Comments on: The definition of insanity

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:01:57 +0000

personally i reread books because every time i read a book it seems like i read something that i must have missed the first time. or sometimes so much time goes by that ill start thinking about things that happen in a book ive read and ill try to remember what happened next and i cant

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:57:28 +0000

People often ask me how I can re-read. When asked all of them admit to regularly watching movies multiple times. Books are the same. You get something new out of it because you are a new person each time you sit down with it. and sometimes it's just fun to visit something you already know. I have known my family for 35 years, but I don't get tired of them or "skim" my time with them.

By: green_knight

green_knight — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:24:20 +0000

The first read is for the story – to see what happen. The second and subsequent reads are to savour the book. I like books that have depth, that will give you something new the second, third, and tenth time you read them, that will give you something different over the years as you begin to identify with different characters in them. Not all books are rereadable – if the language is merely functional and the plot is driven by lots of tension but not much inbetween, 'knowing what happens' means that there's little enjoyment in rereading. On the other hand, when you get a comple, multi-layered book with dense language you might not 'get' it on a first read, particularly if you're distracted and having to put it down several times and read only at the weekends – so those are books I tend to appreciate more as I reread them.

By: Joelle

Joelle — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:30:10 +0000

I cannot skim or skip, but I love to reread!

By: GhostFolk.com

GhostFolk.com — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:01:52 +0000

Okay, I'm insane. I don't find the re-reading a likable book is any different from watching a favorite movie more than once. Rather than skimming, I'm tempted to linger.

And, really, for some books the first time through is just to see what the books is about. Each read changes the book, the experience (when the book is GOOD). No one can watch THE SIXTH SENSE twice and experience the movie the same way. Second time is so much better! Same thing with wonderful novels by wonderful writers.

Or let me put it this way. If you were on the proverbial deserted island and you get briung only three books with you... would you choose books you haven't read yet?

By: WriterGirl

WriterGirl — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:37:07 +0000

Regular re-reads for me are Harry Potter and The Bell Jar. Re reading Harry Potter is like visiting old friends, like some of the other posters mentioned. The Bell Jar is my all time favourite novel. I re read it about once every year I'd say.

By: Andrea K Höst

Andrea K Höst — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:32:18 +0000

I reread:

Diana Wynne Jones
Margaret Maron
Robin McKinley
Golden Age Mysteries (Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie, etc)
Rex Stout
Josephine Tey
Georgette Heyer

I have a bad memory, so after a time I can re-read almost anything. But for the most part I re-read things I liked because I remember enjoying them.

By: Mary Witzl

Mary Witzl — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:08:56 +0000

I didn't use to reread books, but started doing this in Japan where it was often difficult (and always expensive) to find books in English. Almost always, I enjoyed books more the second time, but I found that I had to wait at least two years for the second read or it wasn't exciting enough.

Certain books I have reread three or four times. I've read Bill Bryson's 'Neither Here Nor There' four times now and I never seem to tire of it. Ditto for Barbara Kingsolver's 'Bean Trees' and 'Pigs in Heaven'. And I NEVER get rid of memoirs I've enjoyed; I know I'll go back to them. Sheila Payne's 'The Afghan Amulet' is one book I will definitely reread.

By: Trading Plan Template

Trading Plan Template — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:42:49 +0000

I like re-reading especially when I love the book. I only re-read the best part and skip the rest. Johanna Lindsey is one of the authors I re-read.

By: M. M. Justus

M. M. Justus — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:34:51 +0000

The Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold (actually more of a re-listen, since I usually do my annual reread with the audiobooks), and the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters. Lots and lots and lots of romances. Travel writing. And a few others.

I mostly reread books with characters who are Real People [tm]. And I do it because if I don't I start missing them, just like real friends.