Do you re-read books?

nekokami · 11-22-2007, 07:54 PM

This isn't a scientific poll, because only a subset of Mobileread participants will probably contribute, and we're not exactly a random selection of the population, but I'm curious about how many people here read books more than once.

Alexander Turcic · 11-22-2007, 08:00 PM

The only books I reread are (mainly scientific) non-fiction ones, and those I usually don't read on an e-book reader (due to limited screen size).

nekokami · 11-22-2007, 09:50 PM

I'm curious -- does the limited screen size present a problem because of diagrams, or text?

JSWolf · 11-22-2007, 09:53 PM

In my opinion, a lot of the books of the type Alex mentioned are large and do have a lot of diagrams. And sometimes color is important. The current eink readers are not sized properly for books of this type. I know the iLiad would be the best one, but it's still not wide enough. And if color is needed, then it's a bust no matter.

RWood · 11-22-2007, 11:20 PM

Most of the reference books I use are text and tables. Maybe one diagram in 200 pages. What I need for them is an index or a very detailed TOC. Most of my day-to-day reference books are supplied to me in Word format often with the tables also available in Excel. Great for cut and paste operations.

I seldom reread fiction -- I get bored too quick. Some books, like Ben Franklin's Autobiography, can be read again and again. These are very rare for me.

Liviu_5 · 11-23-2007, 01:14 AM

As mentioned in another post I only buy a (leisure fiction or non fiction) book that I think I will reread. In fact I rarely read a book cover to cover that I do not want to reread at least partly. For me a book either grabs me or not, and if not I will drop it since I already have enough books that I want to read or reread.

In general I have about 10-15 fiction books/magazines on tap and 3-4 non-fiction books (mostly history, math problems/puzzles or general physics) that I read from (currently 3-4 SF anthologies/mags - Eclipse 1, Escape Velocity, Aeon 11, Challenging Destiny 24, and several sf/fantasy/hist books, Traitor and Tyrant by M. Cisco, The Bone Key by S. Monette, Radiant by JA Gardner, Endgame by K. Smith, Ghost Portrait by G. Norminton, The Lion of Venice by M. Frutkin, Gentlemen of the Road by M. Chabon and several others a bit lower on my list now) switching until one grabs me.

When a "buy and read on publication" arrives, I drop those and read that one until I finish and maybe reread at least parts of it (currently just finished War Machine by A. Remic, started The Somnambulist by J. Barnes with At the Court of the Air by S. Hunt waiting immediately after).

Of course if in the meantime I get in a different mood, I turn to other books on my waiting list (got 50-60 more easily), I may reread something...

This is why it's crucial for me to have guaranteed access (with prudent backups of course) to all my e-books too as I have to my print books...

jbenny · 11-23-2007, 01:49 AM

Really good fiction gets re-read. I have read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories several times, since I was young. Also some Mark Twain, the Miss Marple stories and others. Given enough time, it is in some ways better than reading the story for the first time. You remember enough to know the overall story and the characters, but don't remember all the details, so it is still enjoyable. You can also get more out of it, as you pickup details that you missed before.

Of course, technical information gets re-read as needed.

strangeseraph · 11-23-2007, 06:34 AM

I re-read.

Not all the time, but I'm a Harry Potter fan so I have to have my HP books nearby at hand in case the urge should strike. I'm also a speed reader.

M0zza · 11-23-2007, 08:45 AM

I do revisit some of my favourites. From Sherlock Holmes to the The Three Musketeers to things like the Belgariad.

I also reread the previous books to a series before I get the new release. This means I've read Honor Harrington books a lot. Not to mention the Wheel of Time!

slayda · 11-23-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

A
When a "buy and read on publication" arrives, I drop those and read that one until I finish a.

Of course if in the meantime I get in a different mood, I turn to other books on my waiting list (got 50-60 more easily), I may reread something...

This is why it's crucial for me to have guaranteed access (with prudent backups of course) to all my e-books too as I have to my print books...

I was thinking that I was alone in this habit. Good to know there are others that skip around too.

AnemicOak · 11-23-2007, 12:45 PM

I re-read books/series I like all the time. I've got hundreds of books I've read more than once, many more than two or three times.

Since I'm big on re-reading I'm afraid to lock into any DRM scheme. I'll stick to MS Lit so I have something I can convert & read on whatever device I might have at the time. If I was going to 'trust' one DRM scheme at this point it'd probably be Mobi I think, but for some reason I just can't get myself to make that leap.

yvanleterrible · 11-23-2007, 03:41 PM

Usually I abhore rereading but... there is an instance where it happened, yes I failed

. HP6 before HP7

hidari · 11-23-2007, 03:57 PM

I rarely reread unless it is an old classic I like such as a good Graham Greene novel...

HP never have: NEVER will

hidari

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Usually I abhore rereading but... there is an instance where it happened, yes I failed:grin. HP6 before HP7

Jadon · 11-23-2007, 08:08 PM

I re-read by accidental more often than purposefully, when I start reading a book only to realize after a time that I've read it before, maybe twenty years ago under a different title. But since I don't remember details, I'll finish it again. And there are a couple of books I'll read again on purpose when I'm hospitalized.

Inna · 12-06-2007, 09:46 AM

Re-reading favourite books is like re-watching favourite films. I really like it.

View Poll Results: Do you re-read books? (Select all that apply)
Never	23	5.71%
Sometimes I look something up for reference later	46	11.41%
I often look something up in a book I've previously read	48	11.91%
I re-read a few favorites multiple times, cover to cover	194	48.14%
I re-read many books (2 or more times), cover to cover	157	38.96%
If I'm away from my library for very long, I go into withdrawal symptoms!	57	14.14%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 403. You may not vote on this poll

11-22-2007, 07:54 PM	#1
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Do you re-read books? This isn't a scientific poll, because only a subset of Mobileread participants will probably contribute, and we're not exactly a random selection of the population, but I'm curious about how many people here read books more than once.

11-23-2007, 03:41 PM	#12
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Usually I abhore rereading but... there is an instance where it happened, yes I failed. HP6 before HP7

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11-22-2007, 08:00 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	The only books I reread are (mainly scientific) non-fiction ones, and those I usually don't read on an e-book reader (due to limited screen size).

11-22-2007, 09:50 PM	#3
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'm curious -- does the limited screen size present a problem because of diagrams, or text?

11-22-2007, 09:53 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,690 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	In my opinion, a lot of the books of the type Alex mentioned are large and do have a lot of diagrams. And sometimes color is important. The current eink readers are not sized properly for books of this type. I know the iLiad would be the best one, but it's still not wide enough. And if color is needed, then it's a bust no matter.

11-22-2007, 11:20 PM	#5
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Most of the reference books I use are text and tables. Maybe one diagram in 200 pages. What I need for them is an index or a very detailed TOC. Most of my day-to-day reference books are supplied to me in Word format often with the tables also available in Excel. Great for cut and paste operations. I seldom reread fiction -- I get bored too quick. Some books, like Ben Franklin's Autobiography, can be read again and again. These are very rare for me.

11-23-2007, 01:14 AM	#6
Liviu_5 Books and more books Posts: 917 Karma: 69499 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: White Plains, NY, USA Device: Nook Color, Itouch, Nokia770, Sony 650, Sony 700(dead), Ebk(given)	As mentioned in another post I only buy a (leisure fiction or non fiction) book that I think I will reread. In fact I rarely read a book cover to cover that I do not want to reread at least partly. For me a book either grabs me or not, and if not I will drop it since I already have enough books that I want to read or reread. In general I have about 10-15 fiction books/magazines on tap and 3-4 non-fiction books (mostly history, math problems/puzzles or general physics) that I read from (currently 3-4 SF anthologies/mags - Eclipse 1, Escape Velocity, Aeon 11, Challenging Destiny 24, and several sf/fantasy/hist books, Traitor and Tyrant by M. Cisco, The Bone Key by S. Monette, Radiant by JA Gardner, Endgame by K. Smith, Ghost Portrait by G. Norminton, The Lion of Venice by M. Frutkin, Gentlemen of the Road by M. Chabon and several others a bit lower on my list now) switching until one grabs me. When a "buy and read on publication" arrives, I drop those and read that one until I finish and maybe reread at least parts of it (currently just finished War Machine by A. Remic, started The Somnambulist by J. Barnes with At the Court of the Air by S. Hunt waiting immediately after). Of course if in the meantime I get in a different mood, I turn to other books on my waiting list (got 50-60 more easily), I may reread something... This is why it's crucial for me to have guaranteed access (with prudent backups of course) to all my e-books too as I have to my print books...

11-23-2007, 01:49 AM	#7
jbenny Addict Posts: 323 Karma: 358 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Tablet PC and Nokia N800	Really good fiction gets re-read. I have read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories several times, since I was young. Also some Mark Twain, the Miss Marple stories and others. Given enough time, it is in some ways better than reading the story for the first time. You remember enough to know the overall story and the characters, but don't remember all the details, so it is still enjoyable. You can also get more out of it, as you pickup details that you missed before. Of course, technical information gets re-read as needed.

11-23-2007, 06:34 AM	#8
strangeseraph Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 592 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Device: Amazon Kindle 3	I re-read. Not all the time, but I'm a Harry Potter fan so I have to have my HP books nearby at hand in case the urge should strike. I'm also a speed reader.

11-23-2007, 08:45 AM	#9
M0zza Geek... Apparently Posts: 211 Karma: 51260 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts, UK Device: Sony PRS-505 (Silver), ASUS Transformer TF300T, IPAD Air 2	I do revisit some of my favourites. From Sherlock Holmes to the The Three Musketeers to things like the Belgariad. I also reread the previous books to a series before I get the new release. This means I've read Honor Harrington books a lot. Not to mention the Wheel of Time!

11-23-2007, 12:45 PM	#11
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I re-read books/series I like all the time. I've got hundreds of books I've read more than once, many more than two or three times. Since I'm big on re-reading I'm afraid to lock into any DRM scheme. I'll stick to MS Lit so I have something I can convert & read on whatever device I might have at the time. If I was going to 'trust' one DRM scheme at this point it'd probably be Mobi I think, but for some reason I just can't get myself to make that leap.

11-23-2007, 08:08 PM	#14
Jadon Hermit Posts: 192 Karma: 9425 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Glo	I re-read by accidental more often than purposefully, when I start reading a book only to realize after a time that I've read it before, maybe twenty years ago under a different title. But since I don't remember details, I'll finish it again. And there are a couple of books I'll read again on purpose when I'm hospitalized.

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12-06-2007, 09:46 AM	#15
Inna Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minsk Device: PDF	Re-reading favourite books is like re-watching favourite films. I really like it.