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Original poster

Which book have you read over and over again and why?

127 replies

waltzingparrot · 30/04/2019 13:23

What makes us read the same book over and over when we know what happens and there's nothing new to learn about the characters?

Mine's 'The Painted Veil' by W Somerset Maugham. I've read it 4 or 5 times now and feel I need to dust it off in time for summer. I can't even explain why it resonates so.

I like the historical period (1920s cholera ridden china) but I've learnt about that now.
The main character is not particularly likeable (don't want to be her or live her life).
It doesn't have the ending I hoped for/expected.
Every emotion under the sun in one character - she's irritating and fickle and annoys me.

Why do I need to keep reading this book?

What's your book and can you explain why you want/need to re-read it every so often?

OP posts:
WoollyMummoth · 30/04/2019 21:49

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurer.
I’ve read it every couple of years since I was about 15, now nearly 50.

DecumusScotti · 30/04/2019 21:51

Jurassic Park. Blush

Something about the combination of techno-thriller and creature-feature, along with being trapped on an isolated island, just really appeals to me.

MrsIronfoundersson · 30/04/2019 21:51

Ah the 'Shell Seekers' hot chocolate in a book! Jilly Cooper, 'Down the Common' and 'the stream that stood still' (children's book) are all books that send me to sleep happy and cosy.

Langrish · 30/04/2019 21:51

Jane Eyre because I’m in love with Edward Rochester Grin

DisastrousBee · 30/04/2019 21:52

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleAndOften · 30/04/2019 21:52

I reread classics because there's always more to find in them. I have shelves full of books I go back to time and time again.

In recent years a book I've reread countless days is Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. For some reason it speaks to me. It seems to set me back on track when I've been feeling low.

DecumusScotti · 30/04/2019 21:52

In fact I’m listening to Jurassic Park on audiobook at the moment. It’s good, but they narrator’s got Muldoon’s voice completely wrong. Hmm

edsheeranpaidmoretaxthanccola · 30/04/2019 21:53

Pride and Prejudice

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy - characters are like old friends

samlovesdilys · 30/04/2019 21:54

Maud - me too!! Brideshead revisited so many times, pride and prejudice regularly... and every summer I read 'the holiday' by Erica James to get me in the mood for sunshine!!!

Disfordarkchocolate · 30/04/2019 21:57

Remains of the Day. I get something new from it every time. The slow realisation that Stevens has that he has missed out on so much is heartbreaking every time I read it.

Kiki275 · 30/04/2019 21:57

@Lucked I love Frederica (also The Talisman Ring). Read them both many, many times.

Mist Over Pendle - I like that's it's not your usual historical romance and has some basis on Lancashire witchcraft & folklore.

Accountant222 · 30/04/2019 21:58

Black Diamonds

coffeeandbiscuittime · 30/04/2019 22:01

The Chalet School books,
Anne of Green gables all of the set
To kill a mockingbird

Heratnumber7 · 30/04/2019 22:03

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. I just love that book.

Ohmygoodness101 · 30/04/2019 22:04

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChampagneCommunist · 30/04/2019 22:13

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers

Geppili · 30/04/2019 22:20

All of Dorothy L Sayers.
Jane Eyre
Elidor

speedbird55 · 30/04/2019 22:21

A town like Alice by Neville Shute
The Dove by Robin L Graham
The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico
Fair stood the wind for France by HE Bates
A moment in time by HE Bates

mynameisMrG · 30/04/2019 22:25

Twopence to cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester. I loved her autobiographies. Read all four many times. Really like her style and the stories of her early life.

speedbird55 · 30/04/2019 22:25

Sorry pressed post without explaining why I have reread these many times over , well mostly I like reading second WW fiction ( that's sometimes loosely based on true events )
The dove is an autobiographical account of a young lad sailing off into the sunset , first read when I was about 10 , I also come from sailing family background guess I wanted to copy him !

RhinestoneCowgirl · 30/04/2019 22:26

Rebecca - especially if I'm Cornwall.

Currently reading Goodnight Mr Tom with DD at bedtime. Read it so many times as a child and it is just as good (and tear-inducing) now as it was then.

Original poster
waltzingparrot · 30/04/2019 22:30

Parple Yes I thought the film did it justice . It got the essence, atmosphere and characters perfectly although they tried to alter one scene, which really didn't need altering.

OP posts:
64sNewName · 30/04/2019 22:33

The Swallows and Amazons books. But actually not the first one, because the later ones are so much better.

Winter Holiday is a particular fave (in season) ... and Pigeon Post ... and Swallowdale.

pearldeodorant · 30/04/2019 22:35

My family and other animals, Gerald Durrell. And everytime I read it it still makes me laugh even all these years later, it's wonderfully written.

And Harry Potter. The cover fell off my paperback goblet of fire and it's all taped together Grin

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 30/04/2019 22:37

The Bridget Jones books. They’re about a time of life that I identify with and they’re comforting