Questions for those that don't re-read

[avantman42]

In threads about DRM, some people say that they don't really care about it, because they don't re-read, so it doesn't matter to them if the DRM stops them being able to access their books at some point in the future.

With a few notable exceptions, I don't tend to re-read books, but it's important to me that I'm able to access them in the future. There are two reasons why:

1. I have a wife and two kids, and they might want to read some of my books at some point in the future.
2. I sometimes want to refer back to a book. For instance, I might vaguely remember a quote or some dialogue, and want to get the full quote. Also, I have quite a lot of reference and non-fiction, where being able to refer to the book is pretty much the point of having the book in the first place.

So, for those of you that don't care about DRM because you don't re-read books, do the above not matter to you? I'm not saying they should, I'm just curious.

[Kumabjorn]

Having access to reference work or certain non-fiction titles are obviously important. However, entertainment fiction is not something I would revisit. I have tried it and after a few pages I can sort of visualize the whole book again and that pretty much takes away the fun.

[JoeD]

I very rarely re-read, but I still find the topic of DRM important. My reasoning is I don't want to lose access to a book I've bought but not yet read just because I decide to change my reader to a better eInk device or the company I bought the books from has gone bust/closed their DRM servers so I cannot activate on a new device. It's a little less important for me with fiction books that it is reference or software/music/games where I do re-read/watch frequently.

In reality, DRM doesn't impact me as I only buy products I know I can strip as soon as I've bought it. I only started buying from Amazon because of Alf. So it's more in principle than in practice that I object to DRM.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Having access to reference work or certain non-fiction titles are obviously important. However, entertainment fiction is not something I would revisit. I have tried it and after a few pages I can sort of visualize the whole book again and that pretty much takes away the fun.

One of the great benefits of advancing age is that I can re-read detective stories, because I've forgotten the outcome!

[HomeInMyShoes]

^But how will you remember how you feel about a given author, say Dan Brown?

It's nice to have the books to look up quotes and such, but the Internet usually has most of the good ones on it.

[BeccaPrice]

I re-read frequently. Reading Captain Vorpatril's Alliance put me on a re-read/re-listen of favorite Bujold books, for example. Every 5 or so years, I go on a kick to re-read favorite Georgette Heyer books. sometimes I just want a comfort read, and will re-read the In Death books or other books by Nora Roberts.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by HarryT

One of the great benefits of advancing age is that I can re-read detective stories, because I've forgotten the outcome!

I look forward to that day Harry. I recently started reading Dialing M for Murder and after a chapter I began to realize that I read it some 17 years ago. Off course, in those days it was the Swedish translation, and the title in Swedish was different, so I never made the connection.

[speakingtohe]

I don't usually reread unless by accident although I have reread some books I read 40 years ago.

DRM is an inconvenience, but I feel that many ebooks would not be legally available without it especially library books. I also think that epub and mobi books will be readable in the forseeable future either on a reader, computer app, tablet app or downloadable from the library. (My opinion only)

DRM reassures authors and publishers in a limited sense and of course is their choice to make, just as we have the choice to buy or not buy.

With so many laws being passed to protect rights holders, which I don't disagree with, it would be nice to see a law passed that would protect buyers against obsolete formats, such as ensuring that they would have a readable copy of purchased content for say 75 years.

Helen

[Apache]

I feel sorry for people who do not reread.
Apache

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Apache

I feel sorry for people who do not reread.
Apache

There are two types of books that I read over and over again and never tire of:

1. The great classics, such as Dickens. Every time I re-read a Dickens novel I get something new from it.

2. What I'd call "comfort reading". In this category for me would be "The Lord of the Rings", and David Eddings' "Belgariad" series. I know them virtually off by heart, but they give me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I re-read them.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Having access to reference work or certain non-fiction titles are obviously important. However, entertainment fiction is not something I would revisit. I have tried it and after a few pages I can sort of visualize the whole book again and that pretty much takes away the fun.

I'd have to say this sums it up for me.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I look forward to that day Harry. I recently started reading Dialing M for Murder and after a chapter I began to realize that I read it some 17 years ago. Off course, in those days it was the Swedish translation, and the title in Swedish was different, so I never made the connection.

If I read something in Swedish, I'd never remember it. But then, I wouldn't know what I was reading in the first place.

[HarryT]

I'm curious. A question for those who never re-read: do you also never listen to a piece of music more than once? If you do, what's the difference with a book?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm curious. A question for those who never re-read: do you also never listen to a piece of music more than once? If you do, what's the difference with a book?

I like music and videos more than I do books. Besides, music takes just a few minutes to get through and videos just a few hours. Whereas books take lots of hours or days to get through.

Additionally, text is not nearly as exiting as audio or video. While I rarely reread the same book, I will listen to an audiobook more than once.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm curious. A question for those who never re-read: do you also never listen to a piece of music more than once? If you do, what's the difference with a book?

Good question that deserves a better answer.
Yes, I listen to music again and again, but I don't expect to encounter anything new. I guess the familiarity is its appeal. And no, I don't watch movies or videos more than once. Knowing what will happen takes all the fun away, that is probably why I more or less has stopped watching Hollywood productions, they are just too predictable for my liking.