I found myself involved in a great debate recently. A few of my colleagues are big readers like I am, and we’ll often tell each other about books we’re reading.
I happened to mention something about reading a book again, and it sparked a huge controversy. Some think it’s absolutely weird to read the same book multiple times, others do it all the time. The biggest question was why would you read something again? You know how it ends.
Hmm, is it just me? To those of us who reread, why do we do it? For me, I don’t read a book because of the ending. It’s the journey to the end that sucks me in. And IF an author has provided me with a satisfactory journey, I’m more than happy to take the trip with him/her again and again.
Do YOU reread your books? And if so, why?
I absolutely reread books. Sometimes many, many times. That’s why we call them “keepers”. I’ve never stopped to ask myself why though. I suppose it has something to do with the escapism and the feelings the book elicits.
I love rereading books that really move me for one reason or another. I have several that have been keepers for years for that very reason.
Every time I read them, I take that journey all over again, even though I know how it’ll end…however, I give enough space between readings to make sure I don’t remember every single detail, so the book is still a little fresh to me each time.
I used to reread books, bu tlately there are so many new ones I just don’t have times for reruns.
I voted “Yes” though because I will go back and reread scenes that I really enjoyed.
The only time I reread books is when I don’t have anything new to read OR when a new book in a series comes out and I need to refresh my memory before delving into the new story.
I voted no, although I have reread books. Most of what I read is suspense or romantic suspense and a lot of the fun is playing armchair detective with the characters. It does take away from the enjoyment if I know how it’s going to end.
That said, I have reread some suspense that I absolutely love after a lengthy period of time. My memory isn’t as sharp, and even though I may remember whodunnit, it’s been long enough that I still enjoy the discovery.
I use to reread romance and sagas when I was younger. I don’t read them as much as I use to, and another reason I voted no is because of time. I barely have time to read a book once. LOL If there had been the option of Depends, that would have been my strong answer. 🙂
I’m a huge re-reader. Even if it’s something I just read. If a book really moves me, I’ll read it two or three times in that first month.
Fresh details that take me deeper into the story — or just getting to that moment that made me sigh. I’ve literally worn out copies of my favorite books.
It’s like watching movies again. You do it because the movie made you laugh or moved you in some way the first time and you want to revisit that feeling.
I do reread, and sometimes I just reread certain scenes if I really like the way an author handles a particular situation. I love reliving that ‘punch to the gut’ or ‘tingling arm’ sensation when an author pulls me so far into the world and emotions of the characters I am no longer a passive reader, but feel I have a real stake in the outcome.
-Kat
I don’t reread often, but when I do, it’s usually because I want to see how an author did what she did – I think the last book I reread was Emma Holly’s All U Can Eat. I just love the detail of sensuality she puts into her stories.
My English lecturer constantly told us that you don’t read a book, you reread it.
A book that really grabs me, I’ll read again. And there’re are some – like Persuasion – that I read at least twice every year without fail. I’m in the middle of that one again, LOL
I voted yes, but if there’d been a ‘hmm, sometimes’ option, that would have been more accurate.
As more of my time gets eaten up with writing, I find I become more and more selective about my reading choices, so you really have to make me laugh hard, cry hard or just sit back in absolute awe to be worthy of a re-read.
Some books I have reread until the covers have fallen off. One hardback copy of Sci-fi trilogy by Mercedes Lackey has actually been replaced(Thank God for e-bay). Granted after 16 or 17 years, I know the bones of the story very well, I want to relive the emotions from the story.
To those who say they don’t reread, do they ever watch the same movie or tv show more than once?
I am currently rereading the Laurell K. Hamilton, Anita Blake series, awaiting the next installment.
I absolutely re-read my books! Why? The same reason I can watch some movies over and over again. I know what I’m getting: pure enjoyment.
There’s also the added bonus of trying to figure out the magic–to decipher what the author has done that’s touched me so deeply. Then I can use that knowledge to make my own books “re-readable.”
I reread for a number of reasons. Some are like old friends that I like to reacquaint myself with. Some are for comfort when I feel ow. Some I love so much I get a thrill everytime I read them seeing something new each time.
I am a definte re-reader, even though I haven’t had time for it the last couple years. I have read The Belgariad series by David Eddings about 20 times since I first read it in high school. Also Harry Potter books get a standard re-read usually before the next one comes out, but also to catch any little clues that may be in there about what is coming. These kinds of things may escape you on the first read through.
I generally read books again because I love the basic story, the characters, and the way the are presented by the author. Just because I know what is coming doesn’t mean I can’t find new and interesting bits that I missed the first time through!
I reread books if they make good points, not for fun. For example, I reread 1984 and The Art of War recently. Thanks! You might like the Book & Reading Forums.
Yes, I absolutely reread my keepers. As others have said, it may be the whole book or just a certain scene that elicits a particular feeling. Sometimes I just like the set-up and the characters and it is pleasant to revisit that.
I don’t reread books anymore, but I used to. I had a couple of favorites that I read maybe five or six times. If I thought of doing that now, my TBR pile would climb out of the closet and trample me.
Absolutely. I am such a dedicated re-reader, that once when my old and thankfully buried computer ate my collection of e-books from my favorite authors-I had to buy them all again-just so I’d know they would be there for me when I needed “inspiration”. I do the same with print. If I love the story and the author-the characters-thats it. I do like to leave a bit of time between reads though.
I reread books if they just really knocked my feet off, or if I remember it from reading it before and want to reread it for inspiration. There could also just be something in that really makes it exactly what I need to read right at that moment.
I have run into a TON however, that are not worth rereading, but they were still great books. It totally depends on the book, and why I would want to reread them.
I reread books often because I’m a speed reader and I find that I see things the second or third or fourth time around that I didn’t see the first time so it’s like reading it for the first time. I love seeing things from a new angle even though I know how it comes out in the end. Besides, in some books, I find that I become so attached to the characters that rereading is like visiting an old friend.
I have a shelf full of books that are frequent re-reading fodder. These aren’t always the books that I would label as the best I’ve ever read–they’re the ones that have connected with me in some magical way that I don’t want to examine. (I don’t want to disturb the magic.)
It’s rare for me to add another book to this shelf, but when I do, I know it’s something I’m going to reread more than once. (And yes, I love to watch my favorite movies more than once, too.)
As a writer, if a book strikes a chord in me, I’ll read it multiple times to analyze why. As a reader, if I really enjoy a book or characters that I continue to think about when I’m finished, then I’ll read that book again for pure enjoyment.
There are some books that are just like curling up with a lovely steaming mug of cocoa, or soaking in an exquisitely sceneted warm bubble bath. In other words, pure comfort.
Of course I’d reread them! I’d be stupid not to!
Of course, there are some books I won’t even finish the first time, so I certainly wouldn’t ever finish them.
I re-read a lot of my books. Some as comfort reads if I’m not feeling well, or to give my mind a rest if I’ve read a lot of new books in a short space of time.
Often I’ll re-read something if I don’t know which new book I want to read next – that’s when I usually trawl my shelves for something I know I’ve enjoyed reading, just to tide me over until I figure out what I want to read next (not just title, sometimes I re-read specific genres to get me in the mood too).
Yes, I re-read books! Usually because the author evokes such emotions that I have to experience that “rush” again.
Even when I’m reading a book for the first time, I’ll re-read certain lines of dialogue over and over because they pack that much punch.
Yes, I read certain books again and again because the writing is so marvellous that I always seem to find something new with each reading.
My repeat reads are The Domino Trilogy by Cyrian Amberlake [erotica] and the Thomas Harris Lecter books. I’ve also read several Stephen King novels twice too.
I always reread old favourites… and not just once. If it’s one I love a lot, again and again and again…
It’s like revisiting old friends again. That’s the mark of a good book, if it can make me feel all the same emotions each time I read it…
I rarely reread a book. When I reread books the most was when I was in college taking lit courses. Nowadays I don’t. There are too many good books out there and too little time to read. Besides, for me to reread a book, it must have made a great impact on me. That rarely happens.
I have to confess, I reread my books over and over again. Constantly. it’s like comfort food with no calories.
Wow! Thanks for all the comments, everyone.
For those of us that do reread, and the numbers show that’s most of us, it’s interesting to note that our emotions are a big part of this. It’s not so much the process of reading the book again that welcomes us back, it’s the remembered emotions of the read that have the power to pull us back again and again.
I appriciate the time you all took to share your thoughts.