Books You've Read More Than Once
Discussion
I was watching a quiz show the other day and there was a literature round. Two questions in a row came up that I answered and said that I'd read the book in question twice. (Dracula and Great Expectations). Which got me thinking, with so many books out there to read and a naturally inquisitive and acquisitive nature it's quite rare for me to have the desire to revisit books that I've already read but some of them really justify a second go. The reference to potentially re-reading Catch 22 above jogged my memory to post this. What's everyone else's experience of re-reading and are there any titles that you return to time and again? Do you relate to them differently on re-reading?
Off the top of my head my list includes the following:
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the whole "trilogy in five parts"). I've read the lot three times but the last time was around a decade ago and I'm considering another go. As it comes up quite frequently as a cultural reference I've found new meaning, points of reference and humour in it with each reading.
- The Count of Monte Cristo. Again I've read it three times. Probably my favourite book and my son is named after one of the characters. I just love it. Even the long old slog in prison at Chateau d'If.
- Dracula. As mentioned above I've read it twice (maybe three times). I could have quite easily been a bit of a goth and Whitby is one of my favourite places so it's a no-brainer.
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Read twice, fairly short and easy to read, moves at a good pace and again is a bit gothic horror in style.
- Great Expectations. Read twice; once in my early twenties and again mid thirties. Different perspectives on it as life experience changed etc.
Off the top of my head my list includes the following:
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the whole "trilogy in five parts"). I've read the lot three times but the last time was around a decade ago and I'm considering another go. As it comes up quite frequently as a cultural reference I've found new meaning, points of reference and humour in it with each reading.
- The Count of Monte Cristo. Again I've read it three times. Probably my favourite book and my son is named after one of the characters. I just love it. Even the long old slog in prison at Chateau d'If.
- Dracula. As mentioned above I've read it twice (maybe three times). I could have quite easily been a bit of a goth and Whitby is one of my favourite places so it's a no-brainer.
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Read twice, fairly short and easy to read, moves at a good pace and again is a bit gothic horror in style.
- Great Expectations. Read twice; once in my early twenties and again mid thirties. Different perspectives on it as life experience changed etc.
MC Bodge said:
"Danny the Champion of the World"
Three times at primary school and with each of my children.
A superb book.
I read all the Roald Dahl books as a child multiple times, except that one. In fact, I don't think I ever read it, despite being a massive fan of Roald Dahl when I was younger. No idea why.Three times at primary school and with each of my children.
A superb book.
As an adult, one of my favourites is "Sahara" by Clive Cussler, I've read it 3 or 4 times. I'm also in the process of re-reading the Jack Reacher series. Why? I don't know, they aren't exactly "high brow", but I enjoy a bit of fun and escapism.
DRFC1879 said:
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the whole "trilogy in five parts"). I've read the lot three times but the last time was around a decade ago and I'm considering another go. As it comes up quite frequently as a cultural reference I've found new meaning, points of reference and humour in it with each reading.
- The Count of Monte Cristo. Again I've read it three times. Probably my favourite book and my son is named after one of the characters. I just love it. Even the long old slog in prison at Chateau d'If.
I have never read any Douglas Adams(!) , nor The Count of Monte Cristo (although I do have a copy).- The Count of Monte Cristo. Again I've read it three times. Probably my favourite book and my son is named after one of the characters. I just love it. Even the long old slog in prison at Chateau d'If.
I should rectify this.
Plenty of books I've read multiple times. Mainly due to being a speed reader and I tend to forget the little details after a few years so happy to go back and reread. A lot of science fiction, Dune series, Foundation, David Brin, Peter F Hamilton.
My most reread series is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I started reading it in mid 90's when about 4-5 of the books were out, then every year or two when he released another one I would go back and read all the previous books before getting to the new one. The whole series is 13 books I think. So, I've read the majority of them many multiples of times over the last two and half decades. Most recently I read them all again over about 4-5 months and found so many details and story arcs I had forgotten. He might not be to everyone's taste but still fond memories from reading them all.
My most reread series is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I started reading it in mid 90's when about 4-5 of the books were out, then every year or two when he released another one I would go back and read all the previous books before getting to the new one. The whole series is 13 books I think. So, I've read the majority of them many multiples of times over the last two and half decades. Most recently I read them all again over about 4-5 months and found so many details and story arcs I had forgotten. He might not be to everyone's taste but still fond memories from reading them all.
I dont read much, but have read the below a few times.
Utopia - Lincoln Child - It is set in a futuristic amusement park called Utopia, a park that relies heavily on holographics and robotics. Dr. Andrew Warne, the man who designed the program that runs the park's robots, is called in to help fix a problem. But when he gets there, he finds out that the park is being held hostage by a mysterious man known as John Doe.
Hot Zone - A best-selling 1994 nonfiction thriller by Richard Preston about the origins and incidents involving viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly ebolaviruses and marburgviruses. The basis of the book was Preston's 1992 New Yorker article "Crisis in the Hot Zone".
Utopia - Lincoln Child - It is set in a futuristic amusement park called Utopia, a park that relies heavily on holographics and robotics. Dr. Andrew Warne, the man who designed the program that runs the park's robots, is called in to help fix a problem. But when he gets there, he finds out that the park is being held hostage by a mysterious man known as John Doe.
Hot Zone - A best-selling 1994 nonfiction thriller by Richard Preston about the origins and incidents involving viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly ebolaviruses and marburgviruses. The basis of the book was Preston's 1992 New Yorker article "Crisis in the Hot Zone".
Minus 148 degrees. The first winter ascent of McKinley
In 1967, eight men attempted North America's highest summit: Mount McKinley (now known as Denali) had been climbed before but never in winter. Plagued by doubts and cold, group tension and a crevasse tragedy, the expedition tackled McKinley in minimal hours of daylight and fierce storms. They were trapped at three different camps above 14,000 feet during a six-day blizzard and faced the ultimate low temperature of 148 F.
Recommend going up to talkeetna and having a plane fly you round the summit after you’ve read it. Also minus 148 is probably really bloody cold !
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/141162.Minu...
In 1967, eight men attempted North America's highest summit: Mount McKinley (now known as Denali) had been climbed before but never in winter. Plagued by doubts and cold, group tension and a crevasse tragedy, the expedition tackled McKinley in minimal hours of daylight and fierce storms. They were trapped at three different camps above 14,000 feet during a six-day blizzard and faced the ultimate low temperature of 148 F.
Recommend going up to talkeetna and having a plane fly you round the summit after you’ve read it. Also minus 148 is probably really bloody cold !
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/141162.Minu...
Super Sonic said:
I think this is common in sci-fi.
Interesting - I had never made that link, but thinking about it that is probably where a lot of my re-reading has been.For me, I have re-read everything Iain M Banks wrote, most several times, and will probably do so for all of them again. His death was a huge loss to writing.
spikeyhead said:
MC Bodge said:
spikeyhead said:
the book I've probably read most is Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
My commiserations. I'm sure that must be a recognised medical condition. I tried to read it again though and it really doesn't gel - I couldn't get more than about a third through. It's bizarre.
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