Can you re-read a book you enjoyed 20 years ago? - Page 2

unsonia · 12-08-2010, 07:06 PM

Most of the time I am even afraid to try. I have great memories about lots of books and the thought that re-reading might spoil them is stopping me many times.

tarriek · 12-08-2010, 10:23 PM

I tired not to long ago to read one of my favorites when i was young. Stranger in a strange land. I loved this book. It was kinda sad. I could not get through it and i really could not see what i had loved about it.
I can read Jane Austen anytime anyplace.

sakura-panda · 12-09-2010, 02:43 PM

When I was younger, Wild Swan by Celeste de Blasis was my favorite book. (Not exactly an enduring classic.

) It was a library book that I can't find anymore, but I suspect that if I read it now, I wouldn't like it as much as I remembered.

I'd love to find an epub version of it, just to see if I'm wrong.

DiapDealer · 12-09-2010, 03:05 PM

My answer is a resounding.... maybe?

queentess · 12-09-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unsonia

Most of the time I am even afraid to try. I have great memories about lots of books and the thought that re-reading might spoil them is stopping me many times.

One time, one time I tried to reread a book I remembered fondly. I read Wicked by Gregory MacGuire when I was in high school and loved it. When the play came out, I went to see it and loved it, so I decided to reread the book. The writing was so bad that I wanted to poke out my eyes. Instead, I closed the book and promptly donated it to my local library. Never again will I try to reread something I remember fondly from my adolescence.

bill_mchale · 12-09-2010, 04:28 PM

I actually have a pretty good record with rereading books -- though the book has to be good enough, or the author anyway, to make the list for rereading in the first place. I had read most Asimov novels in my teens, and every 5-10 years, I will pick up the Original Foundation Trilogy and the Original Robot novels and reread them. Mind you anything after Robots of Dawn and Foundation's Edge has never been attempted.

--
Bill

Shack70 · 12-09-2010, 04:29 PM

I've re-read a few books that I read a long time ago. The one that really comes to mind is Dune! I've read that book about 10 times over the past 25 years.

pwalker8 · 12-09-2010, 09:13 PM

I've only run across a few books that I loved as a teen and didn't like after reading it later in life.

Belfaborac · 12-11-2010, 06:32 AM

Happily I can revisit most books, with only a few exceptions. Adult books that is; I doubt I would re-read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys today. Having said that, I'm thinking I might read The Wind in the Willows again....

It likely helps that I have an exceptionally bad memory.

Latinandgreek · 12-11-2010, 08:21 AM

I've re-read quite a few books that I'd enjoyed 15 and even 20 years ago. While some didn't live up to the memory I had of them, others still kept their charm, and some even surpassed my expectations, as there were elements as an older reader that I could pick up on that I probably hadn't when I first read the books.

DuaneAA · 12-11-2010, 11:36 AM

I remember reading Heinlein's 'Time Enough for Love' several times back 30 years ago when I was around college age and it has always been on my all-time favorites list. Then about a year ago I found an audiobook version and picked it up. I am better at completing audiobooks in my car than things I am actually reading and I slogged through to the end, but it was a painful experience. It hasn't aged well at all.

At the other extreme, I still love James Schmitz's 'Witches of Karres'. Since I acquired a digital copy from Baen a few years ago, I seem to dig it out and reread it every time I get a new ereading device.

Duane

GraceKrispy · 12-11-2010, 10:49 PM

It depends on the book and how old I was when I read it. No matter what, however, if I reread it, I reread it with a different understanding of the world and a different perspective on life. So naturally, it won't be the same. Sometimes it's equally enjoyable (especially if I notice things I missed the first time), but sometimes it's not good at all.

I *loved* the Harriet the Spy book as a grade school child. Loved it. I tried to read it again as a teenager and it was so painful I had to stop. horrible book! I read many Lois Duncan books as a preadolescent, read them again as adults and still enjoyed them, but in a different way.

doreenjoy · 12-12-2010, 02:05 AM

It depends. I've been reading Jane Austen since I was 14 and it never gets old.

Science Fiction has never had a long shelf life for me. I tried to re-read a few of my old faves and found them too simplistic to interest me in my current old age.

GERGE · 12-12-2010, 03:28 AM

I read my first book 18 years ago and recently reread it. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

Kymmmm · 12-12-2010, 05:29 AM

I have difficulty rereading the Heinlein of my youth....the machismo and prejudices stick out like sore thumbs now. I reread Sherri Tepper (not quite 20 yrs old) all the time and love them every time. Asimov is a little dryer than Heinlein so I think he stands the test of time better.
Andre Norton I can reread without any problems.

Kym

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12-08-2010, 07:06 PM	#16
unsonia Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kobo	Most of the time I am even afraid to try. I have great memories about lots of books and the thought that re-reading might spoil them is stopping me many times.

12-08-2010, 10:23 PM	#17
tarriek Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle	I tired not to long ago to read one of my favorites when i was young. Stranger in a strange land. I loved this book. It was kinda sad. I could not get through it and i really could not see what i had loved about it. I can read Jane Austen anytime anyplace.

12-09-2010, 02:43 PM	#18
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 935 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Oasis; 11" iPad Pro (Books, Kindle, Kobo, MapleRead SE)	When I was younger, Wild Swan by Celeste de Blasis was my favorite book. (Not exactly an enduring classic. ) It was a library book that I can't find anymore, but I suspect that if I read it now, I wouldn't like it as much as I remembered. I'd love to find an epub version of it, just to see if I'm wrong.

12-09-2010, 03:05 PM	#19
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,630 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	My answer is a resounding.... maybe?

12-09-2010, 04:28 PM	#21
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I actually have a pretty good record with rereading books -- though the book has to be good enough, or the author anyway, to make the list for rereading in the first place. I had read most Asimov novels in my teens, and every 5-10 years, I will pick up the Original Foundation Trilogy and the Original Robot novels and reread them. Mind you anything after Robots of Dawn and Foundation's Edge has never been attempted. -- Bill

12-09-2010, 04:29 PM	#22
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	I've re-read a few books that I read a long time ago. The one that really comes to mind is Dune! I've read that book about 10 times over the past 25 years.

12-09-2010, 09:13 PM	#23
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I've only run across a few books that I loved as a teen and didn't like after reading it later in life.

12-11-2010, 06:32 AM	#24
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	Happily I can revisit most books, with only a few exceptions. Adult books that is; I doubt I would re-read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys today. Having said that, I'm thinking I might read The Wind in the Willows again.... It likely helps that I have an exceptionally bad memory.

12-11-2010, 08:21 AM	#25
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I've re-read quite a few books that I'd enjoyed 15 and even 20 years ago. While some didn't live up to the memory I had of them, others still kept their charm, and some even surpassed my expectations, as there were elements as an older reader that I could pick up on that I probably hadn't when I first read the books.

12-11-2010, 11:36 AM	#26
DuaneAA Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 1139736 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 & Kindle Fire HDX	I remember reading Heinlein's 'Time Enough for Love' several times back 30 years ago when I was around college age and it has always been on my all-time favorites list. Then about a year ago I found an audiobook version and picked it up. I am better at completing audiobooks in my car than things I am actually reading and I slogged through to the end, but it was a painful experience. It hasn't aged well at all. At the other extreme, I still love James Schmitz's 'Witches of Karres'. Since I acquired a digital copy from Baen a few years ago, I seem to dig it out and reread it every time I get a new ereading device. Duane

12-11-2010, 10:49 PM	#27
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	It depends on the book and how old I was when I read it. No matter what, however, if I reread it, I reread it with a different understanding of the world and a different perspective on life. So naturally, it won't be the same. Sometimes it's equally enjoyable (especially if I notice things I missed the first time), but sometimes it's not good at all. I loved the Harriet the Spy book as a grade school child. Loved it. I tried to read it again as a teenager and it was so painful I had to stop. horrible book! I read many Lois Duncan books as a preadolescent, read them again as adults and still enjoyed them, but in a different way.

12-12-2010, 02:05 AM	#28
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	It depends. I've been reading Jane Austen since I was 14 and it never gets old. Science Fiction has never had a long shelf life for me. I tried to re-read a few of my old faves and found them too simplistic to interest me in my current old age.

12-12-2010, 03:28 AM	#29
GERGE Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	I read my first book 18 years ago and recently reread it. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

12-12-2010, 05:29 AM	#30
Kymmmm Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 306 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brisbane. Australia Device: Nook Color and Simple Touch	I have difficulty rereading the Heinlein of my youth....the machismo and prejudices stick out like sore thumbs now. I reread Sherri Tepper (not quite 20 yrs old) all the time and love them every time. Asimov is a little dryer than Heinlein so I think he stands the test of time better. Andre Norton I can reread without any problems. Kym