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

[waltzingparrot]

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?

@SingingSands yes! The Crow Road! My favourite book and one I love to re read. The bbc made a TV drama out of it and I loved it, that's where I first discovered it and all Iain Banks novels. I had such a crush on the guy that played Prentice. It also has the best opening line to a book

I reread anything by

• Lois McMaster Bujold, particularly the Vorkodigan saga
• Antonia Forest
• Arthur Ransome swallows and Amazon books
• Heinlein - although not recently
• Anne McCaffrey

I read for the emotions it evokes and books you know and love are tried and tested.

Starting anew book always has an element of risk that it won't tick your boxes and will disappoint