Read the Same Book Multiple Times? - Page 4

speakingtohe · 05-09-2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

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.

Me too now with calibre. But I didn't with paper.

Helen

Tarana · 05-09-2014, 09:58 AM

Quote:

I mean, no matter how much I like the book, I can't read the same book even twice.

I think it totally depends on how your brain works. I also think that those who read the same FAVORITE books over and over can't understand why someone wouldn't do so.

My sister rereads books she's read in the past about 80% of the time. My Mom never rereads. The funny thing about it is that they are opposite for watching movies or TV shows. My sister never rewatches while my Mom is happy revisiting favorites, even long series she's seen several times.

I would fall into the reread group. However, there are only a handful of books I've read more than twice.

One advantage, of course, of not wanting to reread is that you have no reason to keep the book, so decluttering is automatic. That's why we didn't have a lot of books (other than kid's books - there were 6 of us) at home was because as soon as Mom read a book, out it went. My Dad wasn't much into novels until he retired.

HarryT · 05-09-2014, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

I think it totally depends on how your brain works. I also think that those who read the same FAVORITE books over and over can't understand why someone wouldn't do so.

I have to admit that it baffles me. It would be like never listening to a piece of music that you enjoyed again, or never eating your favourite food again, on the grounds that there are so many other foods that you haven't eaten yet

.

CWatkinsNash · 05-09-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

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.

For me, if I haven't forgotten most of the specific details, I find myself with an uncomfortable sense of deja vu while re-reading that is highly distracting. (Obviously, it's not the same as deja vu, but it's the closest thing I can think of to describe the feeling.) I can recall the major plot points, of course, but it's the little things that have the potential to screw me up when trying to re-read. Helen says she gets "bored and edgy" and that's pretty close to what it does to me - I become disengaged, distracted, and mentally edgy because my brain runs off trying to grasp on to something it remembers and trying to fill in the blanks, whether I want it to or not.

It took 8 years before I could start re-reading Harry Potter (I never read the last one, so previously I had left off at Half Blood Prince), and I still had several moments where I had to force myself through certain parts because of this.

For me, presentation can't be enjoyed separately, so if any part of the reading experience is hampered, style isn't going to carry me through.

Edited to add:

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have to admit that it baffles me. It would be like never listening to a piece of music that you enjoyed again, or never eating your favourite food again, on the grounds that there are so many other foods that you haven't eaten yet

.

I experience music in a completely different way than I experience books. For me, they are not at all comparable.

Books are unique for me. Closer, perhaps, to movies, but still not the same.

Apache · 05-09-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have to admit that it baffles me. It would be like never listening to a piece of music that you enjoyed again, or never eating your favourite food again, on the grounds that there are so many other foods that you haven't eaten yet

.

A perfect example.

Apache

Gazella · 05-09-2014, 01:27 PM

I'm the same as you, OP. I can't reread a book no matter how much I enjoyed it. Except if I don't remember much about the book, that's when I may read it again. I think the only book I ever reread is A Tale of Two Cities even though I remember the plot and everything. I don't know why I read it again, perhaps I just wanted to revisit a favorite classic.

crossi · 05-09-2014, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazella

I'm the same as you, OP. I can't reread a book no matter how much I enjoyed it. Except if I don't remember much about the book, that's when I may read it again. I think the only book I ever reread is A Tale of Two Cities even though I remember the plot and everything. I don't know why I read it again, perhaps I just wanted to revisit a favorite classic.

When did you stop liking to reread books? If you were like most children they often want the same book read to them before bed many many times. They don't seem to get quickly tired of them. I just never grew up myself.

Gazella · 05-10-2014, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi

When did you stop liking to reread books? If you were like most children they often want the same book read to them before bed many many times. They don't seem to get quickly tired of them. I just never grew up myself.

Ever since I got into reading. Which wasn't a very long time ago.

Katsunami · 05-10-2014, 09:09 AM

There are some books (and movies) I can never get enough of. The two that stand out most, are James Clavell's Shogun, and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I can read those books (and see the movies) as many times as I want and never feel like I'm wasting my time. Another one, but a bit less so, is The Elfstones of Shannara. I can imagine why they started the BBC Shannara series using that book. It's the best one of the original trilogy.

Most books I don't re-reread, especially not the simpler Forgotten Realms fantasy, apart from a very select few. Sometimes, I DO re-read books if I'm thinking: "I read that book 10-15 years ago... I was about... but I don't remember the details." One of those series were the Elenium and Tamuli of David Eddings, so I re-read them. Same with the Belgariad and Mallloreon; they'll probably be re-read this year or next year.

jscarbo · 05-10-2014, 10:11 AM

These days I read primarily for relaxation and pleasure, the way many people watch television. Re-reading old favorites is particularly enjoyable because I can match the book to my mood. It really doesn't matter how recently I've read it or how well I remember the plot and scenes. I get as much or more enjoyment every time I re-read a favorite book.

I also read a lot of non-fiction, much of it for general knowledge and enjoyment, but sometimes for material I want to truly master and remember. I have a specific technique for this sort of material that I developed many years ago when I was a law student and was required to read and remember key concepts and facts from thousands of pages of case law and analysis.

What I did then, and still do today, was to read everything four times. The first time, I read through the material very quickly, almost skimming it, so I had a good idea of the major points and what was important and what was unimportant. The second time I read very carefully, frequently re-reading sections to be sure I understood them thoroughly. Then, and only then, I re-read the material a third time and highlighted the important points I wanted to remember, being very careful not to highlight anything I didn't consider to be essential. After highlighting, I would re-read a fourth time, reading only my highlights. When preparing for an exam, or any time I wanted to refresh my memory as to the material, I'd read through my highlights again, ignoring the rest of the material.

I've taught this technique to many students over the years and it's invariably helped them become better students and improved their grades.

alecE · 05-10-2014, 10:14 AM

I can't imagine not re-reading books - I find it akin to having a conversation with an old friend. The same topics may come round, but always with a slightly different spin. So with a favourite book; depending on my mood and what's happening in my life, the same prose can evoke markedly different reactions and allow me to 'see' different nuances. As an example, my copy of 'The Evolution Man' (acquired in 1965 for 2/6d - 12.5p in new money!) is a work I re-read probably at least once a year. Familiarity with the plot allows me to focus on the construction of the sentences and the way they capture the reader.
It works for me; but it's not mandatory for everybody.

Superphil · 05-10-2014, 04:41 PM

I love to reread some books, such as Lord of the Rings. My favourite all time to reread? Has to be Moby Dick. So many layers to that book. Must have read it at least 4 times.

Lemurion · 05-10-2014, 06:07 PM

I rarely reread now, but I used to do it frequently. When I was a teen, I would normally reread almost every book immediately on finishing it.

As with many others, I'm a big LoTR fan. I read it approximately every 6 months for 20 years, though I haven't read it in the last 15 years or so.

4691mls · 05-10-2014, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alecE

I can't imagine not re-reading books - I find it akin to having a conversation with an old friend. The same topics may come round, but always with a slightly different spin. So with a favourite book; depending on my mood and what's happening in my life, the same prose can evoke markedly different reactions and allow me to 'see' different nuances. As an example, my copy of 'The Evolution Man' (acquired in 1965 for 2/6d - 12.5p in new money!) is a work I re-read probably at least once a year. Familiarity with the plot allows me to focus on the construction of the sentences and the way they capture the reader.
It works for me; but it's not mandatory for everybody.

Yes, this is how it is for me also

Jack Torrance · 05-12-2014, 02:23 PM

If its a good book it can be re read again with no loss of enjoyment IMHO. True you may know how its going to end. Stephen King described it perfectly in the epilogue to the Dark Tower before giving an alternate ending. He related it to sex and saying if its all about the squirt at the end you missed the journey. (or something like that).

When my wife was diagnosed with Cancer and then all its subsequent surgeries and treatments. I re-read The Dark tower series Back to back and then listened to the Audio books back to back, followed by the entire Tom Clancy "Ryanverse" in chronological order vs published order as a distraction.

I am looking forward to re reading/listening to Patrick O'Brians Master and Commander again all 20 1/2 as the story is so well done its like visiting old Friends you haven't seen in a while.

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05-09-2014, 01:27 PM	#51
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	I'm the same as you, OP. I can't reread a book no matter how much I enjoyed it. Except if I don't remember much about the book, that's when I may read it again. I think the only book I ever reread is A Tale of Two Cities even though I remember the plot and everything. I don't know why I read it again, perhaps I just wanted to revisit a favorite classic.

05-10-2014, 09:09 AM	#54
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	There are some books (and movies) I can never get enough of. The two that stand out most, are James Clavell's Shogun, and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I can read those books (and see the movies) as many times as I want and never feel like I'm wasting my time. Another one, but a bit less so, is The Elfstones of Shannara. I can imagine why they started the BBC Shannara series using that book. It's the best one of the original trilogy. Most books I don't re-reread, especially not the simpler Forgotten Realms fantasy, apart from a very select few. Sometimes, I DO re-read books if I'm thinking: "I read that book 10-15 years ago... I was about... but I don't remember the details." One of those series were the Elenium and Tamuli of David Eddings, so I re-read them. Same with the Belgariad and Mallloreon; they'll probably be re-read this year or next year.

05-10-2014, 10:11 AM	#55
jscarbo Addict Posts: 220 Karma: 1075434 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Costa Rica Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle PW2, Nook HD+, Nexus 7	These days I read primarily for relaxation and pleasure, the way many people watch television. Re-reading old favorites is particularly enjoyable because I can match the book to my mood. It really doesn't matter how recently I've read it or how well I remember the plot and scenes. I get as much or more enjoyment every time I re-read a favorite book. I also read a lot of non-fiction, much of it for general knowledge and enjoyment, but sometimes for material I want to truly master and remember. I have a specific technique for this sort of material that I developed many years ago when I was a law student and was required to read and remember key concepts and facts from thousands of pages of case law and analysis. What I did then, and still do today, was to read everything four times. The first time, I read through the material very quickly, almost skimming it, so I had a good idea of the major points and what was important and what was unimportant. The second time I read very carefully, frequently re-reading sections to be sure I understood them thoroughly. Then, and only then, I re-read the material a third time and highlighted the important points I wanted to remember, being very careful not to highlight anything I didn't consider to be essential. After highlighting, I would re-read a fourth time, reading only my highlights. When preparing for an exam, or any time I wanted to refresh my memory as to the material, I'd read through my highlights again, ignoring the rest of the material. I've taught this technique to many students over the years and it's invariably helped them become better students and improved their grades.

05-10-2014, 10:14 AM	#56
alecE Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 546196 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK canal boat Device: sony prs505, prs650, kobo Glo HD liseuses	I can't imagine not re-reading books - I find it akin to having a conversation with an old friend. The same topics may come round, but always with a slightly different spin. So with a favourite book; depending on my mood and what's happening in my life, the same prose can evoke markedly different reactions and allow me to 'see' different nuances. As an example, my copy of 'The Evolution Man' (acquired in 1965 for 2/6d - 12.5p in new money!) is a work I re-read probably at least once a year. Familiarity with the plot allows me to focus on the construction of the sentences and the way they capture the reader. It works for me; but it's not mandatory for everybody.

05-10-2014, 04:41 PM	#57
Superphil Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 78524 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Montreal, Canada. Device: Kobo original.	I love to reread some books, such as Lord of the Rings. My favourite all time to reread? Has to be Moby Dick. So many layers to that book. Must have read it at least 4 times.

05-10-2014, 06:07 PM	#58
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I rarely reread now, but I used to do it frequently. When I was a teen, I would normally reread almost every book immediately on finishing it. As with many others, I'm a big LoTR fan. I read it approximately every 6 months for 20 years, though I haven't read it in the last 15 years or so.

05-12-2014, 02:23 PM	#60
Jack Torrance “Here’s Johnny Posts: 186 Karma: 3863056 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Overlook Hotel Colorado Device: Kindle DXG - 9.7 iPad - iPhone 12PM - Macbook Pro	If its a good book it can be re read again with no loss of enjoyment IMHO. True you may know how its going to end. Stephen King described it perfectly in the epilogue to the Dark Tower before giving an alternate ending. He related it to sex and saying if its all about the squirt at the end you missed the journey. (or something like that). When my wife was diagnosed with Cancer and then all its subsequent surgeries and treatments. I re-read The Dark tower series Back to back and then listened to the Audio books back to back, followed by the entire Tom Clancy "Ryanverse" in chronological order vs published order as a distraction. I am looking forward to re reading/listening to Patrick O'Brians Master and Commander again all 20 1/2 as the story is so well done its like visiting old Friends you haven't seen in a while.

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