Books-- Read Once, or Re-read? - Page 2

[Red Pajama]

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?


I am very much a re-read person. I have a cycle of books that I re-read every few years, and others that are tossed in every now and again. I re-read both fiction and non-fiction. I tend to enjoy non-fiction more than most fiction, so reading a new book is actually less enjoyable than reading a familiar book, as strange as that seems. I have to work myself up to jump into a new adventure, and sometimes it's just easier to tread down a familiar path.

[bjorker]

I can read any book multiple times because I have a HORRIBLE memory for such things, so it's very much like reading it the first time. I'll remember that I loved it, and perhaps certain parts that I liked, but that's about it. I have a library of over a thousand books, and I also use the library often.

[DaughterOfKali]

If the book is good, I keep it and reread it.

If I didn't enjoy it much, I'll put it aside and take a box of books to my local bookstore where they buy second hand books. Trouble is, they don't usually buy hardcovers unless it's a new release.

[sapphire_chan]

reread.
And I try to only buy and keep books I've read at least 5 times and want to read more. My home books are my emergency stash for when I don't have enough holds coming in at the library.

My non-fiction stuff is all reference and gets used on an as-needed basis. I've read straight through very few of my non-fiction books.

I read pretty fast and have a relatively poor memory so I'm constantly getting surprised by elements in books. I can even reread mystery novels and be shocked at whodunnit.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Penelope

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

Ahhhhhh.... so nice to think of....

That's something I'm looking forward to doing when the toddler stage is over. It's going to be great!

[Storm Bride]

I re-read books all the time. I have favourites that I've probably read 10-15 times. (The ones I've read many times can be lightweight "popcorn" books that I pick up when I'm bored/tired/sick or ones that I re-read every couple of years or so, because new life experiences change the way I emotionally experience the book.) I have others that I've read 2-3 times. I've got a few that I read once, a long time ago, and have been meaning to tackle again, for various reasons.

I buy books, mostly because I really don't like libraries that much. People find that odd, because I'm such a bookworm, but I just don't like them. At one time, I was buying about 5-6 books a week, but that was at a really great used bookstore. I don't buy books much these days, so I do a lot of re-reading.

[HappilyEvrAfter]

I'm with Drummer's Wife. I have tried and tried and tried and tried to re-read books, but I just can't do it. Sometime I want to (like with Twilight), but I just can't do it. The anticipation is missing even though the sentiment still exists.

I have a hard time re-watching movies too. There are VERY FEW movies I can watch more than twice.

I used to buy books (hardback, never paper) like a fiend just to have them, but stopped once I had my son. Now I'll only buy them if they have some significance to me, but I never re-read them.

For instance, I have every single Stephen King in hardback (if made). There are a few of them I couldn't give you a single detail about the story, but I can tell you exactly what was going on in my life at the time I read it. The book has become a piece of memorabilia, not really a story.
Some people collect shot glasses, silver spoons from trips, or a whole array of porcelin dogs; I like to collect books. Sadly, I can kind of identify with the Aunt from Inkheart. Lol.

I love to see all my books at home on my shelves, but the library is my best friend these days. :
Something about having them around is comforting.

[MysteryMama]

I love books. I buy books but more often check them out of the library. If I had the money, I would probably just buy them though. I have a smallish collection of books, maybe around 300, and I have re-read probably half of them if not more. My favorites I will re-read more often.

I'm surprised how many people give a book away after reading it... I have to really trust someone just to loan one of mine to them unless it's one I didn't particularly like, or a cheap paperback. My books are like my babies.

[oceane]

if it's just ok I probably won't read it again. If I really liked it I'll buy it (I get a lot of books from the library first) and re-read it. some more often than others, I have books I haven't read in years but know I will again at some point. If I bought an unknown book that I'm not thrilled about I donate it to Oxfam afterwards.

[philomom]

I only re-read in times of stress. My teenage daughter finally figured this out when she saw Alas, Babylon out one day and asked me "is it that bad?". Meaning life, of course.

Most of the time, I plow through the new books... at least three a week.

[LucieInDisguise]

There are books I re-read.

There are books I buy multiple times because I *want* to re-read them, but I tend to give them to other people to read and never see them again -- which is fine because I love sharing books, too.

I have a tendency to buy books because I have a tendency to forget to return books to the library, and I end up paying as much in fines as I would if I just went out and bought the darn thing.

If I buy a book I don't like, I give it away, donate it or pass it on to someone I think might like it. I try to match up the books I give away (or loan out) to the right friend/acquaintance who I know will likely enjoy or, at least, appreciate the read.

But there are books on my shelf that will always be there -- like the Harry Potter series, a lot of non-fiction on politics, the economy and social issues.

Pulp fiction? I read quickly and then promptly forget what I read, even sometimes not just forgetting the story, but forgetting the title, too, so a year later, I end up re-reading some mystery/crime/thriller novel that I've forgotten I've read -- and I don't realize I have already read it until the end of the book. lol So I try to pass those on pretty quickly.