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Original poster

What books do you re-read regularly?

161 replies

Snorerephron · 30/04/2026 23:06

I've got some book vouchers that have been lurking in my wallet since Christmas, and I would like to use them to purchase a few books.

I mainly buy books second hand and pass them on, or get library books, as I have far too many books already. So if I am buying books I want to know they will be ones I am likely to read over and over again

So my question is what are your favourite books to re-read regularly?

(I like classics, literary novels, funny novels, good contemporary fiction)

I'd ideally like to get a few books but really beautiful editions of them -decent hardbacks

OP posts:
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ainsleysanob · 03/07/2026 22:29

3flyingducksarrive · 30/06/2026 08:43

If you could see your way clear to finish the Winds of Winter, that would be excellent ;)

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Haha! Mr Martin is just toying with us now I believe!

3flyingducksarrive · 30/06/2026 08:43

ainsleysanob · 29/06/2026 21:48

I’ve re-read Game of Thrones so many times that I could probably write it myself now.

I’m not usually keen on Martina Cole books but The Lady Killer I have read what must be 10 times. The character of George is just so obscenely horrific and the description of his skin and body gives me the addictive creeps!

If you could see your way clear to finish the Winds of Winter, that would be excellent ;)

PenelopeJoanSterling · 30/06/2026 03:11

the 48 laws of power

SingingHinny · 30/06/2026 00:40

user67584329 · 30/06/2026 00:37

Oh, she's so good - you're in for a treat.

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It’s brilliant! Very clever and funny.

user67584329 · 30/06/2026 00:37

Snorerephron · 29/06/2026 23:54

Oh good! I haven't read it yet but bought it on impulse earlier this year and I am looking forward to reading (and hopefully re-reading) it

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Oh, she's so good - you're in for a treat.

Original poster
Snorerephron · 29/06/2026 23:54

user67584329 · 29/06/2026 23:46

Funnily, considering your name, Heartburn is my most frequent reread. Makes me laugh every time.

Oh good! I haven't read it yet but bought it on impulse earlier this year and I am looking forward to reading (and hopefully re-reading) it

OP posts:
user67584329 · 29/06/2026 23:46

Funnily, considering your name, Heartburn is my most frequent reread. Makes me laugh every time.

Original poster
Snorerephron · 29/06/2026 23:42

Arran2024 · 29/06/2026 23:09

You can sell books to World of Books. They don't take everything - they mostly want modern novels - and some of the ones they do want don't pay out much, but I just sold 20 books for £25. Postage is free. You scan the bar codes on your phone and they tell you if they are interested and how much they will pay.

I know. I just like donating them.
I often buy from our local charity shop and then bring them back so they can sell them again. It's a great local shop and always really busy.
More battered ones I give to our local Facebook book exchange. It's a lovely community of local people who pass on books and I often get books from it too.

(I would go to the library more too if it had more usable opening hours!)

OP posts:
Arran2024 · 29/06/2026 23:09

You can sell books to World of Books. They don't take everything - they mostly want modern novels - and some of the ones they do want don't pay out much, but I just sold 20 books for £25. Postage is free. You scan the bar codes on your phone and they tell you if they are interested and how much they will pay.

Original poster
Snorerephron · 29/06/2026 22:24

MsAmerica · 29/06/2026 21:40

Oh, okay. So you're not tossing them because they're second-hand. It's just that they're not "keepers" for endless re-reading.

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Yes. Exactly that. And when I do have money for new books (like these vouchers) I try and pick books that are likely to land in my "keep to re-read" list

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GertrudeOHara · 29/06/2026 22:20

Serenissimissima · 03/05/2026 14:10

I haven't read These Old Shades and was stumped trying to work our what a 'berry boned cane' could possibly be. I had to download a sample of the opening paragraph. You were absolutely right to ditch Audible on the basis of this mispronunciation, @TeaAndStrumpets . There's no excuse.

To save time for others in the same boat, the Duke's cane was beribboned.

Oh wow. That’s a shocker.

I will say the modern narration of the Unknown Ajax is perfection. Many of the others are infuriating. I find old CDs of them read by Phyllida Nash or Cornelius Garrett are done beautifully. Why they re-recorded the Talisman Ring, I have no idea. It couldn’t be bettered.

Sickoftheworldcup · 29/06/2026 22:07

ainsleysanob · 29/06/2026 21:48

I’ve re-read Game of Thrones so many times that I could probably write it myself now.

I’m not usually keen on Martina Cole books but The Lady Killer I have read what must be 10 times. The character of George is just so obscenely horrific and the description of his skin and body gives me the addictive creeps!

I got talking to a couple on holiday who were from the East End and apparently a lot of Martina Coles characters are based on real life people and their antics . They said they have read her books and instantly recognised some of the characters and situations as some were East End folklore . One of Martinas Cole’s characters in one of her books threw a full potty over a policeman . According to this couple it actually happened many years ago and is still spoke about today .

ainsleysanob · 29/06/2026 21:48

I’ve re-read Game of Thrones so many times that I could probably write it myself now.

I’m not usually keen on Martina Cole books but The Lady Killer I have read what must be 10 times. The character of George is just so obscenely horrific and the description of his skin and body gives me the addictive creeps!

MsAmerica · 29/06/2026 21:40

Snorerephron · 27/06/2026 07:39

No! I don't mind owning second hand things at all. Most of my clothes are from vinted etc

It's just that we have four children so much as I would love to fill the entire house with books ,I do need to begrudgingly allow a bit of space for their stuff.

I have about 6 big bookcases stuffed full of books and I think I also have quite a few boxes of books in the attic

So I am trying to pass on books once I have read them if they are "only going to read once" books so my bookcases are books I haven't read yet plus books I am likely to or will definitely re-read

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Oh, okay. So you're not tossing them because they're second-hand. It's just that they're not "keepers" for endless re-reading.

Arran2024 · 28/06/2026 22:14

I just reread two William Trevor books for the umpteenth time: Felicia's Journey and The Story of Lucy Gault.

Heggettypeg · 28/06/2026 21:26

5foot5 · 25/06/2026 17:05

Oh yes Bill Bryson! I have re-read some of his.

Children's books I re-read:

  • Ballet Shoes
  • The Children Who Lived in a Barn ( would love to get the Persephone Books edition)
  • The Little Grey Men

My adult book re-read list contains many just for comfort. I can't think of all of them but includes:

  • Family Life by Elisabeth Luard. This still makes me cry at the end but I know it so well now I sometimes just dip in for my favourite chapters
  • Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley. I read it every year but I have a rule that I can't read it before November 18th.
  • Good Husband Material also by Trisha Ashley. I just enjoy it and find it amusing.
  • Old Baggage, Crooked Heart, V for Victory by Lissa Evans.
  • To Serve Them All My Days by Delderfied
  • The Horseman Riding By trilogy also by Delderfied
  • Penmarric by Susan Howatch
  • And talking of Susan Howatch all six of her Starbridge novels and the St Benet trilogy.
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@5foot5 I have the Persephone ed of The Children Who Lived in a Barn, if you would like it. I'm trying to shed a few books, so would be glad to give it away to someone who really wants it. (No charge!)

5foot5 · 27/06/2026 16:45

Oh I have just remembered somebody else I regularly re-read, Laurie Graham. I think I have read just about everything she has written but my favourite ones, the ones I re-read, are:

  • The Future Homemakers of America (many times)
  • At Sea (also many times)
  • Dress Circle
  • Mr Starlight
  • The Importance of Being Kennedy
  • Gone With the Windsors
5foot5 · 27/06/2026 16:28

HelenaWilson · 27/06/2026 13:21

I have the TV adaptation too but I don't like some of the changes they made. However, it was made up for by the fact that it had John Duttine as Davy Powlett-Jones!

Frank Middlemass as Algy and Alan MacNaughtan as Howarth were also excellent.

It was perfect timing by the bbc, doing it when all those actors were available and the right ages for the parts.

It also had a very young Nicholas Lyndhurst as Dobson, Boyer's sidekick.

HelenaWilson · 27/06/2026 13:21

I have the TV adaptation too but I don't like some of the changes they made. However, it was made up for by the fact that it had John Duttine as Davy Powlett-Jones!

Frank Middlemass as Algy and Alan MacNaughtan as Howarth were also excellent.

It was perfect timing by the bbc, doing it when all those actors were available and the right ages for the parts.

beguilingeyes · 27/06/2026 11:11

I try to read and pass on as much as possible
We have a really good Little Library in the next street that I swap in and out of.
As I'm getting older though (65), I find I'm leaning more and more towards my Kindle,.as much for the font size as anything else. I look at some of my smaller print books with despair now.

5foot5 · 27/06/2026 09:36

beguilingeyes · 25/06/2026 23:05

RF Delderfield is fantastic. I have the wonderful TV adaptation of To Serve Them All My Days on dvd. I'm still recovering from the fact that John Duttine isn't Welsh.

I have the TV adaptation too but I don't like some of the changes they made. However, it was made up for by the fact that it had John Duttine as Davy Powlett-Jones!

I had to buy another copy of the book because I read it so many times the pages started to fall out. Pity I couldn't afford hardbacks at the time

Shinykitchentable · 27/06/2026 08:15

Anna Karenina
Vanity Fair and
Testament of Youth
are my old friends. Probably read them every year (or listen to the first two on BBC sounds while driving)

BeaAndBen · 27/06/2026 08:07

I pass on about 20% of our books as well. I try to pass on closer to half, but I just can't manage it.

Aas a family of five, all of whom are readers, our house quickly becomes swamped with books despite having bookshelves in every room except the bathroom.

DH likes his kindle. Unfortunately, the rest of us don't, so the physical book storage is always a struggle.

Original poster
Snorerephron · 27/06/2026 07:49

Bubbleybees · 27/06/2026 07:43

@Snorerephron are they following in your footsteps with the books? I think books make up at least 25% of our total family belongings. Have just had to redo my oldests closet to install more book storage, and the next step is to steal some space from the stairs to create the same for one of the other bedrooms ! We each read a lot on kindles too, I can only imagine what the house would look like if we didn't 😂

Grin yes I read a lot on my kindle too!
One child is, and despite having a large bedroom it is covered in books. One child is dyslexic and finds books very stressful (which is part of the reason I try and be mindful about not filling every wall with them) and the other two just read intermittently when they find a book that really grips their attention.

OP posts:
Bubbleybees · 27/06/2026 07:43

@Snorerephron are they following in your footsteps with the books? I think books make up at least 25% of our total family belongings. Have just had to redo my oldests closet to install more book storage, and the next step is to steal some space from the stairs to create the same for one of the other bedrooms ! We each read a lot on kindles too, I can only imagine what the house would look like if we didn't 😂

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