Do you re-read? Why?

[Over]

I've noticed a lot of people mentioning that they re-read this or are re-reading that... And I wonder why.

With very few exceptions, I never re-read a book. From the moment I know the book (the story, the ending, etc), there's no incentive. Nothing new, nothing to make me look forward to.

And with so many new books to read, it seems a waste to spend time to read something you've read before.

One of the books I've re-read was the lord of the rings. And that was because I've read all other books after that one, so that with all the aquired background, re-reading it was almost like reading a new book.

So... Do you re-read? And why?

[desertgrandma]

Yes, I re-read.........some books. There are books out there that are well written enough to be re-read even more than once. How sad for you if you've only found one book worthy. "The Stand" by Stephen King. "Salems 'Lot" and "Nightshift" by the same author. "Centennial", "The Source", and especially "The Covenant" by James Michener. Just about anything by Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov. These are just a few. I re-read because I learn new things each time I do. Do you ever watch a movie more than once? Yes, because you see something in each successive watching that you didn't the time before. The books I keep in hardback will be with me till I die because they have reached me in ways others haven't. I hope, as time goes on, that you discover authors who touch you in this way.
PS......obviously, the re-reading isn't done right away. A year or more could go by before that happens.....but when it does, its like meeting an old friend again.

[BookishDreamer]

I started re-reading books at an early age. As a kid, I didn't go to the library very often and didn't have money to buy books. I'd read my way through everything in my bookcase and then start over. I don't re-read books as often now. If a new series book is released, I'll quickly run through the previous book to make sure I'm up to speed with the plot and characters, especially if it's been more than a couple of months.

Sometimes re-reading a book is like a long-awaited reunion with an old friend. I might only remember bits and pieces of our time together and re-reading the story fills in the blanks. And some books I read again and again because they are comfortable and well-worn like a pair of jeans.

Dreamer

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Over

I've noticed a lot of people mentioning that they re-read this or are re-reading that... And I wonder why.

I re-read a fair bit. Tolkien is one I've re-read a number of times.

An old friend tended to re-read Fritz Stern's _The Varieties of History_. He was a history buff, and it fit what he called his "comfortable old shoe" moods.

Some things I re-read because they are sufficiently complex that I find new things in each re-read. LoTR is a good example. Others I re-read because of the beauty of the language, like E. R. Eddison's _The Worm Ouroborous. Some things I re-read because I read them originally long enough ago that I've largely forgotten them (and there are a few books I've started having forgotten I'd read them, only to have memory gradually return in the process.)

And some I re-read for the "comfortable old shoe" feeling, because I like the story. I know how it comes out, but I like how it's told.

Do you buy DVDs of movies and watch them again? A similar dynamic is present.
______
Dennis

[Prash]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

re-reading isn't done right away. A year or more could go by before that happens.....but when it does, its like meeting an old friend again.

Same here.
Btw i have read LoTR once, and i am going to read it again soon. Also i have come to know some more about the characters and related things from some other books, so for me it makes sense reading it once more.

[FizzyWater]

Rereading for me can be for a number of reasons, some already shared here. It might be because I want to catch some of the detail I missed the first time (I immediately turned back to page 1 and began re-reading Shutter Island, knowing I had missed clues).

Sometimes it's because nothing new lately has been working for me, so I want to pick up a book I know I'll like.

Sometimes it's because, well, I read a lot. Sometimes I read too fast to devour an eagerly awaited book, and realize later that I don't really remember a lot of it! And sometimes it's just because I know I liked a book, but have read so many other books since I last read it that I don't really remember the story any more.

And sometimes it's just to enjoy those characters again!

[RickyMaveety]

I re-read for the same reasons I watch a movie more than once, or listen to a piece of music more than once ... I get something new out of each visit. There will always be some nuance that I missed on the first go through. Or, I will have changed in my outlook from the first time I experienced that book, movie, song .... you name it.

It really doesn't matter that I already know the ending. With a movie, I enjoy the acting, the special effects, the characters. I've certainly seen Hamlet enough times to know who killed who and why they did it. It doesn't really matter to my enjoyment. I could know every word to a song, and still get lost in the singer's performance or the music. With some authors, I simply love the way they write. There is a poetry in their prose ... and the words just roll over my soul. I've read and re-read Jane Austen's works so many times, I know much of them by heart.

Reading, for me, is more than just words on a page and a plot. It is an experience which involves my mind and my imagination. As such, the "performances" of the characters changes as my experience and imagination alters them. You might as well ask me why I would ever have sex with the same person twice ... after all, it's not like there's going to be something "new" about the experience ... and I pretty much know the ending. But ... it's all about what happens in your mind .... you either make the experience fresh there ... or start pulling out the toys and inviting strangers in to play. Books are something that, if it's a good book, I can make the experience fresh time after time after time.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

You might as well ask me why I would ever have sex with the same person twice ... .... you either make the experience fresh there ... or start pulling out the toys and inviting strangers in to play. Books are something that, if it's a good book, I can make the experience fresh time after time after time.

RM, you make me feel so immoral. I feel like a multiple literary adulterer.

[grimo1re]

Sometimes I re-read because I want the comfort of that story. Also, I tend to read fast so re-reading is sometimes finding things I missed the first time. Subtleties I missed in my hurry Sometimes because it's been years and you can't quite remember it anymore but you remember you liked it.

I suppose, with all the books in the world, why would one re-read a familiar story? I think it's inherently human. Look at kids, they lurve to watch the same video or hear the same story over and over and over and over again.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Over

I've noticed a lot of people mentioning that they re-read this or are re-reading that... And I wonder why.

With very few exceptions, I never re-read a book. From the moment I know the book (the story, the ending, etc), there's no incentive. Nothing new, nothing to make me look forward to.

Do you never listen to a piece of music more than once? Why? With so many songs in the world, why listen to the same one more than once?

Seriously, it's exactly the same reason. The answer is simple - because it's enjoyable to do so.

[slayda]

Yes I re-read favorite books, just as I often eat the same foods - because I like them. RM likened it to sex, Taylor to music. Sometimes I like to revisit old friends, even when I know them very well, just to enjoy their company or because I like the taste.

Two of my most favorite are "The Survivors" (aka Space Prisoners) by Tom Godwin and "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein. As I said, they are old friends.

[pshrynk]

I re-read because of the emotional state that I am in. If I am feeling at odds with the world and want to capture a moment of triumph over it all, I re-read the Pern novels. If I want to feel like there is hope for all of us, I read The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. If I feel like swashing my buckle, I re the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories. If I am depressed and really want to feel happy, I read Discworld books. really bad times call for reading all of the buggers in a go. If I want to expand my conciousness, I read anything by Paulo Coelho. And so on.

[DDHarriman]

Yes I do!
Some outstanding ones for sure and sometimes separated by more then 10 years.

Its’ like seeing Blade Runner one more time!!!
Ps:“The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress”, ha!... what a choice… re-read it more then 10 times now, and will do it more for sure!

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

RM, you make me feel so immoral. I feel like a multiple literary adulterer.

I live to do exactly that .... love making people feel immoral. It's good for you!! Trust me .....

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

Yes I do!
Some outstanding ones for sure and sometimes separated by more then 10 years.

Its’ like seeing Blade Runner one more time!!!
Ps:“The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress”, ha!... what a choice… re-read it more then 10 times now, and will do it more for sure!

You are the third person so far to love this book. (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) Now I gotta go buy another one. You know, I promised my husband that when I got my Kindle, I wouldn't have to buy anymore paper books. But, unfortunately, its seems that since I've been on this board, that just is not true. Obviously, I buy kindle versions if available. And I refuse to whine about the ones that aren't. I'll just continue throwing money into the economy until they are.....