I often find good mysteries can be read twice–once to find out whodunnit, and the second time to spot all the fair play you missed the first time around because it didn’t seem important until you knew whodunnit.
Most fluffy books don’t bear re-reading, though I’ve been known to re-read really, really crap novels (a la romance novels) many times simply because they’re so all alike that there’s little difference between reading that one again and reading a new one.
The books I do like to read and re-read though, are the ones that are full of details. I tend to get caught up in the plot the first time I read something, and then go back and enjoy more and more of the background. Probably my all time champ of re-reading is The Portrait of Dorian Gray which I’ve read about 50 times–partly because it’s short enough that re-reading it is no chore, and partly because it’s so rich with detail and beautiful prose that I can read it that many times and still find something new in it.
The book I most want to re-read but haven’t yet is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I got pulled into wanting to know how it ended the first time through and didn’t take the time to really savour every delicious footnote, so I’d like to go back and read it again. I haven’t, simply because it is a terribly long book, and I have so many others that I haven’t read at all.
When I was young I had more time and less money - and less options. Now I have more money, less time and Amazon.com. I rarely reread books any more. Sometimes I will pick up and old favorite and skim through it, but rarely actually sit and *read *it.
I’ve read I Married A Communist by Phillip Roth about 3 or 4 times. I just really like it. Europe: A History by Norman Davies I’ve read cover to cover a few times and dip in and out of it all the time.
I have reread To Kill A Mockingbird and The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn many times. I reread non-fiction sometimes if it’s particularly well-written or if it contains information I need a refresher on.
Of course I re-read. Stephen King’s stuff, James Herriot, Jane Eyre, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Haunting of Hill House, The Secret Garden, Hitchhikers’ Guide…if I liked something once, I will definitely read it again. I just finished re-reading Flowers for Algernon.
I’m sure I’ve read Gone With The Wind over a hundred times since I was ten. I used to be able to recite long stretches.
Gone With the Wind is my favorite. I’ve read it at least 20 times since I was a teenager, which has been so interesting because of how my perspectives on the various characters have changed.
Several of Larry McMurtry’s books are enjoyable over and over, and Stephen King’s early books (up to Firestarter) – I’ve read my paperbacks to tatters. Auntie Mame. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
I’m a compulsive re-reader, to a fault. I’ve read the LotR trilogy and the first four Dune books at least 10 times each, and meanwhile there’s a three foot high stack of paperbacks (that I haven’t read yet) on my “to be read” pile.
The worst thing about it is that a lot of the books I keep re-reading (Of Human Bondage, Atlas Shrugged, The Stand) are roughly 9,000 pages long.
I have read all of Heinlein’s published stuff several times, and “Stranger in a Strang Land” in particular, probably dozens and dozens of times.
Shortly after High School, I had a girl I was involved with open “Stranger” to random pages and read me 2 lines in a row. I would then try to identify what part of the book and what was happening from that. I did well until she hit me with “Thanks. Thanks twice.”
My reading of “Stranger” has dropped off a bit, which is probably a bit healthier.
Exactly! Also, I have a rotten memory, so sometimes I’ll be reading a book that I’ve read before and think “hmm, I don’t remember this happening at all!”. That usually happens with books that I sped through the first time.
Count me as a re-reader, as well. I’ve read Number Of The Beast, Friday, and Jobat least 6 times. I’ve re-read all my Lawrence Block books 2-3 times. I’ve also re-read all my Straight Dope books numerous times.
For me, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Re-reading my favorites is like a visit to an old friend.
I can’t give away my books since I’ll re-read everything I own - even the crap rather than not read. I must have a book at all times - usually one in every room.
I read Pride and Prejudice annually - my favorite.
There are many books I re-read over and over, or sometimes just pasages from them. I’ve re-read lord of the Rings so many times, I couldn’t tell you what the total count is (For a time I was re-reading it once a year). I’ve also lost track of the number of re-reads on:
The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Twain
Expanded Universe (and several others) By Robert Heinlein The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer (Fitzgerald’s translation and Fagles’ too)
Various Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
and, of course, the Straight Dope collections (and others of that ilk.)
I have banned myself from visiting the library. I get in trouble if I do. I am a compulsive re-reader. I am usually reading 6-10 books at any time and usually 3/4 of those are books I’ve already read. When I take a book out of the library, I have a hard time returning it because I know I’ll want to read it again. So, I only read new books when I can afford them.
My most re-read book is definitely 1984 . I read it for the first time in October of my senior year in High School. So, 1997. I have read it a minimum of 1 time per month, every year since then. You can do the math. I have also listened to the unabridged audiobook at least 100 times. I am on my 7th copy of the book because the other 6 fell apart. This newest one must be a different quality because it’s holding together much better.
I still learn something new every time I read it or listen to it.
Other than that, my other books have been read anywhere from 5-50 times.
I’m a voracious reader. And frequently a rereader.
Always enjoy reading Steven King, WEB Griffin, James Michener and a few others. Just finished “The Stand” for probably the 10th time. Probably time to pick up Hawaii or Centennial and curl up.
For those who won’t reread a book - did you stop having sex after the first time? Doesn’t it get better and better each time? That’s how a good book grabs me.
I’ve re-read tons of books. Stephen King, Grisham, Koontz, Auel… I was just thinking this morning it was time to get out The Talisman again. I’ve read IT, Talisman, and The Stand probably 30-40 times each…
And it’s time to visit Roland’s world again… Are they still working on a Dark Tower movie, or mini-series?
Are they still working on a Dark Tower movie, or mini-series?