelf and skim it, or read my favorite parts. I will re-watch my favorite movies, and a handful of TV shows. If I own it on DVD, it’s because I like it enough to watch it repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/33 "2006-06-06T17:55:57Z")
I both re-read and re-watch. There are a number of reasons, not all of which overlap or apply to everything that I revisit. **Detail** –Whenever I revisit something, I look for new details and interpretations. There’s always something that gets overlooked as the story carries you along. (If not, the story probably isn’t compelling enough to revisit.) **Production** –Usually, this is for wiz-bang, effects-laden movies and TV shows, but it can apply to productions that simply have a distinctive look to them. I occasionally develop a fascination with certain effects, and will watch repeatedly, trying to figure out how it was achieved. **Immersion** –When I read, I tend to immerse myself in the setting. I visualize as much of the action as possible, and “hear” the voices of characters in my head. The more familiar I am with the story, the more attention I can devote to the visualization. As a result, the experience is much more vivid when I re-read. **Comfort** –Just as people have “comfort food”, I have “comfort stories” that I return to when I’m tired or stressed. They’re not necessarily nice or light-hearted stories, just familiar ones that hold my attention. It’s a bit like eating chocolate, as **Mangetout** said, or pulling on that old, worn t-shirt you can’t bear to throw out. It’s _comfortable_, and sometimes that’s all you really need. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/34 "2006-06-06T18:48:59Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I have Life in the Freezer. _preens_ You wanna come over and watch? [/QUOTE] Damn the intervening oceans… oh, wait, that reminds me, the last bit I recorded of “Blue Planet” is still to be watched. So that’s me settled. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Logan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Don\_Logan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Logan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/35 "2006-06-06T19:00:43Z")
Never- there are hundreds of thousands of movies out there- why watch one you’ve already seen when you can watch one you haven’t :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BlackHeart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@BlackHeart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackHeart)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/36 "2006-06-06T19:08:46Z")
I have a few movies that I watch over and over and over again when I have nothing else to watch. Or even when I do. Not for any artsy reason but I just plain like them. Grease. Silence of the Lambs. Scent of a Woman. Any of the Star Wars movies. (Yes, including the prequels) Among others. TV shows. Any and all Simpsons episodes. I watch reruns of Moonlighting and Golden Girls when I come across them. Books. Same. I have a few whose pages are worn from re-reading. I always seem to notice something new with each replay/reread. Then again, my friends think something is wrong with me. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/37 "2006-06-06T19:14:09Z")
Books, definitely. If I buy them it’s because they’re worth re-reading. I don’t understand people who buy books (other than paperbacks to read on the plane) with the intention of only reading them once; have they never heard of libraries. As for movies, it depends on how much I like it; the touchstone of a good movie is the desire to see it again. _Life as a House_, for instance, and _Signs_, and _Down With Love,_ I not only watched twice, but twice in the same day. (I did, on the other hand, think the girl I dated took to see _The Two Towers_ with was nuts to have watched _Fellowship of the Ring_ nuts because she had seen it–in theatres– **THIRTY-FIVE TIMES** But she was cute enough to overcome that bit of insanity. TV shows? Well, I only watch what I tape these days, and I don’t tape it unless it’s worth rewatching, so yes. I record over tapes multiple times though. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/38 "2006-06-06T19:52:50Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Books, definitely. If I buy them it’s because they’re worth re-reading. I don’t understand people who buy books (other than paperbacks to read on the plane) with the intention of only reading them once; have they never heard of libraries. [/QUOTE] Ditto. And of the books I own, many of them have been read so many times I can practically recite them. We belong to each other. I hardly ever watch movies unless I’ve already seen them. That way I already know if they’re good! It’s very hard for anyone to get me to watch something new. “It’s a great movie, you’ll love it!” Yeah right…someone says that to someone else about every piece of crap that comes down the pike. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/39 "2006-06-06T19:53:50Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] Ditto. And of the books I own, many of them have been read so many times I can practically recite them. We belong to each other. I hardly ever watch movies unless I’ve already seen them. That way I already know if they’re good! It’s very hard for anyone to get me to watch something new. “It’s a great movie, you’ll love it!” Yeah right…someone says that to someone else about every piece of crap that comes down the pike. [/QUOTE] But…but…by that rule, you should never have seen a movie in your life! ---
**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:** [June 6, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587/40 "2006-06-06T20:03:43Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] But…but…by that rule, you should never have seen a movie in your life! [/QUOTE] I know. I’ve only seen about fifty. And lots of them weren’t good! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-re-read-books-or-re-watch-movies-and-tv/359587.md?page=3)