For The L♥ve of Reading discussion

How do you guys feel about re-reading books? i would if i had the time, but i find i only re-read books i teach. the book i've read the most is the scarlet letter. oh and i've read the outsiders about thirteen times when i was thirteen!

what do you guys think?

I reread books to decide if I want to keep books in my personal library. This is a way to prune my library and save money on buying books.

usually, i dont reread books because i remember amost every detail in the story.i just do it when i love the story/ccharacters/universe so much I cant not do it...oh and when i really liked the first book and the 2nds still to come out and i have to read it again..

i don't mind re-reading books but when I re-read it will have at least a year time gap between readings. I wouldn't be able to re-read something to close to when I initially read it. I remember when I was in the fifth grade though I use to re-read my books a lot.

I agree Carla. I don't ever reread something that I had just recently read. You are right the details would be to fresh to really decide.

i don't remember books as well as i would like to. i started to keep a journal with a list of the books i read when i re-read the hours by michael cunnigham on accident. i kept predicting the story until i realized, "hey, i've read this book!" and after keeping a journal for several years, i came across goodreads. i love it!

I do like to re-read books. I don't do it too often but some books I have read many times.
Three Wishes by Barbara Delinsky
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Night Flying Woman: An Ojibway Narrative by Ignatia Broker
There are more but these three come to mind right away.

I recently read Soulless by Gail Carriger. A few days ago I went out and bought it so I could re-read (soon) and keep in my personal library.

I re-read books I love, and donate the books I don't. I tend to speed-read through books sometimes when I'm really engaged in the story, and I find upon a slower re-read I've missed details. I've re-read Harry Potter (yes, the series) several times.

I think it goes along with re-watching movies. Growing up we always watched movies together on Sunday afternoons, and movies we knew were watched again and again - they almost had a soothing quality. I feel the same with books sometimes. I just want escape, but I don't want to think too hard? I'll reach for an old favorite.

Goonies is the greatest re-watched movie of all time. Well, maybe not of all time but first one that popped into my head.

LOVE The Goonies. Crazy how much swearing you notice as a Mom that totally didn't register as a kid. :)

There was swearing in that movie?? Never noticed.

Karli wrote: "I re-read books I love, and donate the books I don't. I tend to speed-read through books sometimes when I'm really engaged in the story, and I find upon a slower re-read I've missed details. I've..."

i am totally into re-watching movies. i have never considered a book to be the same way. good analogy karli. i'll have to think about my highly recommended books and consider the re-read. would if i am not as touched the second time around?

Well... interesting discussion here on re-reading books. Though i do not re-read most on the fiction section, there are these spiritual and self help books which only work for me when i read and re-read and re-re-read... it kind of opens a new perspective to things on each read!

Deepti wrote: "Well... interesting discussion here on re-reading books. Though i do not re-read most on the fiction section, there are these spiritual and self help books which only work for me when i read and re..."

yes deepti. i hadn't considered books of this kind. i guess it would make sense to re-read them. i often re-read sections of The Prophetwhich i think is similar. sage advice.

Elizabeth wrote: "Karli wrote: "what if i am not as touched the second time around? "

I figure if the author is good and you pay attention to the story line and loved it then I'm sure you will love it again. You had to give it a good recommendation for a reason. However, sometimes it does depend on what kind of reading mood you are in. I find that if I really enjoyed a book for any reason then I tend to enjoy it again.

Good Luck and let us know how you feel if you get one of your favorites re-read.

Elizabeth wrote: "Karli wrote: "I re-read books I love, and donate the books I don't. I tend to speed-read through books sometimes when I'm really engaged in the story, and I find upon a slower re-read I've missed ..."

I've rarely had that happen - usually it's when I re-read something now that I thought was great in High School...and even then, when I re-read The Anne of Green Gables series and To Kill a Mockingbird, I still love them.

I love to reread my favorite books. There's always something that I either missed or didn't really take proper notice of the first time around. I have never really been disappointed by rereading a favorite, at least not that I can think of.

I have almost never re-read a book I do want to re-read the harry potter books though I feel like I would get more out of them the second time. I loved them the first time though

I find that as an English student, I have to re-read a book in order to produce the best possible analysis of it. I ALWAYS catch things the second time around that I either completely missed on the first reading or that I did not fully understand the first time. There is only one huge problem: time. I'm strapped enough for time to read the book once! As far as re-reading for pleasure (and not for a class), I really don't, except for those very select few books that I truly cherish and that I've internalized so much that I'm drawn to them again.

Danna wrote: "I find that as an English student, I have to re-read a book in order to produce the best possible analysis of it. I ALWAYS catch things the second time around that I either completely missed on the first reading or that I did not fully understand the first time."

Very much agreed. :)

I re-read almost all of my books for pleasure, unless I absolutely hated them. Which is rare. So, long story short...I reread a lot...

If I own the books, I reread them after at least 4-6 months of not having read them. I think everytime, the book/s come off as a whole new one to me even though I've already read them. :))

That can't really ever apply to me because I love almost every book I read. Lol :)

i love to re-read. there are some that i read every year (dracula) and some that i re-read multiple times a year (faking it). if i love it, i want to go back to it and the way it made me feel while i read it again and again!

There are several books that I have enjoyed more than once. It is like visiting an old friend. Comforting and you are already connected with the characters.

I'm wondering... for those of you who do not re-read there books, do you buy them and give them away or use the library? Or do you have a ton of books on your selves?

for me, i typically give books to my students or to friends that i think might be interested. there are books that i like to lend out more than once (as long as they are returned).

i also check out books from the library and tend not to buy too many unless i get them on sale. our library holds a huge book sale each year that i just went to and bought a bag of books for $10.

my rule is not to buy books unless i've heard of them before and i have wanted to read them. otherwise, my list would never end.

i'm also part of a book club in which we exchange books that we've read. we don't read the same book. we meet once a month and exchange any books we've read with one another. i get a good variety of books this way.

I rarely re-read a book. I like to be surprised or encouraged with any book so if I aready know the ending I am not as interested. Usually I sell my books to Half-Priced books or if it was an exceptional book, I will give it to a friend.

I have some I reread. I usually evaluate my collection by wether it is rereadable or not. I have a couple of series on my shelves right now that I would reread in a heartbeat.

Which series are on your shelf?

Does anyone put their books on the goodreads swap?

The Daughter's Of Fortune Series by Judith Pella. The Yukon Quest Series by Tracy Peterson. There is another series that is the sequel to the Yukon Quest series that I am dying to read.

As for swap I have no idea.

Every time a Harry Potter movie comes out I re-read the entire series! My mom laughs about it all the time. Actually, this might be sort of weird but starting this month I am going to read one of the Harry Potters per month so that I finish the series in November, timed for the release of The Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Also, I return to Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series every Spring. If I have a collection, I have to own them either all in paperback or all in hardcover. I can't mix them because it drives me crazy! My Sookie's are all in paperback. Every year the new book comes out in May and the book from the year before comes out in paperback in April. So I usually time the series so that I have caught up to the newest paperback by the time the new book comes out. I borrow it from the library and read it, knowing that I will revisit it in one year when I buy a new paperback copy for my collection.

My boyfriend thinks I might be a little compulsive. :)

Kristen wrote: "Every time a Harry Potter movie comes out I re-read the entire series! My mom laughs about it all the time. Actually, this might be sort of weird but starting this month I am going to read one of t..."

You are totally my kind of girl, Kristen. :) I do the same with HP, and with Twilight. Sookie belonged to a friend...but I think I'd enjoy re-reading those as well!

I have yet to read all of the HP series... I don't even own them all. Although, I should get them since my boys are getting into reading now. I have re-read the Twilight series. The books are so fast to read. Then I lent them out to others and I've yet to get them back.

❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠ ❤ wrote: "I have yet to read all of the HP series... I don't even own them all. Although, I should get them since my boys are getting into reading now. I have re-read the Twilight series. The books are so..."

If you haven't read HP yet, you'll have to set aside your time when you do. The last 3 books I stood in line at midnight for and the next day was designated as "Harry Potter Day" at my house. My husband took the kids and left me alone so I could spend the whole day reading. I finished all those books w/in 24 hours of purchase - I read them for about 12 hours non-stop. I don't think I'll ever have another experience like those three perfect days...but they were pretty fabulous. :)

My daughter and I also went to the midnight release parties of the last 3 HP books. The last one, she won a drawing to be the 2nd person in line to buy the book. So, by 12:05 she was reading it in the car on the way home and didn't stop until she was done. She woke me up early morning to tell me that she was done and that I could start it. She slept all day and I read it. It was great being able to share something like that with her.

Too funny.

I started reading the first HP to my boys last night. By their request. They fell asleep on page 8. LOL! Now I really love HP.... it puts my boys to sleep!

I only got to go to the midnight release for the sixth book, but it was really fun. Sometimes I'll quickly read through the series in a week or less, or sometimes, I'll just read through them in a weekend, it depends on how much time I have. I really didn't care for the last books the first read-through, but I liked them a lot better the second time. I still don't think they're as great as everyone says, but I do think they are fun to reread.

Elizabeth wrote: "How do you guys feel about re-reading books? i would if i had the time, but i find i only re-read books i teach. the book i've read the most is the scarlet letter. oh and i've read the outsiders..."

I've been wanting to read "The Scarlet Letter", is it any good?

I reread the books I really really like/love. The Twilight series, The Mortal Instruments Series, Harry Potter, Hunger Games Series, Shiver and some others. The more I read them, the more they tend to become a kind of comfortable read. I guess that's the best way to describe it. Like I reread them for comfort. Not like what is in them is that comforting, but the words themselves are soothing. I don't even know if that makes sense.

My oldest sister thinks I'm nuts with so many books out to read, why reread? It is soothing to my soul I suppose...

I completely understand! There is comfort in knowing a story and re reading is like seeing an old friend. As for the scarlet letter, you should definitely re read it! Its profound and very interesting!

Jennifer wrote: "I completely understand! There is comfort in knowing a story and re reading is like seeing an old friend. As for the scarlet letter, you should definitely re read it! Its profound and very interest..."

I've never read The Scarlet Letter. I've been attempting to integrate some classics into my reading. This one in particular has always come back to me as one to read. You recommend it?

I definitely recommend it. I read it in high school and have re read it since then. I liked it much better the second time around, I was bette able to appreciate the story.

I think I going to give it a try. Once I get through the stack I just picked up from the library I am going to check that one out along with Pride & Prejudice. Thanks! :P

jen,

i love, love, love the scarlet letter. i read it in high school (twice) and in college (twice). and then i re-read it as an adult when i was going to have to teach it. i've probably read it a total of fifteen times or so and i love it each time. i'm thinking of it teaching it again this year!

elizabeth

When I was younger, I used to reread the same books over and over and over again: "Ella Enchanted," "Girls Out Late," "Little Women" and the Harry Potters, of course. I LOVE rereading, but nowadays I really want to read more and more new books and find new genres and read more classics, so I find myself constantly starting new books one after the other.

i didnt think the scalet letter was that good...p & p is definitely a must read though

speaking of classics, has anyone here read robin hood, sweeny todd or good wives?

Can't say that I have read any. I've steered clear of classics for years. I probably can honestly say I've maybe only read two if Animal Farm and Where the Red Fern Grows. Those were read before I figured out how to skip around get notes and wing my school reading assignments. Now I regret it but I guess now I get a different look on books as well.

Good Wives is included in my copy of Little Women. I recommend it - it's so good, just as good as the first part!

Ilana wrote: "Good Wives is included in my copy of Little Women. I recommend it - it's so good, just as good as the first part!"

The first version of Little Women I got did not have Good Wives and my mother couldn't understand WHY I didn't know about half of what happened in the book. She bought me a different version soon after.

lol

So is anyone here a Terry Pratchett fan? Now him I could reread a hundred times.