To re-read books?

[Clary]

Not a terrifically serious AIBU but still...

Just from a throwaway comment on another thread, do other peopel re-read books or not then?

I mentioned sthg about it at my book group and was met with horror at the idea.

I could give you a list of at least 30 books I have read many times (Austen, Sayers, Fitzgerald, Mrs Miniver), and others I have casually re-read. Eg I read Time Traveller's Wife 3 times (2nd time for book club; third time before I saw film); or Agatha Christies; or Anne Tyler books etc etc.

Not sure why I do it - is it a comfort thing maybe?

Am I a bit weird?

awd.. i've re-read some of my books so often they're falling to bit and had to replace them!

Re-reading is good.. i'm a skim reader so going back to re-read, i often find and rediscover things i missed or hadnt realised the first time around!

oh... ... thanks gorionine.

Oh it is ok, just a friendly nudge to tell you I could do with reading another of your posts on FOOC! It had been deserted for a while now!

Watch out for the spelling and grammar mistakes typos... eeeeeeek!!!

FOOCs is rather quiet... ... I will see if I can think of something to type if you do!

Hijack over - sorry Clary

I re-read books all the time - surely it's perfectly normal? Some of my books I must have read 20 or 30 times. I'm a very fast reader so do the same as Wasabi - I always find something new in books when I go back to them. I get through about 8 books a week so I'd have trouble finding that many new books to keep me going, tbh.

YABU: you can't re-read books, unless it's been thirty years since you last read it!

there are far too many books in the world to read any one more than once!

it's insane!

I re-read much of the time. You get something different out of them at different times of your life (speaking from a great age here).

I can only think that people who don't only read stuff that isn't worth reading again .

I find that when re-reading books that I first read in my childhood, teens or early 20s I often think 'that's where I got that idea from' and re-evaluate it - do I really think/believe that. Sometimes I wasn't even aware I had that belief as it had become so much a part of me.

Invaluable experience, re-reading.

All the books I have, I have read more than once. I have definitely read all my childhood/teenage favourites many times, I got into Harry Potter when I was 11 and was 18 by the time the last one came out so I have read those countless times, well over 30, especially the earlier books. I was brought back the American version by someone on holiday and I could point out every language difference as it jarred on reading through!

I am a bit daunted by adult fiction though, I never know where to start - there are so many books.

Oh yes, I re-read. As soon as I've finished a book I know if it's a read again one or not, and I'll get rid if not.

People watch classic films many times over several years, so why not the same for books? Most people would think it strange if someone refused to watch Casablanca again because they saw it once 10 years ago!

Ah, only re-read The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher.....just love it.

Just try not to think about Angela Lansbury when I do- they put her in dreadful film adaptation..... and I am not a fan!!!

Of course I re-read books. I can't imagine not doing that.

Message withdrawn

Sorry Clary, promise this is my last message for T42:

Done!

I read mine over and over again. There is generally and year or 2 (or 3) between readings and in that time I have usually changed a bit so the book changes a bit for me.

Always get something different out of a book, even if it is an old favourite.

I am currently rereading a Lucia book (E F Benson) for about the 5th or 6th time. Still finding it hillarious and picking up on lots of little 'in jokes' I missed before.

I love re-reading books. My bookshelves are groaning under the weight of books I can't bare to part with because I know I will read them again.

The first time I read a book, it's to see what happens next. Then, if the book is worth it, I will re-read it (sometimes immediately) for the language, for how it is constructed, to see the characters develop... And some books I come back to again and again. I wouldn't call this comfort reading though - that would imply something more lazy and indulgent. My re-reads are always more attentive than my first reads.

My DH doesn't understand the concept of re-reading, but that is because he prefers adventure stories (Tom Clancy, Grisham, that sort of thing) where the story is everything and the language and character development are crap.

Has anyone ever re-read a Dan Brown??

I would always re-read a book if I loved it. Have read The Secret History about 10 times over the last 10 years or so. Not sure why, think it probably takes me back to when I first read it as a youthful 19 year old Don't think that's weird at all!

I re-read a lot of my books - sometimes I think it is a comfort thing with me, sometimes because I've read something rubbish and think I should read something I know (reckon) is really good to restore my faith

My fave re-reads are To Kill A Mockingbird, It, Shawshank Redemption, Little Women, What Katy Did, any of The Dresden Files, many Terry Pratchett and Sue Grafton

letsblowthistacostand you seem to be me.

Ballet shoes was my fave fave book as a 10yo.

Interesting that so many people agree with me about Sayers too

I love Margaret Atwood as well and Bronte. And Kate Atkinson oooh and that woman who wrote brother of the more famous jack (who???).

Ooh yes and Secret History too that's sp fab (where is my copy??)

Some of you are giving me ideas for new books to read tho.

I wonder if I do this because so many new books I read are disappointing.

But yes I highlight Sayers because it is a real guilty pleasure - he's a lord fgs, I'm a blardy Socialist! and she's hideously, carelessly racist.

Still love the way she writes tho and how much she loves LPW and how he woos Harriet and and and

Southwest, I've read the Lucia books dozens of times. Those and Barbara Pym are my ultimate comfort books.

If I had to choose between never reading new books and only reading new books, I'd definitely choose the former. But I don't have to choose, hurray!

Oh LadyGlencoraPalliser, hear hear to all that and I love your name!
Does anyone know Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge? That's a fantastic book to reread.

Littlevisiter, I can't believe there's another person out there who is not a muddle aged man who loves Patrick O'Brien! (or maybe you are...?). I read them again and again. Avast and belay you grass-eating lubbers.....

But my absolute favourites for reading over and over again are Jilly Cooper books. So un-politically correct (have you noticed she's not the world's biggest fan of public brastfeeding?)but so so comforting....How would I get through the hard times if I couldn't retreat to bed with a copy of Riders?

Have you noticed that some books wear out though? Shocking to confess, but after my 5th reading of LOTR, I realised I wasn't enjoying it quite as much as the first time.....

There are some favourite teenage books that should not be re-visited. "On the Road" was the most inspiring book EVER when I was 16....Dean Moriarty, what a hero. Upon re-reading it at the age of 35? Dean Moriarty, what a twat.Live up to your responsibilities man.

And I totally overdosed on Thomas Hardy when I was younger. Can't go near it now.