Have you ever had a point where you were drawn to reread? - Page 2

ebusinesstutor · 02-12-2016, 07:17 PM

I never get tired of re-reading my favourite books. I go in phases. A month or so where I might only read new stuff, then a month or so where I just re-read.

What is the sense of owning a book if you never read it again?

cfrizz · 02-12-2016, 08:11 PM

I re-read all the time. I'll be reading a new book which reminds me of one of my favorites, and as soon as I finish the new book I will promptly go to the book I was reminded of and start re-reading.

pwalker8 · 02-13-2016, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyKate

I have a huge "to read" list yet I find myself drawn to reread some old favorite series / authors (Weber, Lackey, Harrision, Ashley etc)

I just can't seem to get into new reads right now, drawn back to old favorites. Some of the series that have been completed are drawing me in for a complete nonstop reread.

With all the books I want to read, it somehow doesn't make sense that I am drawn into a rereading session. No real understanding why...

So I ask you. Am I alone in this occasional obsession to reread?

Like many here, I re-read my favorites a lot.

For me, it comes down to moods. Sometimes I am in a particular mood and I want a book that fits that mood. Sometimes, I just want to revisit old friends. Sometimes, I just want to enjoy the craftsmanship of the book and not be distracted by what happens next.

robko · 02-13-2016, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I read for pleasure. If I want to reread a book that gave me pleasure, why should I deprive myself?

This sums it up really well for me! I have always reread, sometimes multiple times over the years.

issybird · 02-13-2016, 09:28 AM

I rarely reread. I only reread if there's a specific reason; e.g., I'll reread Brat Farrar for this month's book club discussion. There are so very many books I'd like to read for the first time that their allure far outstrips that of books I've already read.

That said, I've decided that next year I'll revisit some books that I haven't read in decades. I know I'll see much more in them now than I did the first time. But I really don't see the point of rereading favorites which I already know quite well.

barryem · 02-13-2016, 09:43 AM

I'm 75 years old and I've been reading grown-up books since I was in my early teens. A few of those early books were so good I've been rereading them every few years ever since.

I've probably read Mika Waltari's "The Egyptian" 20 times. The same for Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth". Also "Peyton Place" and Arthur C. Clarke's "The City and the Stars".

I plan to continue re-reading them and the others I reread for at least a few more centuries.

Barry

Katsunami · 02-13-2016, 09:51 AM

Actually, when I was in high-school and studying and didn't have enough money, I've reread and replayed games for almost 10 years. I have replayed Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Planescape: Torment, and Neverwinter Nights 1 numerous times between 1998 and 2007. I've also read most of the books I had then more than once (which were, at that time, only a hundred or so).

I started playing other games and reading newer books when I started full time work and had more money to spend.

Spoiler:

John F · 02-13-2016, 10:18 AM

I very seldom reread, maybe 0.5% of the time. There are so many books I haven't read and want to read.

cvkemp · 02-13-2016, 11:16 AM

I do reread every once in a while. But normally no.

crossi · 02-13-2016, 12:16 PM

9 out of 10 books I buy on the average I don't like enough to want to reread in spite of reviews and blurbs that made it appealing enough to buy. Those I consider wasted money and the cost of finding that 1 in 10 good enough to reread often. Sometime I just want to read something I know I'll enjoy ahead of time. And with a known book you know what it's like and wether it fits your mood of the moment. With an unknown that's not the case.

theducks · 02-13-2016, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by library addict

I am a big rereader.

I reread if I am in the mood for a certain type of book or author's voice. Or just to "revisit" favorite characters.

I also think rereading is the only way to get over a reading slump. Or that's what's always helped me to do so.

Yup!
Sometimes this is triggered by a new volume in a good series that had a long dry spell

QuantumIguana · 02-13-2016, 10:53 PM

I'll re-read some books like Tolkien or Pratchett. I'm trying a new translation of Don Quixote. But generally, I don't re-read all that much, I usually have to let them sit for a while so I can forget a lot of it. Sometimes I do get an urge to re-read a book, usually it's when I can't recall that much of it, but I know I liked it. But there's some books that I loved when I was younger, and try to reread them, and I think "I actually liked this?"

Luffy · 02-14-2016, 12:53 AM

I very rarely reread. The last couple of rereads did not engage my mind as I thought it would. I ended up by skimming through the books, and got bored in the end.

The last book that I re read which gained 5 stars after the reread is Agatha Christie's The Mystery of The Blue Train. There was a 15 year gap between the first and second readings.

I don't see myself rereading a book this year. I am tempted to read just the opening chapters of LoTR, because they are so freaking good. But a proper reread does not hold any allure for me.

klmmc13 · 02-14-2016, 01:00 AM

Re-reading a book, or series is like a comfy pair of old shoes, or that special throw blanket you curl up with on the couch or favorite chair. It's a comfort thing.
Sometimes new books are too much of the unexpected or a challenge to read, when all you really want to do is RELAX, and feel wrapped up in something familiar.

I've got several sets of books I re-read every year.... All my Robert Heinlein and Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, and a few others. But then, I can read most of those cover-to-cover in a day or so. After I've gotten that particular "need" out of my system, I move on to something new.

The Best of Both Worlds is those few times that a favorite Author comes out with a new book!

Katsunami · 02-14-2016, 01:02 PM

How can you reread Mercedes Lackey every year?

I've had the chance to get some of her books cheaply a few years ago, but looking through her bibliography, she seems to write a book every other month, so I declined to get them.

Look at this

A huge number of books have a "with <writer name>" prefix. I wouldn't be surprised if these people are doing most of the writing.

Another writer I've seen who does this is James Patterson, and I won't be surprised if writers such as Daniëlle Steel do the same. Daniëlle Steel "writes" 4 books a year, and has 6 to be written and published in 2016. That's impossible. Nobody can write that much and that fast.

It could even be possible that there are a number of people writing, all under the same name, with the original author just as some sort of supervisor.

02-13-2016, 09:51 AM	#22
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Actually, when I was in high-school and studying and didn't have enough money, I've reread and replayed games for almost 10 years. I have replayed Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Planescape: Torment, and Neverwinter Nights 1 numerous times between 1998 and 2007. I've also read most of the books I had then more than once (which were, at that time, only a hundred or so). I started playing other games and reading newer books when I started full time work and had more money to spend. Spoiler: And still, I get the chills when I fire up Baldur's Gate 1 and hear the intro tune. It's 640x480 graphics are not state of the art anymore, but they do a nice 2x scale on a 1280x1024 monitor (displaying as 1280x960). Fortunately, there is a mod available that enables the game to run in 800x600, so it can display as 1600x1200 on my 1920x1200 widescreen monitor. Thus, more than 17 years after its release, I'm still playing Baldur's Gate 1 (and invariably follow it up by playing BG2). I've actually kept my 19 inch montior. Maybe I'll get a small computer just for the Infinity Engine games. I have a Windows 7 license lying around, which I acquired through the Microsoft DreamSpark study program, but never used it. I could get myself a mini-computer, put that license on there, get the updates up to 2020, and then pull the computer from the internet. I could replay those games as long as that computer holds up... and at some point, in 2059, have the only functioning Windows 7 computer in the Netherlands. Last edited by Katsunami; 02-13-2016 at 09:54 AM.

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02-12-2016, 07:17 PM	#16
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I never get tired of re-reading my favourite books. I go in phases. A month or so where I might only read new stuff, then a month or so where I just re-read. What is the sense of owning a book if you never read it again?

02-12-2016, 08:11 PM	#17
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,570 Karma: 36389706 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I re-read all the time. I'll be reading a new book which reminds me of one of my favorites, and as soon as I finish the new book I will promptly go to the book I was reminded of and start re-reading.

02-13-2016, 09:28 AM	#20
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,296 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	I rarely reread. I only reread if there's a specific reason; e.g., I'll reread Brat Farrar for this month's book club discussion. There are so very many books I'd like to read for the first time that their allure far outstrips that of books I've already read. That said, I've decided that next year I'll revisit some books that I haven't read in decades. I know I'll see much more in them now than I did the first time. But I really don't see the point of rereading favorites which I already know quite well.

02-13-2016, 09:43 AM	#21
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I'm 75 years old and I've been reading grown-up books since I was in my early teens. A few of those early books were so good I've been rereading them every few years ever since. I've probably read Mika Waltari's "The Egyptian" 20 times. The same for Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth". Also "Peyton Place" and Arthur C. Clarke's "The City and the Stars". I plan to continue re-reading them and the others I reread for at least a few more centuries. Barry

02-13-2016, 10:18 AM	#23
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,945 Karma: 70880793 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I very seldom reread, maybe 0.5% of the time. There are so many books I haven't read and want to read.

02-13-2016, 11:16 AM	#24
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,430 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	I do reread every once in a while. But normally no.

02-13-2016, 12:16 PM	#25
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	9 out of 10 books I buy on the average I don't like enough to want to reread in spite of reviews and blurbs that made it appealing enough to buy. Those I consider wasted money and the cost of finding that 1 in 10 good enough to reread often. Sometime I just want to read something I know I'll enjoy ahead of time. And with a known book you know what it's like and wether it fits your mood of the moment. With an unknown that's not the case.

02-13-2016, 10:53 PM	#27
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I'll re-read some books like Tolkien or Pratchett. I'm trying a new translation of Don Quixote. But generally, I don't re-read all that much, I usually have to let them sit for a while so I can forget a lot of it. Sometimes I do get an urge to re-read a book, usually it's when I can't recall that much of it, but I know I liked it. But there's some books that I loved when I was younger, and try to reread them, and I think "I actually liked this?"

02-14-2016, 12:53 AM	#28
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,464 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	I very rarely reread. The last couple of rereads did not engage my mind as I thought it would. I ended up by skimming through the books, and got bored in the end. The last book that I re read which gained 5 stars after the reread is Agatha Christie's The Mystery of The Blue Train. There was a 15 year gap between the first and second readings. I don't see myself rereading a book this year. I am tempted to read just the opening chapters of LoTR, because they are so freaking good. But a proper reread does not hold any allure for me.

02-14-2016, 01:00 AM	#29
klmmc13 formatting student Posts: 47 Karma: 38268 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: South Arkansas, US Device: several models of Kindle; Several Android tablets & 3 Android phones.	Re-reading a book, or series is like a comfy pair of old shoes, or that special throw blanket you curl up with on the couch or favorite chair. It's a comfort thing. Sometimes new books are too much of the unexpected or a challenge to read, when all you really want to do is RELAX, and feel wrapped up in something familiar. I've got several sets of books I re-read every year.... All my Robert Heinlein and Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, and a few others. But then, I can read most of those cover-to-cover in a day or so. After I've gotten that particular "need" out of my system, I move on to something new. The Best of Both Worlds is those few times that a favorite Author comes out with a new book!

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02-14-2016, 01:02 PM	#30
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	How can you reread Mercedes Lackey every year? I've had the chance to get some of her books cheaply a few years ago, but looking through her bibliography, she seems to write a book every other month, so I declined to get them. Look at this A huge number of books have a "with <writer name>" prefix. I wouldn't be surprised if these people are doing most of the writing. Another writer I've seen who does this is James Patterson, and I won't be surprised if writers such as Daniëlle Steel do the same. Daniëlle Steel "writes" 4 books a year, and has 6 to be written and published in 2016. That's impossible. Nobody can write that much and that fast. It could even be possible that there are a number of people writing, all under the same name, with the original author just as some sort of supervisor.