If you are re-reading a book at the moment what is it?

[Cheesesandwine]

I am re-reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Really enjoying it, lovely language with fantastic description of the mountains and farm land where the book is based.

I am now curious, do others re-read books? If you are re-reading a book are you enjoying it as much as you did first time round or less?

I am enjoying this more as more interested in her writing about the animals and plants than last time.

[lavenderhoney]

Jilly cooper is also my hospital book and my " oh god I wish I was one of her characters" She would be so much fun as a guest. And once, quite shamelessly I pinched one of her chat up lines and used it on a chap ( it worked)

I love Nancy Mitford too, and for quite a while wanted to be Linda:) always had a huge crush on Alfred though. Still do:)

[SelfRaisingFlour]

Emma by Jane Austen.

I've read all her books several times (except Mansfield Park).

[Pollaidh]

Mitzy Those two are my favourites as well. Some of her others seem like a trial run of those.

[wol1968]

The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate (Nancy Mitford). It's like catching up with old friends, and understanding them better. I don't think I understood the half of the really dark, creepy undertones of Love in a Cold Climate when I was a teenager - the horrid Lady Montdore, the damaged and difficult-to-like Polly, the frankly creepy Boy Dougdale. I like the utterly unsentimental view of friendships Mitford portrays, as relationships that often spring from convenience and necessity rather than mutual liking - something I can identify with in my own life, and which was strangely comforting when I found myself without a 'best friend'.

[TulipsInAJug]

One book that was like a different book on a second reading was Wuthering Heights.

First time: I was about 15; thought it the most romantic story ever.

Second time: I was older; thought the characters were deranged and Heathcliff a monster.

[Nibbl3s]

We were liars by e.lockhart. There's something really beautiful and nostalgic about the settings but a very sad unpredictable ending.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

A world where good is rewarded and evil thwarted is so very soothing. Some of Eva Ibbotson's books are the same.

Love them. Especially The Secret Countess and The Morning Gift.

[fascicle]

The other week I re-read The Catcher in the Rye, which I thought was an amazing book first time round. Now I would class it as one of the most disappointing books I've read this year (must be age related). I am steeling myself to reread Middlemarch - I really don't want my evaluation of it to change.

[lavenderhoney]

I remember laying at Chelsea and Westminster hospital grimly reading jilly cooper and wishing I knew jilly - she'd be on my list for the perfect dinner table:)

[lavenderhoney]

Bridget jones diary is a rip off ( or updated) version of pride and Predjudice.

[Fpmd1710]

I love to re-read a good book. I've read Pride and Prejudice a fair few times and I've lost count how many times I've read the Twilight and Harry Potter series. I find I appreciate a book more the second time round.
I can't re-read thrillers though, because I know how it's going to end, I don't enjoy it as much, because the suspense is lost

[Pollaidh]

I love re-reading. First time around I either read too fast or was too young to understand nuances, subtext etc. Second, third etc. times around I am analysing and enjoying the cleverness of the books. Re-reading is also good in times of illness or stress or when you don't want the risk of reading through the night to find out what happens next.

Funny how many of us are listing the same books. Dorothy L Sayers is in my opinion by far the best of the 'golden era' detective writers. I must be on tenth+ read through of the Harriet Vane books and find something new each time.

DaisyDalrymple as a PP suggested, start with Strong Poison, then Have His Carcase, then Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon. Then you'll probably want to read the earlier stories for completeness.

Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham are fine but not usually tempted to re-read, and after the richness of DLS (whose later books are more popular/literary novels with a side helping of detection and cracking plot) Agatha Christie just feels so thin.

I also like re-reading children's books - HP, AOGG, Louisa May Alcott, Chalet School. A world where good is rewarded and evil thwarted is so very soothing. Some of Eva Ibbotson's books are the same.

[MiffleTheIntrovert]

I'm happy to find this thread. I love re-reading, mainly as I have a terrible memory and also as it's comforting, especially if poorly or stressed.

I'm unwell and unhappy at the moment so re-reading the Chalet School books I just had a lovely long bath and read about when The Saints arrived and started a feud Also agree with Agatha Christie being good to re-read.

I also tend to re-read in series or authors, especially Susan Howatch Starbridge series as mentioned by PP. Also like her Cashelmara and Van Zale banking family books. In contrast, also love Irvine Welsh, particularly Trainspotting.

Other comforting re-reads which I tend to read every two/ three years are:

Gone with the wind
Vanity Fair
Bill Bryson books
James Clavell books
A prayer for Owen Meany

I also do the same, to a lesser extent, with films, especially Hitchcock.

(I loved it when the DC were little and could read things like The Moomins, Mrs Pepperpot and Dr Seuss to them over and over again)

[lisa2104]

I had to Madame

[MadameDePompom]

Glad you clarified that point!

[BeautyQueenFromMars]

Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. One of his best and my favourites.

[lisa2104]

The Adrian mole books make me laugh NOT the diary of Anne Frank obviously! I really should preview before I post. I do love Anne Frank though but the book makes me cry every time.

[crazywriter]

I always re-read books. I have some that I've read so many times now that they're falling to pieces, like The Diary of Anne Frank and A Child Called It. Both non-fiction and fiction books I'll read over and over again if I really enjoy them. Sometimes it's to remind myself of something that happened if it's been a while and a new book in the series has come out. Other times it's just because I want a book that I know I enjoy.

I'll always enjoy them again. I'll often find something I missed the first time or find a new theory or possible foreshadow moment. I'll also see new connections between other books in a series.

[lisa2104]

God I'd love to have time to re read but I have so many I want to read anyway! Although I often have re read the diary of Anne Frank and the Adrian Mole book because they absolutely make me laugh out loud! I've also read Fight Club a couple of times.

[MadameDePompom]

I've just finished re-reading Pride and Prejudice. I hadn't read it in 20 years and had forgotten how brilliant it was and was sad to read the last page. Was tempted to jump straight back into another Austen but decided to ration them out a bit more.

[cressetmama]

I've just re-read a book my sister got as a Christmas present which I loved as a child (about eight, IIRC). Komantcia by Harold Keith; I tracked down via AMazon as it was only in print here briefly. It's an account of a young Spanish guitarist and his brother, exiled from Spain, and taken by Commanches in a raid, and how he learns to become a Commanche brave. And I enjoyed it again; it would make an interesting read for any DC doing the History of the American West topic in GCSE History.

But I am generally happy to re-read, especially in the middle of the night. It's easier to get back to sleep if you know what's coming next!

[MillicentMargaretAmanda]

Ugh. Not sure what the xx was all about. Talking to my mother so my confused brain probably thought I was texting her!

[MillicentMargaretAmanda]

I love rereading. Partly because, in spite of having quite a good memory, I seem to retain very little when it comes to major plot points so it's like reading something new! I love rereading: the Pratchett ouvre, Elizabeth Pewsey Mountjoy novels, Harry Potter, Mary Stewart and all my childhood books. My copy of Ballet Shoes is very well loved. Xx.

[Chorltonswheelies422]

I posted before but wanted to add

Wilt
Blott on the landscape
Life and loves of a she-devil

[momb]

I've just reread the Harry Potter series. I'm planning a kids holiday with a potter theme so have been searching for inspiration. I did notice lots of bits that I missed the first time, but it isn't so well written that I've enjoyed the language or descriptive text more.