What books do you re-read regularly?

[Snorerephron]

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

This has been brought home to me recently while I've been having my cataracts done. For the first time in my life (in my 70s now) I have had to choose some audiobooks. Obviously I turned to Audible for convenience, listening to a sample of These Old Shades. The first paragraph describes the Duke of Avon sauntering down the street carrying a " berry boned cane"

On that basis, Audible can whistle for my money. I have bought some second hand audio books from eBay with competent narrators.

Agree with others on Georgette Heyer, Dorothy L Sayers as top comfort reads. I will add Lois McMaster Bujold as well...I have read her books many times. (She is a big Georgette Heyer fan!)

The first paragraph describes the Duke of Avon sauntering down the street carrying a " berry boned cane"

It took me a while to work out what it should have been! Georgette would be spinning, she was so meticulous.

She only once sold the film rights to a book, and she and her family were very disappointed in the results.

I think some of her books are well suited to dramatisation, and visually could be wonderful. But I wouldn't trust any writer or director to do it in the true spirit of the books, with the proper lightness of touch.

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.

Ha yes they've got a nerve. I did wonder if it was AI but I think it's just a young person. As far as I can tell most of the years' old versions have been ditched by Audible and replaced with their own actors. The older ones have some very fine performances. I listened to Sylvester, read by Judy Franklin, and it was wonderful. Some nice ones by Phyllida Law too. I would much rather read but it's nice to find a few alternatives.

Mine are a varied bunch. I adore War and Peace and try and re-read it every couple of years. The Shell Seekers gets read every year. At Christmas I always read The Long Winter by Laura Ingall Wilder and three from Miss Read, Village Christmas, A Christmas mouse and No Holly for Miss Quinn. I also try and read The Magic Apple Tree by Susan Hill every year. I often return to my favourite HE Bates, A Moment in Time and Fair Stood the Wind for France. I see all these books as old friends and as someone suggested earlier, it really is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, soft duvet.

@IlovetoKnitandRead I also think of some books like you do - as old friends. Nevil Shute's books make me feel like that.

I love A Town Like Alice.
I discovered when reading his autobiography that Nevil Shute and my (long dead) Grandfather were boyhood friends- it made me very happy.

How lovely for you to discover that @Serenissimissima. Reading Nevil Shute's books evokes childhood memories of my grandfather, also dead some years now, and of the happiness and simplicity of my early childhood. I'm not sure why.

Terry Pratchett, especially the Witches and Vimes.

Kate Atkinson, pretty much all of them especially the Jackson Brodie ones.

Hamnet, I will re-read in a while.

All the Wolf Hall books - I think I’m three times through so far.

Stephen King - but only the old ones, the newer ones are one-hit-wonders.

I am currently re-reading Patrick Fermor’s A Time of Gifts. The first half of that book is heaven.

I also re-read Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray every year, and Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway.

I think you might be me, with the exception of Kate Atkinson and Hamnet which I haven’t read. I’ll search those out as you clearly have exquisite taste!

Rebecca
The Paying Guests
The Silver Chair
The ABC Murders
A Christmas Carol
Mrs Weber’s Diary by Posy Simmonds

I am currently re-reading Patrick Fermor’s A Time of Gifts.

I keep meaning to read this, I see it recommended so often. Must try to do it when I've finished my current books.

Me too @HelenaWilson. The trouble is that my TBR list is so long now! Thanks @Dappy777 for the reminder about Patrick Leigh Fermor.

Rebecca
A Little Life
Donna Tartt
The early Maggie O'Farrells
The Cazalet Chronicles
American Wife
Alexander MS's Scotland St series and Sunday Philosophy Club series (although I don't have up to date sets)

This was my view until very recently. I would never rewatch a film or TV series for the same reason. However I started watching a favourite TV series again when I was ill and realised there's something to be said for comfortable familiarity. I've also got into the habit of rewatching series one when series two is released.
So on that basis I'm now re-reading a few old favourite books especially if I'm unwell or having a run of DNF.
Just started Fall of Giants by Ken Follet. It's such a doorstep and I can't remember any details of it. I last read it when it was first published about 15 years ago.

Agree it is a comfort thing. I re-read all of my books during lockdown.
I am not working atm and have found myself re-watching lots of things on Netflix even though I have lots of stuff on my list I haven't watched yet. Something about certainty in an uncertain time.

I've recently had from the library some cosy crime e-books. My library record tells me I previously had them in 2020, but I didn't remember a thing about them.

Everyone will have different books they reread, for me,as others have mentioned, it’s Terry Pritchett, but several nonfiction books I’ve reread a few times, notably Bill Bryson travel books

Wind in the Willows
Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, Lions of Al Rassan, Sailing to Sarantium - Guy Gavriel Kay
Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series, Srange the Dreamer and the Muse of Nightmares
Lord of the Rings

I rarely reread any books. I'm always worried a 2nd read may taint my original opinion of a fantastic book.

However this week I fancied a real saga of a story to throw myself into whilst it's too hot to do anything else. I've picked up my old copy of East of Eden that I read when I was 17. I thought it was brilliant then, and 30 years later I'm absolutely engrossed second time round. An amazing book.

@Purplebunnie Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favourite authors and the books you mention are some of my favourites along with The Fionavar Trilogy. Read them so many times.

Other books I like to read over are Terry Brooks, The Word And The Void, The Genesis Of Shannara.
Lots of Terry Pratchett and Dean Koontz.

Oh I couldn't agree more. As a child I had only read the first three in the Little House series. I didn't find the rest, including The Long Winter, until I was an adult and introducing DD to the series. And I love Prairie Fires. DH bought it for me one Christmas just after it came out and both DD and I read it avidly.

Of other books that seem different as you age I must mention Rebecca. As a teenager and young woman this was one of my favourite books and I read it many times. It then sat on my shelf gathering dust until I picked it up again one day as a middle-aged woman for a nostalgic re-read. Gosh, I wanted to slap Maxim de Winter and step into that novel as a supportive older woman for the heroine to confide in!

I have all of Mary Wesley's books and have re-read some of them, but I don't feel they age well. Maybe that's just me.

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.