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Original poster

Novels worth reading more than twice.

90 replies

AudiobookListener · 13/07/2024 16:55

I'm currently rereading a book from my childhood "Little Katia" by E M Almedingen which I've read perhaps 20 times. I love the feeling of rereading but I've only read a very few novels more than twice. I've properly read Jane Eyre 9 times and Day of the Trifids about 5. Some Jane Austen I've read 3 times, as well as all the Sherlock Holmes stories and Robinson Crusoe. These are all books I first read as a child. Now I'm looking to expand my repertoire.

Which novels are worthy of multiple rereads?

OP posts:
Regalia · 17/07/2024 23:11

ErrolTheDragon · 17/07/2024 22:35

Some of those already listed (Sir TP is my comfort re-read, obv) , but I don't think anyone has mentioned Possession yet - that's one of the handful of books that I sped though and then had to read again straight away,

I forgot Possession! I haven’t reread it in years, and now I want to immediately.

wwyd2021medicine · 17/07/2024 23:03

We need to talk about Kevin
Brideshead Revisited
The cider house rules
The shell seekers
Jane Eyre

Zarawithtiara · 17/07/2024 23:00

I often go back to Sidartha by Herman Hesse and
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. I've read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt twice, partly because I couldn't remember all of it. And The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. And many others....

Paintedocean · 17/07/2024 22:41

Luminousalumnus · 17/07/2024 22:32

A fine balance. Rohinton Mistry

Oh my goodness - I loved this book and it comes to my mind often. Don’t think I could bear to reread though, just so unutterably sad.

Ones I have reread are A Place of Greater Safety, Hillary Mantel and The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/07/2024 22:41

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara King solver

Rebecca by DDM

ErrolTheDragon · 17/07/2024 22:36

I used to reread the Narnia Chronicles again and again.

I loved reading all sorts of 'classic children's books' to DD (though I didn't bother with The Last Battle).

ErrolTheDragon · 17/07/2024 22:35

Some of those already listed (Sir TP is my comfort re-read, obv) , but I don't think anyone has mentioned Possession yet - that's one of the handful of books that I sped though and then had to read again straight away,

Abracadabra12345 · 17/07/2024 22:33

I've loved reading these posts.

I used to reread the Narnia Chronicles again and again.

I've reread the St Mary's Institute stories by Jodi Taylor two or three times - especially the first three

Luminousalumnus · 17/07/2024 22:32

A fine balance. Rohinton Mistry

WaftherAngelsthroughtheskies · 17/07/2024 22:31

Middlemarch
Persuasion
Jane Eyre
A Suitable Boy
The Cazalet series
Aubrey- Maturin series
A Time of Gifts & Between the Woods and. the Water
Wolf Hall trilogy
The King Must Die & The Bull from the Sea

And from childhood but still loved:
Anything by KM Peyton
LM Montgomery Anne books
Gobbolino the Witches Cat

We need a Desert Island Books thread!

Izzynohopanda · 17/07/2024 22:28

Maeve Binchey
Rosemary Pilcher

Seven Sister - Lucinda Riley - I shall provably revisit these at some point

WayDownThere · 17/07/2024 22:26

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/07/2024 19:43

A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Love that book

I listen to books, my favourites that I have read-listened to are
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche
Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
Small Great Things - Jodie Picoult
The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farell

Corrag · 17/07/2024 22:25

I have a few that I've read multiple times.

Wuthering Heights
His Dark Materials trilogy
The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Sometimes if I'm going through a stressful or worrying time I'll listen to one of them on audio book. I find it comforting.

Ihaveneedofwaternear · 17/07/2024 22:19

Agree with The Stand, The Color Purple, and To Kill A Mockingbird. I've also read The Secret History a few times.

Sdpbody · 17/07/2024 22:19

Twilight, Harry Potter, Fifty Shades of Grey.

I re read them every time I am stressed as I love knowing the ending of things.

mechanicalpencil · 17/07/2024 22:14

The Woman in White
Rebecca
Any Anita Brookner

ErnestTheBavarian · 17/07/2024 22:05

A Prayer for Owen Meany. So good.

Revations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich. I also love listening to the audio book read by David Barnes on Librivox. He has such a gentle voice.

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. Also lovely to listen to. Also David Barnes, I think.

permanently · 17/07/2024 21:50

Perfume was a great shout!
Any Jack London
Any Sarah Waters
How about The Clan of the Cave Bear series?

hari27 · 17/07/2024 21:35

@robovacsareepic I am not alone!

Same with anything. It's so strange. You could give me a book with cover hidden and I would either read it or start to feel stressed

robovacsareepic · 17/07/2024 21:32

@hari27 weirdly similar here. I've read most of these books, but only once!

Ahem Jilly Cooper's polo and rivals are probably the books I've re read most when a bit down or sick.

Tristar15 · 17/07/2024 21:27

Agree with Tales of the City

Also Wuthering Heights and all Dickens.

hari27 · 17/07/2024 21:22

I'm following for inspiration and in awe.

I cannot do it. I've always wondered about this. My brain sort of rejects it. I read a great deal. Two or three books a week. Always have done. If I start something I have read before, it makes me almost panic and I have to stop.

Weirdo yes.

I couldn't tell you about a book now, but if I started it it's like it zooms back into my brain.

Great thread idea.

MasterShardlake · 17/07/2024 18:05

The Wolf Hall trilogy. I've read the books three times so far and learn something new at each re-reading.

Tinytigertail · 17/07/2024 18:01

Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone I've read probably three times. I've read and reread all of Armistead Maupin's Tales of The City series and I've just read A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth got the second time.

DeborahVance · 17/07/2024 17:57

Middlemarch, War and Peace, Dance to the Music of Time, What I Loved by Siri Hustdvedt, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. All of Doris Lessing. Rebecca West The Fountain Overflows and the rest of that trilogy.

I had completely forgotten about The Month in the Country and have just ordered it.

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