How long do you tend to give a book before re-reading again? I started reading Six Second by Rick Moffina recently and looked back to when I last read it, was surprised that it was only November when I last read it :eek:
It varies. Light books/holiday reading I can read again within a few months of the last read, more weighty tomes especially with complex plots I like to leave several years before reading again.
I read Rachel's Holiday by Marion Keyes about six months ago. Loved it and am dying to read it again already but got a new Kindle for xmas and had a downloading frenzy. I probably have enough on there to last me till next xmas! Help I don't know what to do.:)
I reread comics and non-fiction, hardly ever fiction - too many new books to read. But I'll flick through a book for ten minutes if I'm reading its sequel.
Some books I will re-read quickly, expecially if I am rushing to get it finished (book club meeting looming). When I read the Time Traveler's Wife, I knew I hadn't completely got it first time round, so as soon as I finished, I started again. Then I got it.
Other books, I tend to wait til I really cannot remember what it was about. I'm finding that timescale is getting shorter the older I get...:(
A couple of years. I don't tend to re-read all that many books because I have a lot lined up that I haven't read yet but sometimes you just want to relax with a great story you've enjoyed before.
I've read my favourite series of books several times over 20 years. I think I like long series because they take me so long to get through them.
It's handy to have a whole collection in order on my sony reader, as I went through the whole Asimov set from "Caves of Steel" to "Foundation and Earth" over the course of a few months.
The only exception is that I read Sense & Sensibility, Emma, and Pride & Prejudice every year (this is the fifth year running). No idea why - I just get a yen to read them every January.
I read Rachel's Holiday by Marion Keyes about six months ago. Loved it and am dying to read it again already but got a new Kindle for xmas and had a downloading frenzy. I probably have enough on there to last me till next xmas! Help I don't know what to do.:)
Its really hard isn't it I have so many downloaded really random stuff as well..I kind of miss waiting to get to the bookshop On re reads I can't do it I hate knowing the ending.
I re-read The Thorn Birds at least once a year. It's my favourite book of all time, and even though I could almost recite the pages now, I love picking up the characters again every single time.
My fourth paperback is looking very sorry for itself now, and I managed to find a pdf of it online, converted it with calibre, and it's now on my Kindle - bliss!!
But I don't think I've ever re-read anything else, well not that I can remember anyway.
I have shelves of unread books that I'm trying to work through, but the Kindle draws me every day.
Sometimes the second read is just as enjoyable as you spot the plots developing and have more insight into the motives through hindsight. I read the Hyperion Cantos last summer for the first time, I think I'll need to reread it soon!
Sometimes the second read is just as enjoyable as you spot the plots developing and have more insight into the motives through hindsight. I read the Hyperion Cantos last summer for the first time, I think I'll need to reread it soon!
I've often found that with films, but can't seem to enjoy re-reading books in the same way.
With a film, you have to go with the pace that's set so that you miss details and can't fully appreciate certain scenes. But you set your own pace with a book and can re-read especially enjoyable passages there and then or ones that are unclear so that you can make yourself understand what's going on and register every detail before advancing.
So I often find I've got everything I can out of a book the first time I read it.
I have read Shogun by James Clavell 5 times, last time 2 years ago, and I am starting to lean towards reading it again. Usually want to reread favourites about once every 3 or 4 years or so. But I have so many books on my bookshelf unread that I do feel guilty. Some of them have been lying there for over 10 years.
It depends on the book. I've reread my Terry Pratchett collection at least 3 times each, but that's because there's so much great comedy packed into every sentence that I couldn't possibly remember it all. For something more plot-driven, I tend to wait a lot longer to reread it, if ever.
These days I don't get much rereading done, there's always something new to catch my eye. I mostly only reread a book if I'm bored and waiting for a new one to arrive.
I have read Shogun by James Clavell 5 times, last time 2 years ago, and I am starting to lean towards reading it again. Usually want to reread favourites about once every 3 or 4 years or so. But I have so many books on my bookshelf unread that I do feel guilty. Some of them have been lying there for over 10 years.
I know exactly how you feel ( see above ).
I have a morbid fear that I will shuffle off this mortal coil, leaving unread books behind me :eek:
I am making a concerted effort to read what I have and not buy for a while.
But still, I say that all the time but never listen to myself
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Other books, I tend to wait til I really cannot remember what it was about. I'm finding that timescale is getting shorter the older I get...:(
It's handy to have a whole collection in order on my sony reader, as I went through the whole Asimov set from "Caves of Steel" to "Foundation and Earth" over the course of a few months.
But I have so many books on my shelves which I haven't read even once that I feel a bit guilty if I read many more than once.
was like that with the sookie stackhouse books
The only exception is that I read Sense & Sensibility, Emma, and Pride & Prejudice every year (this is the fifth year running). No idea why - I just get a yen to read them every January.
Its really hard isn't it I have so many downloaded really random stuff as well..I kind of miss waiting to get to the bookshop On re reads I can't do it I hate knowing the ending.
How many do you re-read that often? And can you give some examples? (I'm curious!)
My fourth paperback is looking very sorry for itself now, and I managed to find a pdf of it online, converted it with calibre, and it's now on my Kindle - bliss!!
But I don't think I've ever re-read anything else, well not that I can remember anyway.
I have shelves of unread books that I'm trying to work through, but the Kindle draws me every day.
I've often found that with films, but can't seem to enjoy re-reading books in the same way.
With a film, you have to go with the pace that's set so that you miss details and can't fully appreciate certain scenes. But you set your own pace with a book and can re-read especially enjoyable passages there and then or ones that are unclear so that you can make yourself understand what's going on and register every detail before advancing.
So I often find I've got everything I can out of a book the first time I read it.
But that's just me!
The only other book I can remember re reading is Wuthering Heights.
Of course every now and then I get a new book and rush home to start it, only to realise that I have already read it !
I have about 45 books on my " to read " shelf ..... life's too short for re reads ;)
I read One Day by David Nicholls. Then 48 hours after finishing it-I read it again.
But there are so many books out there that I only really read books the once..
These days I don't get much rereading done, there's always something new to catch my eye. I mostly only reread a book if I'm bored and waiting for a new one to arrive.
I know exactly how you feel ( see above ).
I have a morbid fear that I will shuffle off this mortal coil, leaving unread books behind me :eek:
I am making a concerted effort to read what I have and not buy for a while.
But still, I say that all the time but never listen to myself