Read the Same Book Multiple Times?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

I usually read good books at least twice, the first and second readings are very different experiences, but can be equally enjoyable. I hate spoilers because they ruin the first reading, but they don't affect subsequent readings, so I can often still read and enjoy a spoiled book.

The "plot" is pretty much irrelevant for any good book; it's the writing that's enjoyable. That might even be used as a definition for what makes a good book. I can read "Pride and Prejudice" over and over again, despite knowing what the outcome of the book is. The wit and delightful characters are what make it worth re-reading, not wondering whether or not Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy are going to end up married.

[crossi]

I have books I've reread many times since childhood. If a book is especially good when I finish it I'll start again at the beginning. In fact if I don't like a book enough to reread I consider it a wasted purchase. Probably only about 10% of the books I buy fall into the catagory of "keepers", those I keep to reread again. I also watch TV episodes again from series I liked like Star Trek, movies I've seen on screen and bought as DVDs, listen to favorite music again, walked in the same parks and gardens I've enjoyed before. I don't read for the surprise factor of finding out who really did it or for the suspense of finding out how something will turn out. I like the journey, being in that world, being that character, feeling what they felt. Why shouldn't I enjoy that many times?

There is also the fact that I am a fast reader. I can go though a book a day easy and how could I afford to buy that many new books at that rate?

It can't be that uncommon. Many people have talked about their accumulation of books that takes up many bookcases and boxes in their homes. A lot of people have or dream of having home libraries. What would be the point of that if they toss each book after reading once? There would be no point of keeping a book if they didn't plan to reread it possibly many times. Some people have mentioned books they reread so many times it fell apart and they had to rebuy it even.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The "plot" is pretty much irrelevant for any good book; it's the writing that's enjoyable. That might even be used as a definition for what makes a good book. I can read "Pride and Prejudice" over and over again, despite knowing what the outcome of the book is. The wit and delightful characters are what make it worth re-reading, not wondering whether or not Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy are going to end up married.

And the basic 'plot' of a romance is standard isn't it? I mean it's boy meets girl, sparks fly, circumstances force them apart (or keep them from acknowledging their attraction) and the rest of the book is the story of how they do/don't overcome that obstacle. The details such as character names, setting, etc. change but the path from start to finish is pretty well known even before you open the book for the 1st time. We expect certain things to happen or not during the course of the story.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Majorix

I mean, no matter how much I like the book, I can't read the same book even twice. Knowing the plot twists etc, and reading the same things I already know about just doesn't give me the pleasure I had had reading the book for the first time.

It depends on the book. Many mystery/detective novels depend on the absence of knowledge of the villain, which makes re-reading them not half as much fun as the first read. Most Agatha Christies fall into this category.

OTOH, some books do not depend on this kind of device to make them enjoyable. And in re-reading a book one may gain insights into the situation and the characters that one missed the first time around.

I don't re-read many books, mainly because I have lots of nice new books to read as well. But I could probably make up a list of scores, if not hundreds, of books that I've read and would happily re-read for the fun of re-visiting the places and people.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It depends on the book. Many mystery/detective novels depend on the absence of knowledge of the villain, which makes re-reading them not half as much fun as the first read. Most Agatha Christies fall into this category.

One of the benefits of increasing age is that one forgets "whodunnit" with detective stories. As you know, I'm currently re-reading all of Christie's books, and am thoroughly enjoying them despite having read almost all of them before, simply because, at least in the majority of cases, I no longer remember the outcome of the book. Of course there are exceptions for the very famous books like "Murder on the Orient Express" and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd".

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The "plot" is pretty much irrelevant for any good book; it's the writing that's enjoyable. That might even be used as a definition for what makes a good book. I can read "Pride and Prejudice" over and over again, despite knowing what the outcome of the book is. The wit and delightful characters are what make it worth re-reading, not wondering whether or not Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy are going to end up married.

That's precisely why I enjoy re-reading P.G. Wodehouse. The plot is largely irrelevant, but the language never fails to delight.

/JB

[CharredScribe]

I reread books all the time. There are books I have read 20 or 30 times. Sometimes, when I reread a book, I have forgotten the plot twists or ending, and sometimes I remember it all perfectly, including every word of dialogue. There are also books I reread for the beauty of the language. Robert Goddard falls into this category for me. I love his intricate plots, but I also love the writing itself. Also, books often make me feel things, and if those feelings are pleasant, I like to return to them (even the ups and down of horrors or thrillers can be an enjoying experience that I want to relive). Like crossi, if I buy a book that I would never read again, it feels like a wasted purchase. I want to own books that I want to read over and over, and I can borrow books that I will just read once.

[cfrizz]

I love rereading my favorite books!

[library addict]

I love rereading favorites. Sometimes I just want to revisit certain characters. In some series rereading once you know the outcome is fun because you go back and see all of the clues the author had which you didn't pick up the first time around. Also, I react differently to some books now than I did when I originally read them 10 or 20 years ago so it makes for a new reading experience.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The "plot" is pretty much irrelevant for any good book; it's the writing that's enjoyable. That might even be used as a definition for what makes a good book. I can read "Pride and Prejudice" over and over again, despite knowing what the outcome of the book is. The wit and delightful characters are what make it worth re-reading, not wondering whether or not Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy are going to end up married.

I am most likely to reread a book which has interesting dialogue and characters. I have read Pride and Prejudice many times and still enjoy it. I am far less likely to reread a whodunit where I know whodunit, or a thriller that's mainly action.

[cromag]

I will re-read books that I really enjoyed, or that impressed me in some other way. But, I typically wait many years before doing so. I've recently re-read books that I had read in the 70s and 80s. They still impress me, but now I find even more reasons to be impressed.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It depends on the book. Many mystery/detective novels depend on the absence of knowledge of the villain, which makes re-reading them not half as much fun as the first read. Most Agatha Christies fall into this category.

...

In some cases I will re-read a book knowing the villain and outcome -- supposedly the major spoilers -- in order to gain a better appreciation of the author's skill in setting up the outcome and unveiling the villain. It has to be a very good book, because knowing these spoilers is a big handicap, but knowing what to watch for, and how it is handled, can also be rewarding.

[rkomar]

I'm also a re-reader, for pretty much the same reasons as others here have stated. I remember a past thread where many of those who didn't re-read said that they had excellent memories that made it aggravating to see exactly the same thing again. That's certainly something I don't experience myself (my memory isn't particularly good). What about the joy of the presentation that many re-readers experience? Do those who don't re-read miss that? Does the language or characterizations not move you a second time? It would be interesting to know just how different some of us are.

[Vmurph]

Its funny, I can't read any book more than once, no matter how much I loved it, but I can watch a movie (that I love) many times. Some movies I can even watch multiple times back-to-back. I did that with 'Gladiator'.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I'm also a re-reader, for pretty much the same reasons as others here have stated. I remember a past thread where many of those who didn't re-read said that they had excellent memories that made it aggravating to see exactly the same thing again. That's certainly something I don't experience myself (my memory isn't particularly good). What about the joy of the presentation that many re-readers experience? Do those who don't re-read miss that? Does the language or characterizations not move you a second time? It would be interesting to know just how different some of us are.

I am not a rereader. But I have often forgotten I have read a book even to the point of re buying it.

I do experience a certain/same pleasure until it all starts coming back to me. Then I get bored and edgy. Not intentionally or consciously but the feeling increases as I go on.

I do enjoy the familiar which is a contradiction. I like books in the same series because of the familiar characters and the familiar dialogue, and the style of a writer I enjoy, but a whole book is so far not something I would re read by choice once my memory kicks in. I even find excessive back story annoying. reminds me of soap operas

I don't envy re readers as there are lots of unread books I am wanting to read except it would be nice to be in the position of rediscovering quite a few of my favorite authors.

I am in a minority group with the people I know and my family as most of them are very happy re watching and re reading etc.

Each to their own

Helen

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

But I have often forgotten I have read a book even to the point of re buying it.

I recognise this. But then I remember I've read it after getting a bit of the way in.

This is one of the reasons I started keeping track of the books I've read.