# What books do you read and re-read? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907 "2014-02-21T19:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/41 "2014-02-22T05:33:49Z")
Ursula K. Le Guin: _The Left Hand of Darkness_ Robert Charles Wilson: _Darwinia_ Joseph Conrad: _Heart of Darkness_ Charles Wright: _China Trace_ (poetry) קֹהֶלֶת (Ecclesiastes) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/42 "2014-02-22T05:50:44Z")
Stephen King - “The Stand” Harry Turtledove’s Southern Victory series, all eleven books. (I’m currently re-reading book nine right now). ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/43 "2014-02-22T06:29:54Z")
The Lord of the Rings is probably first on my list and it’s probably the only one known to a wide audience. I really enjoy [Peter Watts](http://rifters.com/)’ work, and I’ve read through each of his novels a few times. They’re hard sci-fi with a lot of real science to them (including a list of references after each book). Even better, it’s a dark, dystopian future filled with screwed up people, and the writing is done in a way that almost compels me to keep reading. My other favorites also share that: [Becoming Human](http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Human-Valerie-J-Freireich/dp/0451453964) by Valerie Freireich. [Armor](http://www.amazon.com/Armor-John-Steakley/dp/0886773687/ref=la_B000AQ0U0Y_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393050362&sr=1-1), by John Steakley. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/44 "2014-02-22T20:15:18Z")
Discworld novels and Patrick O’Brian’s sea stories, read them over and over . ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/45 "2014-02-22T20:20:54Z")
> [@Politzania](#): > > Kurt Vonnegut Me too; so it goes! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/46 "2014-02-22T22:17:27Z")
Mercedes Lackey’s novels of Valdemar–The Mage Wars, Last Herald Mage, Collegium Chronicles, Vows & Honor, Kerowyn’s Tale, Heralds of Valdemar, Mage Winds, Mage Storms, Owl Mage trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/47 "2014-02-22T23:19:49Z")
Lots of them. A few that aren’t on the other lists: _The Shadow of the Shadow_ by Paco Ignacio Taibo II. Four friends meet for dominoes in the bar of the Metropolitan Hotel–Mexico City 1922. They fought in the Revolution & cynically watch a new order suspiciously like the old order beginning around them. Then they begin investigating a couple of suspiciously linked murders. Taibo has political axes to grind (with which I generally agree) but the atmosphere & characters are what keep drawing me back. Need to try it in the original Spanish. _To Say Nothing of the Dog_ by Connie Willis. Time travel, high Victorian wit and a bit of her favorite Blitz. Whenever I need to smile… _The List of Seven_ by Mark Frost. Young A C Doyle visits a seance; he’s writing on the occult to fill the spare time left by his medical practice. Shocking occurrences lead to amazing adventures across Britain with a brilliant, mysterious agent who will inspire his future writing. A truly ripping yarn. _Parade’s End_ by Ford Madox Ford. Four novels dealing with a very bad marriage & the Great War. Ford’s modernism isn’t as difficult as his friend Joyce’s version–but the story isn’t told in a linear fashion. Beautiful writing & unexpected humor are the carrots on the stick that keep the reader going. Then bring the reader back. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/48 "2014-02-22T23:33:19Z")
Jane Austen, umpteen times (Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma and Pride & Prejudice) Mark Heprin, Winter’s Tale and Soldier of the Great War Lord of the Rings The Haunting of Hill House Bleak House Mrs. Dalloway Rebecca ---
**Author:** ![Lungfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@Lungfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lungfish)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/49 "2014-02-22T23:34:20Z")
_Goodbye Darkness_ - William Manchester ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/50 "2014-02-23T00:27:40Z")
Most of mine have already been mentioned- but when I’m having a really bad day, nothing quite beats a re-read of any of the _Little House on the Prairie_ books. A simpler world in many ways 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/51 "2014-02-23T02:25:06Z")
The Lord of the Rings anything by Georgette Heyer anything by PG Wodehouse The Wind in the Willows Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner Bailey White’s Mama Makes Up Her Mind ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/52 "2014-02-23T03:59:19Z")
I think I am the second one in this thread to mention the Maturin-Aubrey series of 21 books from Patrick O’Brian. I have read the entire series 4 times so far. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/53 "2014-02-23T20:32:52Z")
All the discworld books 1984 Lovecraft: at the mountains of madness, call of cthulu, shadow over innsmouth LOTR trilogy The hobbit Hitchhikers guide An old elizabeth cadell book called a lion in the way ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/54 "2014-02-23T23:53:01Z")
Gosh… Harry Potter series. Primarily books 1-4. Particularly book 3. I’m rather fond of Lupin and Sirius. Strongly dislike Lupin’s look in the movies (he looks like a child molester, IMHO). Good Omens. Sometimes when I just don’t know WHAT to read I’ll pick it up again. Kamikaze Girls by Novala Takemoto and Masumi Washington. Goofy damn book with an overall positive message (friendship is awesome!) The Stand by Stephen King or The Talisman by King and Peter Straub. I must be a masochist. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/55 "2014-02-24T00:06:15Z")
Travis McGee (John D. MacDonald), Nero Wolfe (Rex Stout), and Wallander (Henning Mankell) are my big 3. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/56 "2014-02-24T00:07:03Z")
I’m not a subscriber to the “why do you need to read it more than once” school of thought. If I like a book it gets re-read at least a few times. There are some books/series that I re-read at least every couple of years. These include: the **Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy** series, the **Dirk Gently** books (to me **the Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul** is at least the equal of Hitchhikers), and **Last Chance to See** (which is almost criminally under-rated). **Lord of the Rings** , **the Hobbit** , **the Silmarillion** , **Unfinished Tales** , and **the Children of Hurin** has been added to the list since I picked it up last year. It’s a shame the Tale of Beren and Luthien was never finished, it would have been an awesome story to read in full. the **Discworld** series **Weaveworld** (Clive Barker) this is one of my favorite books of all time. There was once a mini-series planned, I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad that it fell through. I can hear and see every scene, character, and line of dialogue in my head, to put it on film might ruin that. **The Great Gatsby** - I know a lot of people that have read this, no one else who actually liked it. I thought it was fascinating (although tragic). **To Kill a Mockingbird** - Just really well written and an amazing book. **Eyes of the Dragon** - I started to intensely dislike Stephen King’s writing style at some point in the past and can’t re-read too many of his books now, but this one’s still a favorite. **Another Day, Another Dungeon** and **One Quest, Hold the Dragons** - I am upset that the author never finished the series, it was kind of a parody of fantasy but very well written and funny IMO. A favorite since I discovered it in the mid 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/57 "2014-02-24T00:10:25Z")
I forgot about a lot of these books mentioned, which I HAVE read many times, like Winnie the Pooh, The Stand, The Haunting of Hill House. I will add: Forever Amber, Strangers In The Forest, Green Darkness, and Katherine (both historical novels by Anya Seton), National Velvet, and Little Women! (I must have read Little Women a million times.) Onions In The Stew, by Betty McDonald, non-fiction, about living on Puget Sound during WWII (movie: The Egg and I with Claudette Colbert, in the 40’s). And any of the All Creatures Great and Small books. (I must have read all of Herriott’s books two million times.) ---
**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:** [February 24, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/58 "2014-02-24T02:05:34Z")
No one else who liked Gatsby? Huh. Well, count me as one. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/59 "2014-02-24T04:42:09Z")
Stephen King _The Stand_ (and I always seem to get a cold 3 chapters in to it - either my paperback is crawling with germs, or I’m extraordinarily suggestible. Little from column A, little from column B) Ken Grimwood _Replay_ , my absolutely favourite book of all time, by a country mile. I’ve been enchanted by it since the first time I read it, 20+ years ago, and I read it at least annually. Generally I’m a re-reader, but those two are by deliberate choice, rather than “umm nothing to read, may as well go with this again”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907/60 "2014-02-24T06:43:23Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I forgot about a lot of these books mentioned, which I HAVE read many times, like Winnie the Pooh, The Stand, The Haunting of Hill House. There are a lot of books that I _did_ read obsessively at one point, but not currently doing so and may never touch them again. However, that list would be pretty long so I just kept it to books that I’ve been re-reading over the past 2-3 years. I would include the Turtledove Civil War alternate history (starting with “How Few Remain”) series in that list, btw. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-do-you-read-and-re-read/681907.md?page=4)