A big re-reader here! I feel that if a book is worth reading it is worth re-reading. Each re-read reveals more and the experience gets richer and richer.
Big, big, BIG re-reader. I've read Jane Eyre dozens of times, The Picture of Dorian Gray a handful, and I'm currently on my 4th or 5th re-read of the Wolf Hall trilogy, thanks to the brilliant @footnotesandtangents.
Those are all books that deliver more on subsequent readings — and I experience them differently each time because *I'm* different each time.
I also have a few comfort reads that I go back to: the Dick Francis mysteries (set in British horse racing of the 60s and 70s), Elizabeth George (British murder mysteries), the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva (excellent espionage novels).
I would also happily re-read A Gentleman in Moscow, Still Life by Saran Winman, and Station Eleven right now. In fact, BRB... ;-)
Totally with ya in the fact that we are different people every time we re-read a book — you never step in the same river twice and all that! Makes it really powerful to even compare the things that stood out before vs what stands out now.
Jane Eyre is one of my very favorite to re-read. I read it for the fourth time recently and I loved it even more than the previous time I'd read it, for exactly the reason you stated--I'm a different person every time.
I am #TeamJaneForever, but one time I read it, and Jane was kind of getting on my nerves, and I was, like, 'WHAT IS HAPPENING?' It went away, but it was funny/unsettling at the time.
Jane Austen! I re-read at least one of her novels every year. I’ve listened to Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime on audio many times and it always makes me laugh out loud.
Dana, this makes me so happy! I reread P&P last month and I think it’s the most perfect book. I’ve read it so many times and still notice new things with each read. It feels like I’m with old friends when I open it - I even love Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins!
I have re-read Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. Different translations reveal different nuances. And, as noted, deeper ideas are difficult to grasp on the first reading.
Yeah I love reading different translations on re-read of foreign stuff. Great way to do it where you're getting the same story, but told slightly differently. Each version will have its pros and cons.
I would reread more if it I had more time! I'm already sad that I will never be able to read all of the books I want to and if I read something I've already read, it means I'm not reading something new I might also love.
My favorites to reread are Austen's novels and the Harry Potter series.
I am kind of a rereader, but only select books! I’ve reread P&P at least 4 times & read The Little Prince twice, now rereading Tom Sawyer, then Huck Finn to prepare for my first read of JAMES!
I've become more a re-reader in recent years. I tend to re-read books that were assigned to me in high school that I didn't appreciate at the time because I was soooo cool and rebellious. I also like to re-read Catcher in the Rye every 5 or so years to see how far I've drifted from Holden.
Most of the avid readers I know are heavy re-readers. But while I may plough through books, I hardly ever return after my initial reading, especially with fiction.
As you say, that likely leaves a lot of missed gems. And, anecdotally, I seem to be in the minority here.
I do feel this way still, I’ve only reread a handful of books (3-5 in total), I feel some guilt rereading while the rest of my TBR are sitting there waiting to be read for the first time 🥹
That will definitely keep you busy. I read them when they first came out but waited until Brandon Sanderson completed them before finishing the series. Listened to the whole lot in 2022 on audiobook, the Michael Kramer and Kate Reading narration.
Absolutely. At least several a year get re-read! Mostly fiction, although Tim Ferris 4 hour work week is a yearly re-read. Current one is The ForeverWar by Joe Haldeman.
Sure. The Little Prince, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Man’s Search For Meaning, Dune, Farewell My Lovely, Blue Light (Mosley). All I can think of before morning coffee…
Ah, see I'm more likely to read heavy fiction that I feel goes beyond just the story on the page. There's definitely some comfort in returning to well-known and well-loved environs, though.
Love the Discworld book, and the Belgariad series is one I’ve read several times since I first read it. That series definitely feels like an old friend and still makes me laugh out loud in places.
I do re-reads but they are generally nonfiction Christian books which have made a big impact - eg. D.A. Carson's book on Paul's prayers, some other titles about prayer; also Honor, patronage, kinship and purity - which provoked thought as to these concepts which often meant something different from what they do now. Also sometimes books which have clarified concepts for me. On the fiction front I have and want to re-read some of Chaim Potok's novels.
A big re-reader here! I feel that if a book is worth reading it is worth re-reading. Each re-read reveals more and the experience gets richer and richer.
Agree!
Books I have re-read this year (so far):
Pride and prejudice
A Gentleman in Moscow
All the light we cannot see
Possession (A S Byatt)
The Republic of Love (Carol Shields)
Jane Austen is one of the best to re-read!
I totally agree with you. I try to re-read at least one Jane Austen every year.
I enjoy Carol Shields as well. She pulls you in.
Never read her — I'll have to give it a shot!
100% I love spotting clues laid down by the author I may have previously missed
Yes. I have said to myself when re-reading Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy "How could I have missed *that* the first time!".
I know all about your Wolf Hall re-read habit, Simon! ;-)
Guilty as charged!
💯
Big, big, BIG re-reader. I've read Jane Eyre dozens of times, The Picture of Dorian Gray a handful, and I'm currently on my 4th or 5th re-read of the Wolf Hall trilogy, thanks to the brilliant @footnotesandtangents.
Those are all books that deliver more on subsequent readings — and I experience them differently each time because *I'm* different each time.
I also have a few comfort reads that I go back to: the Dick Francis mysteries (set in British horse racing of the 60s and 70s), Elizabeth George (British murder mysteries), the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva (excellent espionage novels).
I would also happily re-read A Gentleman in Moscow, Still Life by Saran Winman, and Station Eleven right now. In fact, BRB... ;-)
Totally with ya in the fact that we are different people every time we re-read a book — you never step in the same river twice and all that! Makes it really powerful to even compare the things that stood out before vs what stands out now.
Jane Eyre is one of my very favorite to re-read. I read it for the fourth time recently and I loved it even more than the previous time I'd read it, for exactly the reason you stated--I'm a different person every time.
I am #TeamJaneForever, but one time I read it, and Jane was kind of getting on my nerves, and I was, like, 'WHAT IS HAPPENING?' It went away, but it was funny/unsettling at the time.
Ha! I get it. She is complex!
Yes, Still Life! Just going to find my copy….
That's a book I want to hug every time I think of it.
Jane Austen! I re-read at least one of her novels every year. I’ve listened to Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime on audio many times and it always makes me laugh out loud.
I also reread a Jane Austen every year, in January. This year was Pride and Prejudice and I love it more with every reading.
Dana, this makes me so happy! I reread P&P last month and I think it’s the most perfect book. I’ve read it so many times and still notice new things with each read. It feels like I’m with old friends when I open it - I even love Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins!
Amen!
Me too! Every January!
This is my kind of tradition!
Ah, great idea for Born a Crime! I've only consumed the paper version. :)
I have re-read Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. Different translations reveal different nuances. And, as noted, deeper ideas are difficult to grasp on the first reading.
Yeah I love reading different translations on re-read of foreign stuff. Great way to do it where you're getting the same story, but told slightly differently. Each version will have its pros and cons.
This seems like a really good idea.
Do you have a favorite translation of Brothers Karamazov? Looking to read it for the first time and feeling unsure of which one to try...
I have the Katz translation of both and it offers a little more liveliness and flair.
I read the Katz translation also and reviewed it on Substack, https://open.substack.com/pub/gregwatson/p/the-brothers-karamazov?r=2ns9q&utm_medium=ios
Rarely, but yes. Donna Tartt's The Secret History is an example of a re-read for me. As a teacher, of course, this practice is part of the job.
I would reread more if it I had more time! I'm already sad that I will never be able to read all of the books I want to and if I read something I've already read, it means I'm not reading something new I might also love.
My favorites to reread are Austen's novels and the Harry Potter series.
GWTW is my all time re-read. I was 11 the first read and have read it every 2 years since, I just turned 62.
A Testimony of Two Men by Taylor Caldwell
Is my second.
Several children’s series because I have 7.
Authors I re-read:
John Irving
Louisa May Alcott
Jane Austen
Love it! I've not yet read Gone With the Wind, but I will in the next couple of years for sure.
That’s The Stand for me, but I have a copy now, and intend to make that this winter’s read.
It's a treat!
I, too, love Gone with the Wind. Did you know that the original title Mitchell gave it was “Tote the Weary Load”? So fascinating.
I did, but for my mother? Have never known another soul who knew that.
I am kind of a rereader, but only select books! I’ve reread P&P at least 4 times & read The Little Prince twice, now rereading Tom Sawyer, then Huck Finn to prepare for my first read of JAMES!
I've become more a re-reader in recent years. I tend to re-read books that were assigned to me in high school that I didn't appreciate at the time because I was soooo cool and rebellious. I also like to re-read Catcher in the Rye every 5 or so years to see how far I've drifted from Holden.
I've definitely become more of a re-reader as I've gotten older. Like you, I enjoy revisiting books that had a big impact on my early adulthood.
I don’t re-read too many fiction books, but I have read SHOGUN twice, and may read it a third time after watching the new FX series.
Oh nice, I haven't read that one! Have you read the others in the series?
I have not. I should probably try to do that!
Most of the avid readers I know are heavy re-readers. But while I may plough through books, I hardly ever return after my initial reading, especially with fiction.
As you say, that likely leaves a lot of missed gems. And, anecdotally, I seem to be in the minority here.
Eh, whatever works for ya! It's definitely true that there's so much to read and so little time. :)
You're not alone. I'm not a re-reader, either, primarily because there's so much left that I haven't read.
True, we certainly won't run out of books to read!
I do feel this way still, I’ve only reread a handful of books (3-5 in total), I feel some guilt rereading while the rest of my TBR are sitting there waiting to be read for the first time 🥹
Those TBRs will get jealous...I'm glad it's no more than 5 books in the pile. Any more than that and you might find a mutiny on your hands! 😆
Ya def, I am currently rereading the Wheel of Time series, one of my all time favorites!
That will definitely keep you busy. I read them when they first came out but waited until Brandon Sanderson completed them before finishing the series. Listened to the whole lot in 2022 on audiobook, the Michael Kramer and Kate Reading narration.
Nice! Ya I had a big reread when the last one came out. I need to tackle Sanderson's big series next.
That one will keep ya busy for sure!
Absolutely. At least several a year get re-read! Mostly fiction, although Tim Ferris 4 hour work week is a yearly re-read. Current one is The ForeverWar by Joe Haldeman.
The Forever War is a great one to re-read!
Definitely. Re-reading it as part of my Hugo and Nebula award winners book challenge. Given
How much sci fi and fantasy I read when you get surprised at a few winners I had never heard of.
Nice, I haven't read Haldeman! Definitely moving it up my list.
Been interesting re-reading it as a (slightly) older adult with kids!
I felt that way about Ender's Game. Hits way different when my own kids are that age!
Sure. The Little Prince, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Man’s Search For Meaning, Dune, Farewell My Lovely, Blue Light (Mosley). All I can think of before morning coffee…
I will reread fiction a fair bit, especially lighthearted (they can have deeper meaning, but it’s not required).
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series
Larry Niven sci-fi like Footfall
David Eddings The Belgarad series
Animal Farm
William Gibson stuff
Nick Hornsby
Peter F Hamilton
Non-fiction - How to be Idle by Tim Hodgkinson and The Consolations of Philosophy by Alan De Botton are both super light, really enjoyable re-reads
Ah, see I'm more likely to read heavy fiction that I feel goes beyond just the story on the page. There's definitely some comfort in returning to well-known and well-loved environs, though.
Love the Discworld book, and the Belgariad series is one I’ve read several times since I first read it. That series definitely feels like an old friend and still makes me laugh out loud in places.
I do re-reads but they are generally nonfiction Christian books which have made a big impact - eg. D.A. Carson's book on Paul's prayers, some other titles about prayer; also Honor, patronage, kinship and purity - which provoked thought as to these concepts which often meant something different from what they do now. Also sometimes books which have clarified concepts for me. On the fiction front I have and want to re-read some of Chaim Potok's novels.
I haven't read Potok since high school. I have great memories, though!