# What books have you read at least three times? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579 "2009-09-18T12:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/21 "2009-09-18T15:15:56Z")
Have read most of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett several times over. Also C.S. Foresters Hornblower series and Patrick O’Brians Aubery/Maturin novels. Indivindual books that I have reread several times are Poul Andresons "The Broken sword"and Heinleins “Starship troopers”. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/22 "2009-09-18T15:23:44Z")
None, I think, but \*The Great Gatsby \*was assigned to me to read three times. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/23 "2009-09-18T15:24:56Z")
Bleak House, Charles Dickens QBVII, Leon Uris A Soldier of the Great War, Mark Helprin Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma, Jane Austen The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe & Voyage of the Dawntreader, C.S. Lewis A Coney Island of the Mind, Lawrence Ferlinghetti The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien The Branch Will Not Break, James Wright A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens The Earthsea Trilogy, Ursula K. Le Guin Magic or Not?, Edward Eager The Madness of a Seduced Woman, Susan Fromberg Schaeffer To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee The Haunted Bookshop, Christopher Morley Hallelujah Anyway, Kenneth Patchen The Triggering Town, Richard Hugo Mike Nelson’s Movie Megacheese, Michael J. Nelson Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier Mystery, Peter Straub On Writing, Stephen King Also, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and But Not the Hippopotamus by, Sandra Boynton (several thousand times, each) ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/24 "2009-09-18T15:36:57Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > Over the years I’ve pared my library down to three main categories: 1) Reference books, 2) Books with which I have some emotional connection (such as _The Wizard of Oz_), and 3) Books that I think I’ll reread. > > There’s quite a few that I’ve read at least three times, but there’s one of them that I’ll bet hardly anyone has ever heard of: _Not As A Stranger_ by Morton Thompson. It think it’s a masterpiece of mid-twentieth century fiction. I’ve had to organize my books in the same way. I have a hard time deciding which ones I won’t reread at some point, though. I’m not familiar with Not As A Stranger, but I’ll take a look. One other book on my list that I forgot to mention: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (4 times). Because of the Christmas pageant scene, I tend to read it every few years around Christmas. Most recent was about three years ago, so it’ll probably jump up to five times pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/25 "2009-09-18T15:55:34Z")
Not many… Fiction: Andre Gide - The Immoralist Albert Camus - The Plague and The Stranger Hermann Hesse - Steppenwolf, Demian and Siddhartha Milan Kundera - The Farewell Party Jerzy Kosinski - The Painted Bird Non-Fiction James Surowiecki - The Wisdom of Crowds ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/26 "2009-09-18T16:06:13Z")
Way too many to remember. Some notable ones that come to mind: Joyce: Ulysses (my all-time favorite book; I’ve read it many times) Pynchon: Gravity’s Rainbow; The Crying of Lot 49 Delany: Dhalgren (just recently read it for the third time) Brunner: Stand on Zanzibar; The Sheep Look Up; The Shockwave Rider; The Jagged Orbit; Double Double Burgess: A Clockwork Orange Lord of the Rings and Bored of the Rings (I still have the same Ballentine paperbacks of the LoTR trilogy that I bought back in 1968–wait, that’s not true, I didn’t buy _The Fellowship of the Ring_; it was was given to me by a classmate–and I’ve gotten rather a lot of use out of them. They’re not in mint condition.) Twain: Adventures of Tom Sawyer (This was probably my favorite book when I was little. It may have been the first novel I ever read.) ETA: Forgot to mention the _Illuminatus!_ trilogy, even though a couple of others have already mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/27 "2009-09-18T16:15:15Z")
Too many to remember, but the following are regular rereads every few years or so… Dune (the whole series) (F. Herbert) LOTR (Tolkien) The Silmarillion (Tolkien) 1984 (G. Orwell) Dracula (B. Stoker) Steel Beach (J. Varley) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/28 "2009-09-18T16:47:28Z")
There are so many books in the world that I want to read, I can’t imagine taking time to reread most books. There are a few I’ve read twice, but probably the only ones I’ve ever read three times or more are _Thailand: A Short History_, by David K. Wyatt, and _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas_, by Hunter S. Thompson. (The latter I read the first two times back to back, once in Switzerland and once in Czechoslovakia, when I was short on reading material during my summer backpacking tour so many years ago.) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/29 "2009-09-18T16:52:59Z")
I believe \*\*A Wrinkle in Time \*\*is the only book I’ve read more than twice. Maybe \*\*Lord of the Flies \*\*also. Not counting books read to my children, of course. I think I have \*\*Go Dog, Go \*\*memorized. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/30 "2009-09-18T16:56:26Z")
Two more: Stranger in a Strange Land Dune. ---
**Author:** ![in\_hiding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c5a1d2/32.png) [@in\_hiding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/in_hiding)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/31 "2009-09-18T17:08:27Z")
Cover-to-cover only one, I think - **Last Chance to See** , by Douglas Addams. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/32 "2009-09-18T17:35:15Z")
LOTR and the Hobbit Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (the sequels only once) Raising the Stones by Sheri S. Tepper Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson I can’t remember if I read Katherine by Anya Seaton 2 or 3 times, but if it was 2 it’s worth a reread. Kid’s books: Harriet the Spy and The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh about 20 times each. Damn, I wish I had more time to read. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/33 "2009-09-18T17:40:58Z")
Clarke: _2001_, _Childhood’s End_, and probably _2010_ Robert Lindsey: _A Gathering of Saints_ Conrad: _Heart of Darkness_ Twain: _Huck Finn_ I’m pretty sure that’s it. ETA: probably all of the Frances books when I was a kid (_A Bargain for Frances_, _Bedtime for Frances_, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/34 "2009-09-18T17:42:55Z")
Lots and Lots and Lots. **Of a Christian Nature** The Bible C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, the Great Divorce, Screwtape Letters, Chronicles of Narnia, Perelandra, probably others) Thomas a Kempis Imitation of Christ Brother Lawrence The Practice of the Presence of God Chesterton’s Orthodoxy St. Augustine’s Confessions Hannah Whitall Smith–The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life Pilgrim’s Progress **Science Fiction/Fantasy/Action** McCaffrey’s Pern Novels Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels The early Harry Potter novels–Usually reread them before the next big one came out Zelazny’s The Chronicles of Amber (first series) Brunner’s Stand on Zanzibar Dune The People by Zenna Henderson Forester’s Hornblower books A Wrinkle in Time Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills, Last EnchantmentHarlan Ellison’s Dangerous Visionis Childhood’s End **Detective Fiction** Nero Wolfe–all of them, including the one’s written after Rex Stout’s death Sherlock Holmes Lord Peter Wimsey–all of them Miss Marple–all of them **Children’s Literature** The Secret Garden The Little Princess Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass Heidi The Little Prince Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates Tom Sawyer Huck Finn Treasure Island Adventures of Robin Hood Kipling’s Jungle Books Lassie Come Home Call of the Wild White Fang The Wizard of Oz The Yearling Bambi Little Women Charlotte’s Web The Boxcar Children series (first 5 or so) Winnie the Pooh (all four basic books) **Great Literature & Chick Flicks** The well known Shakespeare plays (Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, MacBeth, etc.) A Christmas Carol Jane Eyre Jane Austen–all of them The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Atlas Shrugged E.B. White’s Elements of Style **Cartoon Collections** Doonsbury Farside Calvin & Hobbes For Better or Worse And a gazillion children’s picture books such as The Cat in the Hat and Millions of Cats, but we won’t go there, k? I’m sure I’ve left out a lot—particularly some of the non-fiction. I enjoy books better the second or third time around, just as I’m more comfortable with old friends than I am meeting new people. ---
**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 18, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/35 "2009-09-18T18:10:43Z")
More books: **The Great Escape** by Paul Brickhill **Big Secrets, Bigger Secrets, Biggest Secrets** by William Ppoundstone **Martin Gardner’s** books **Alan King’s** books **Mike Nelson’s Movie Megacheese** **A Christmas Carol** **Legends, Lies, and cherished Myths of American History** by Schenkman. Also his **i Love Paul Revere, Whether he Rode or Not** and **Legends, Lies, and Cherishes Myths of World History** **On the Spoor of Spooks** and **A Natural History of Nonsensep** by the proto-Cecil, Bergen Evans The books of **H.P. Lovecraft** and **The Straight Dope** books, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/36 "2009-09-18T18:17:49Z")
Just about all of the _Fletch_ books by Gregory McDonald. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/37 "2009-09-18T18:43:34Z")
“The Annotated Alice” which goes through Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass line by line, showing how things refer to real life political names and events, and how the chess board, etc are metaphors of something or other. I’ve read all the Sherlock Holmes stories three times. I love the construction of the early ones and am always dismayed that the later ones add action at the expense of deduction. “PARKINSON’S LAW OR THE PURSUIT OF PROGRESS” Still one of the best books of all time. I especially love the original, and quote it every year to somebody. “The Peter Principle” is in the same vein. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/38 "2009-09-18T20:47:04Z")
Definitely \*The Fountainhead \*and \*Atlas Shrugged. \*Probably a few by Heinlein, and some sci-fi-anthologies. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/39 "2009-09-18T21:00:19Z")
3 times is far too few to bother listing. The big ones: THGTTG series by Adams. I _like_ “Most Harmless” thankyouverymuch. Also the Dirk Gently books but not at much. “Cryptonomicon” and “Snow Crash” by Stephenson. Read them about once per year. Lots of Vonnegut, let me think here, “Sirens of Titan”, “Slaughterhouse Five”, “Cat’s Cradle” and “Breakfast of Champions” at the least. (And “Venus on a Half Shell” of course!) Most of my reading is non-fiction. But to give a hint about re-reads: Lots of Asimov’s science books and Jaynes’ “Origin of Consciousness …” book. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579/40 "2009-09-18T21:14:00Z")
I did forget Alice. I’ve read that dozens of times, but I mentally skipped over that automatically because most of those times were as a child. But while we’re on non-fiction, I have several works by Barbara Tuchman that I have scattered around the house and I sort of use for bathroom reading, because the flow of the prose is just as good or better than any novel or newspaper. I must have read _Through a Distant Mirror_ and _Guns of August_ dozens of times all told when you add everything up even though I only read a handful of pages at a time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-have-you-read-at-least-three-times/510579.md?page=3)