Books-- Read Once, or Re-read?

[WeasleyMum]

When you read a book that you enjoy, do you ever read it again? Or, having read it, are you done with it forever?

Does it make a difference whether it was fiction or non-fiction?

Does it make a difference how fast you read?

If you only read a book once, do you buy books? If so, do you get rid of them after reading, by re-selling or donating?

If you DO re-read books, do you tend to read them over and over again, going back to your favorites every so often?

Here's me: If I enjoy a book, I tend to read it many times, especially fiction. To me, it's like listening to a favorite CD, or watching a favorite film on DVD. I read very, very quickly (not really by choice, just how I am), so reading a book isn't an investment of time for me. I also miss bits sometimes, anything from a sentence here or there to overall themes, ideas, and connections, which means that every time I re-read a book, I get something new out of it.

I don't understand why, if somebody intends to only read a book once, s/he would actually buy it. What happens after it's read? Does it just hang around taking up space, or is it re-sold, always for less money? Are slower readers, or those with little time to read, more likely to buy a book even if they only intend to read it the one time? I know that I will re-read Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and many others every year, just as I know I'll watch It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas. At the same time, I struggle with buying books that I know I *won't* read again, like most mysteries. I have to force myself not to, and don't always do a good job.

[aniT]

I buy books because I HATE HATE HATE The library for myself and my family.

I can read a book in one day, however because of the costs of books and four children, I obviously don't. I read maybe one a month these days.

When I am done with a book I pass it on to my mother, my friends, sell it at a garage sell, or donate them to the library. I also acquire books the same way. DH bought a huge lot of books at a garage sale last summer for $25. I donate a bunch to the library and sold some off at garage sales. I am slowly reading the rest.

Of course when I run across a book form a series I have to get the rest of the series and read it.

I don't generally read non-fiction, but the books we do have are on the books shelf for the kids. I consider these books more like reference books.

Oh yea.. and no I don't re-read books.

[limabean]

I have a small collection of books (maybe 50-75) that I read over and over again, and if I really enjoy a book I'll put it on the shelf with the others for a while, but if I don't feel compelled to return to it within about 3 years, I'll donate it. I don't like the idea of books just sitting there collecting dust when they could be out being enjoyed by somebody.

I do tend to buy most of the books I read, but also once a year my mom, my aunts, and myself will have a book exchange where we all bring books that we enjoyed that year and lay them all out on the floor, then take turns choosing one at a time until they're all either with a new owner or left on the floor, and the ones that are left get donated. I usually pick up 15-20 new books that way (and of those, 1 or 2 might go on the "keep" shelf, and the rest get donated or passed along to friends when I'm through), so I don't spend as much on books as you'd think. Also, it might be seen as wasteful to buy books you only read once, but I have the disposable income to do so, and since I donate most of them when I'm through, I figure I'm putting (what I think are) high-quality books into the library/Goodwill system where they can be enjoyed by people who might not have the means to buy many books.

I had 2 big boxes of about 150 books ready to be donated to my local library, and my MIL came over and saw them and was horrified. She kept talking about how she didn't know how I could get rid of Books[/choir of angels]. I told her the truth -- that while I adore reading, I don't see books as intrinsically sacred, and that I'd rather other people get the chance to enjoy the ones I'm through with rather than me hoarding them for years but never using them. She has shelves upon shelves of books -- there's some good stuff in there, but there's also a lot of crap, and I have a feeling those Sue Grafton mysteries aren't going to get read again, but because they're Books, she feels obligated to Keep Them Forever.

[crl]

I love books. I can read two or three in a day, if they are light fiction and I've got not much else going on. (Seriously. Drives DH nuts.)

I LOVE the library. I put things on hold and they magically appear on the hold shelf with my name on them so all I have to do is collect them and take them to the children's room to check them out after DS is done picking his stuff out. And they are FREE! So I can have as many as I want. And if it turn out I don't like something at least I didn't shell out money for it.

I do also buy books. Sometimes the library doesn't have something I want. Sometimes I want something right that second (although I try to resist that urge).

I re-read some, but not a lot.

The books I buy get taken to a used book store and sold for a very small amount of cash back. Anything they won't take I chuck in their free bin out front. I do also occasionally pass books along to friends/family. I try to not keep a lot of books. It seems wasteful, both of storage space and of the book (to be kept sitting on a shelf when someone else could be reading it).

Catherine

[syn_ack89]

My DH and I are re-readers (though he has decided to stop re-reading as it is a "waste of time" he has now decided - we'll see). We have 6 bookshelves double-stacked plus some additional books...

Re-reading is why I bought a Kindle - so I can re-read without the clutter commitment. We do occasionally go through the bookshelves and get rid of books that we don't plan to re-read (usually to Half Price books).

[Purple*Lotus]

I generally buy a book, read it, then pass it around my circle. I give it to one coworker, she passes it to another, I offer it up to anyone else at work, then it goes to my Mom, then to my Aunt, then back to me. I just got back "Baby Catcher" today, a book I will read over and over again. My memory is so bad that I love to re-read them because I forget so much anyway.

[kirstenb]

Originally Posted by WeasleyMum

Here's me: If I enjoy a book, I tend to read it many times, especially fiction. To me, it's like listening to a favorite CD, or watching a favorite film on DVD. I read very, very quickly (not really by choice, just how I am), so reading a book isn't an investment of time for me. I also miss bits sometimes, anything from a sentence here or there to overall themes, ideas, and connections, which means that every time I re-read a book, I get something new out of it.

This describes me perfectly. When I do get a chance to read, I read very quickly, and I find I do miss some things. I have several books that I love to read again and again. I have a ton of books, because I love to buy them at the bookstore. I need to start going through them and donating the ones the I likely won't be reading again. I would like to start using the library more, because buying books all the time gets expensive. I just love bookstores though.

[Monarchgrrl]

I really only re-read books that I love, like Harry Potter. There's not much, though. Come to think of it, I don't think I've read a book more than twice. I'll still keep my favorites on my shelf though, probably forever. I usually hang on to non-faves for awhile and then pass them on to friends or family. I keep all my non-fiction because it's usually cooking/parenting/pregnancy/birth books, but I would loan them to people if they wanted. I have too many books sitting on the shelves collecting dust, so thanks for the reminder to donate them. I also just got a library card yesterday!!! My first one since I was a kid. I'm really excited about it. But...where I am anyway, it seems like there is nothing on my wish list that is available right now. Oh well, maybe someday.

[LaLaLaLa]

I often re-read books. Actually, right now books aren't in our budget, nor do they fit into our clutter-free house, so I'm very selective about what I buy. I almost exclusively only buy books I've already read through the library, because I know I've liked them and will read them over and over again.

Generally the first time I read a book I read it straight through, not skipping parts. On a subsequent read, I'll skim through to find my favorite parts, and just read those. DH doesn't understand; when he re-reads something he still reads it straight through. Often I'll finish a book and immediately go right back to the beginning to get all of the warm fuzzies from my favorite parts again, before I have to send it back to the library.

[Drummer's Wife]

I mostly buy books to keep (and lately have been getting Kindle versions if they are cheaper this way) but I only read them once. I'm the same with movies, though. I just don't enjoy the story near as much the 2nd time around when I know what to expect weird, I know. I really should go the library more often instead of ordering from Amazon but for some reason I like to collect books and have brand new copies. I should try to loan them out, or give them away b/c it does seem wasteful to have them sit there, when I doubt I will read them again.

oh, and I can read very quickly, speed read even (though, I try not to when reading a good book, of course, because I'm more likely to miss something.)

[Viola]

I used to re-read books all the time. As I get older, I find I don't do this as often, but I still do occasionally. Usually because I want to immerse myself in that world, and I enjoy what I'm reading. I plan to read the LOTR and HP series again.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by WeasleyMum

Here's me: If I enjoy a book, I tend to read it many times, especially fiction. To me, it's like listening to a favorite CD, or watching a favorite film on DVD. I read very, very quickly (not really by choice, just how I am), so reading a book isn't an investment of time for me. I also miss bits sometimes, anything from a sentence here or there to overall themes, ideas, and connections, which means that every time I re-read a book, I get something new out of it.

This is me, and DH too.

We hit the used book store almost every week. This baby, who has not yet arrived already has a collection of books - from Dr. Seuss to Laura Ingalls Wilder. Books were always the great escapes for the both of us growing up, and they're still the most amazing, loyal friends. We have a foyer lined with bookcases and still have several rubbermaid tubs of books in the basement (that don't fit in the bookcases). It's just the way we are.

[mamadelbosque]

I/we re-read some books over and over and over again (Tolkien, harry potter, chronicles of narnia, terry pratchett, etc), and others I reference back and can definetly see myself wanting to read again (so mostly non-fiction falls into this category, and mostly science & history at that). SO, we do have lots of books in our house on just about every topic imaginable. A LOT of its non-fiction (probably at least 1/2), but theres also a lot of fiction that we like(d) enough to think we'll want to read again.

But, personally, I love the library. I'm another of those super fast readers - I can easily read most fiction books in a couple days, and find that I average 4-5 books a month. Theres just no way I could afford to buy all of these books. So, I use the library I've been on a serious sci-fi/fantasy kick for the last couple years (sparked, mostly, thanks to Tor Books' weekly email which for a while contained a free e-book to download...), and am currently working my way through Raymond E Feist's books (I just got Honored Enemy from the library yesterday. I can't imagine that I'd want to re-read these books anytime soon, so I feel no desire to go out and buy them. Thats not always true of what I get from the library (I actually ended up buying Scott Lynch's books Lies of Lock Lamora & Red Seas Over Red Skies I liked them soo much!), but mostly it is....

SO... a mixture Some books we re-read over and over and over, some we like for refernce, but LOTS I just get from the library, mostly cause' I'm poor (cause', if I was rich, I would buy them all new and then donate the library, thus supporting both the author & the library

[Penelope]

I reread almost everything. I sometimes hesitate to start a new book, especially a novel, because I'll be absorbed in it for a day or two. But a book I've read I can enjoy for 30 seconds while I brush my teeth, or 20 minutes before bed...

There are books in every room of our house, including the bathrooms, and this makes me happy.

[~pi]

I am a fast reader, and I re-read often. Not every book, but many of them.

I get new insights out of books when I re-read them. Sometimes this is because I missed it when I was speeding through it the first time; sometimes it's because as I continue to learn year by year, I add new layers of understanding, so when I go back and re-read something that I first read a while ago, I can interpret it with new insight and draw connections with things I read in the interim.

Also, this:

Originally Posted by Penelope

I sometimes hesitate to start a new book, especially a novel, because I'll be absorbed in it for a day or two. But a book I've read I can enjoy for 30 seconds while I brush my teeth, or 20 minutes before bed...

[Sailor]

I buy only the books that I will read and re-read. Well, I do buy books by authors whom I like and want to support ... but, if I'm not going to re-read it, I usually give the book away after I'm done.

I'm a fast reader, and definitely re-read favorites. I've read and re-read Sherlock Holmes stories many times. For some reason, I love to read him when I'm sick in bed. There's something about those stories that just makes me feel better.

[Jessy1019]

I re-read fiction if I love it.

I don't re-read non-fiction, but like to have them on hand to refer to when I'm writing or needing a quote or statistic about something.

This is why I buy books instead of borrowing from the library.

[Caneel]

I am a re-reader.

In general, I re-read non-fiction more than fiction.

Why do I re-read? Part of the reason is I am a fast reader. Another is, especially with exciting books, I can enjoy the book more if I am not so anxious to get to the next part. Also, I like to read in bed to relax. A familar book is just boring enough to put me right to sleep.

I have a few that I have revisted for years. One in particular is Katharine Grahms' Personal History. There are part of that book I find very uplifting and motivational.

I do buy books that I probably will only read once. I am too lazy to order them from the library. I can pass almost anything along to family members.

My DH is not a book reader and he is baffled when he sees me pick up something I have read before.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by Penelope

I reread almost everything. I sometimes hesitate to start a new book, especially a novel, because I'll be absorbed in it for a day or two. But a book I've read I can enjoy for 30 seconds while I brush my teeth, or 20 minutes before bed...

There are books in every room of our house, including the bathrooms, and this makes me happy.

I GET this! In fact, I only take new books to bed that I know I will be able to put down after a reasonable period of time.

In my pre-kid years, I would often read a book start to finish. Staying up all night to read used to happen a couple of times a year.

I have four books going right now - Protecting the Gift is at our cabin where I can really focus, a book about the Wall Street Meltdown is my non-fiction of the moment, a book on the PGA tour is my hair-drying, teeth brushing book and a easy reading mystery is on the nightstand. All are first time reads but I know PTG will be a definate re-reader.

[Smokering]

I re-read. When I was a teen there were a couple of books I kept by my bed and re-read insatiably every night for months at a time. (They were Gone with the Wind, Les Miserables, The Grapes of Wrath, LOTR and - of all things - Jurassic Park. No idea how that one made the cut, but I loved it.) I love re-reading childhood books every now and then, like the Anne of Green Gables or Little House or Narnia books; and the really "classic" classics, like Pride and Prejudice.

I also love to re-watch movies. Mum, who's a re-reader, doesn't get this. She thinks movies are "different" and one doesn't need to watch them more than once. I think she's insane.