I have reread several books. I have read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher every December for the last six years. I have also reread Cold Sassy Tree (3 times), Anna Karenina (3 times), The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Postcard by Anne Berest, Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, Alive! by Piers Paul Read, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier to name a few. There are probably a dozen more that I could list and two dozen more that I want to reread. C. S. Lewis said, “I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.”
Marcia, I have been on the fence as to whether or not to choose Winter Solstice as my choice for my IRL book club choice. Seeing your post as the first thing I read when I woke up, I am going to take it as a sign from the universe to choose it! I want the other members who have not yet experienced this book to have the pleasure of their first read, hopefully of many!
I am very curious as to why The Glass Castle is on your list. I am running out of time for this one. It’s a choice for another book club and I just don’t feel like reliving that painful story again. We watched the movie the other night (this book club is a books to movie one). Visually seeing the story play out was awful, sad, and disturbing. I do remember thinking it was good when we read it years ago for another book club. Can you help sway me into rereading it again???
I have the same feeling about reading The Glass Castle. I haven't seen the movie because I don't want to experience it in live action. This said, it's one of my favorite books. Just hits too close to home, I guess. I've read all of Wells' other books.
I love that you are going to choose Winter Solstice for your book club. I enjoy it just as much every time I read it. As for The Glass Castle, I have always liked reading memoirs of unusual childhoods. It’s sad to think of what the Walls children went through because of their parents irresponsable choices, but it’s encouraging to read how they overcame the difficulties they experienced.
I admire anyone who can read Anna Karenina more than once. I loved that book, but it took me so many attempts to read it just once that I worry I’d fail a second time.
My favorite re-reads are Lord of the Rings, The Shipping News, Death Comes for the Archbishop, Anna Karenina, Jayber Crow, anything by Agatha Christie and Jane Austen, Jane Eyre…they are like old friends.
I have a beloved book that I bought in a remainder pile in the late 90’s - The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi. I started reading it on an airplane and my stranger danger seat mate complained at the end of the flight that I’d never spoken to her the entire flight. When I finished it, I tried to find other books by the same author but: nothing. Wrote a note to the publisher to encourage the author, never heard back. Read the book at least once per year over the next 20 years. THEN I looked again: there are 2 sequels! Turns out it was written by a professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts — when she passed away, many notable filmmakers attended her memorial service because she had affected their lives so much. She wrote the final book in the series after she went blind. More than 25 years later, I still have the book and still re-read it every year - the story is that good. I’ve had other favorite re-reads at different points in my life — Love in the Time of Cholera, Midnight int he Garden of Good and Evil — and eventually I tired of them — not this one!
I'm not a big re-reader, but I am thinking that I want to start incorporating some re-reads into my life. I hadn't thought about the idea of dipping in and out of a book or starting in the middle and going to the end. That's such a good idea and a nice way to reacquaint oneself with the work.
I'm a big re-reader. I think it's because I usually read the first time very quickly because I'm desperate to know what happens. I like to go back to books I loved when I can be calmer and appreciate what I missed. I also love re-reading now via audiobook... That way if I'm distracted while I'm walking the dog/doing the dishes and miss something I don't need to go back an re-listen, because I already have the gist of the story. I'm also the same way about reading in French. I can do it, but I'm slow, so I like to read books I've already read in English. Again, that way if I've missed something in translation it doesn't affect my appreciation of the story.
I do that, too! I have to plow through to know what happens, then I want to read it again to luxuriate in the story. Subsequent reads on audio are also awesome. ARE WE READING TWINS? —Mel
I’ve read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner several times. It’s the only book I reread. Slow character driven novels are not typically my jam but I find myself often thinking about the opening pages and the detail to nature. I think the friendship piece intrigues me and I strongly identify with one of the main characters. It feels like a dependable steady calm in my reading life.
I mostly read mysteries, horror, thrillers and true crime. I think the Stegner brings balance. 😁
I go back a reread books when I’ve fallen in love with the characters. I’ve read The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver at least 3 times and In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez at least twice. Lately I’ve been listening to audiobook mystery series that I first read as books. And I’m a comfort movie rewatcher, too: The Sound of Music, Pride and Prejudice (own 2 versions) and Enchanted April.
I am not typically a re-reader (too many books, too little time). I will re-read or skim a book I've read previously for a current book club. I read Middlemarch for the second time this summer as a readalong and found it much more meaningful in my 50s than it was in my 30s. I may try some of the classics that I read too young to see if I enjoy them more now. Side note - I vote for giving high schoolers more contemporary works and saving the classics for later (in case the College Board/SAT folks are on here looking for advice 🤷🏻♀️🤞🏻).
I don’t reread all that much partly because I am a slow reader. I feel like I need to use my time to get through new books. However, a few years ago, I started listening to Jim Dale’s audio of A Christmas Carol each December. I love the language. I love Dale’s voice. It’s now one of my favorite seasonal traditions.
I also love the book Perestroika in Paris. Sweet. Found family. Quirky. Paris. It’s a true cozy fantasy that I love to revisit. Same with A Wind in the Willows.
I did reread The Shadow of the Wind and The City We Became, and I am really glad I did. There were details that I had forgotten about in each book and revisiting them helps me remember them more completely.
The annual re-read of a special book is such a nice tradition. For a long time, I re-read Jane Eyre every January, and it was awesome. Now I read it whenever I need a pick-me-up. Maybe I need to pick a new January book! —Mel
I like to re-read favorites every year or so. Recently re-read were The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield, The All Souls books before reading the latest- The Black Bird Oracle, Deborah Harkness.
The Dragonriders of Pern series is a favorite and I read these a million years ago and haven't really found any fantasy that lives up to the experience of this series, so I thought I'd start at the beginning and go through the series again.
I've also downloaded The Women, Kristen Hannah for a re-listen. Thinking of listening to the Harry Potter series, too.
It seems like when the world is crazy, I like to return to the comfort of a familiar story; like visiting an old friend...you always know what to expect.
I am not a re-reader. People who regularly reread their favorites fascinate me. I am always afraid I will spoil my first experience. I have had some very satisfactory rereads in the past, but I don't make it a habit. For the most part, I align with those who want to read a book again for the first time--alas!
That said, I did reread Our Town after reading Tom Lake this summer. It was not necessary at all and in some ways reminded me of how much I prefer contemporary writing. I won't rule out a reread in the future. I was thinking seriously about rereading Huck Finn after reading James, but haven't done that yet. So I probably don't belong in this conversation of committed rereaders...Enjoy!
I haven't typically been a big re-reader until lately. It's been comfy to go back to stories I already know. Recently, I re-read (on audio) Rules of Civility by Amor Towles and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I absolutely love Daniel Silva, but can't imagine re-reading him. Mostly because I've got too many books to read.
But I have read Watership Down multiple times and am sure I will again. And every ten years or so, I also reread Anne of Green Gables. There are LOADS of books I'd love to reread, but that pesky 24 hours in a day rule keeps getting in the way...
I reread books by Elizabeth von Arnim and Elizabeth Goudge because they speak to me in my own life. Neither are preachy but impart wisdom for navigating relationships and finding comfort for the soul.
I heard of Goudge for the first time this fall, and you are the second person to say how much you love her books. I plan to read Green Dolphin Street soon.
I have reread several books. I have read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher every December for the last six years. I have also reread Cold Sassy Tree (3 times), Anna Karenina (3 times), The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Postcard by Anne Berest, Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, Alive! by Piers Paul Read, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier to name a few. There are probably a dozen more that I could list and two dozen more that I want to reread. C. S. Lewis said, “I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.”
That's such a good quote from CS Lewis. That pretty much sums up how I feel about books I enjoy. —Mel
Marcia, I have been on the fence as to whether or not to choose Winter Solstice as my choice for my IRL book club choice. Seeing your post as the first thing I read when I woke up, I am going to take it as a sign from the universe to choose it! I want the other members who have not yet experienced this book to have the pleasure of their first read, hopefully of many!
I am very curious as to why The Glass Castle is on your list. I am running out of time for this one. It’s a choice for another book club and I just don’t feel like reliving that painful story again. We watched the movie the other night (this book club is a books to movie one). Visually seeing the story play out was awful, sad, and disturbing. I do remember thinking it was good when we read it years ago for another book club. Can you help sway me into rereading it again???
I have the same feeling about reading The Glass Castle. I haven't seen the movie because I don't want to experience it in live action. This said, it's one of my favorite books. Just hits too close to home, I guess. I've read all of Wells' other books.
I love that you are going to choose Winter Solstice for your book club. I enjoy it just as much every time I read it. As for The Glass Castle, I have always liked reading memoirs of unusual childhoods. It’s sad to think of what the Walls children went through because of their parents irresponsable choices, but it’s encouraging to read how they overcame the difficulties they experienced.
I admire anyone who can read Anna Karenina more than once. I loved that book, but it took me so many attempts to read it just once that I worry I’d fail a second time.
At my age i want to make sure that i do not miss reading that best book of a lifetime so i always opt for something new.
That is a legit stance. —Mel
My favorite re-reads are Lord of the Rings, The Shipping News, Death Comes for the Archbishop, Anna Karenina, Jayber Crow, anything by Agatha Christie and Jane Austen, Jane Eyre…they are like old friends.
Re: old friends 🥰
"Old friends" ... exactly! —Mel
I have a beloved book that I bought in a remainder pile in the late 90’s - The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi. I started reading it on an airplane and my stranger danger seat mate complained at the end of the flight that I’d never spoken to her the entire flight. When I finished it, I tried to find other books by the same author but: nothing. Wrote a note to the publisher to encourage the author, never heard back. Read the book at least once per year over the next 20 years. THEN I looked again: there are 2 sequels! Turns out it was written by a professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts — when she passed away, many notable filmmakers attended her memorial service because she had affected their lives so much. She wrote the final book in the series after she went blind. More than 25 years later, I still have the book and still re-read it every year - the story is that good. I’ve had other favorite re-reads at different points in my life — Love in the Time of Cholera, Midnight int he Garden of Good and Evil — and eventually I tired of them — not this one!
I read that book years ago and really enjoyed it! I think this is the first time I've ever heard anyone else mention it.
What a great story about The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi! Thank you for sharing that with us. —Mel
I'm sure that I've read this book, but I don't recall details or when. I'll check my list.
Thank you, Chris for placing this book on my radar
I'm not a big re-reader, but I am thinking that I want to start incorporating some re-reads into my life. I hadn't thought about the idea of dipping in and out of a book or starting in the middle and going to the end. That's such a good idea and a nice way to reacquaint oneself with the work.
That dip in/dip out thing is really fun with books you know well-ish. —Mel
A Gentleman in Moscow. Never finished a book and IMMEDIATLY turned back to page one. ♥️
Same, Bettie! It is one of the few that I have done so. It is SO very good!
Oh, that is the reading high I'm always hunting for. I felt that way about Still Life by Sarah Winman, too. —Mel
I'm a big re-reader. I think it's because I usually read the first time very quickly because I'm desperate to know what happens. I like to go back to books I loved when I can be calmer and appreciate what I missed. I also love re-reading now via audiobook... That way if I'm distracted while I'm walking the dog/doing the dishes and miss something I don't need to go back an re-listen, because I already have the gist of the story. I'm also the same way about reading in French. I can do it, but I'm slow, so I like to read books I've already read in English. Again, that way if I've missed something in translation it doesn't affect my appreciation of the story.
I do that, too! I have to plow through to know what happens, then I want to read it again to luxuriate in the story. Subsequent reads on audio are also awesome. ARE WE READING TWINS? —Mel
I like the idea of re-reading by audio, Amy. I wonder if the alternate format gives you a different perspective of the story (?).
Audio on the second or third go-round is really fun. Try it! It can make the story hit differently... it's pretty cool. —Mel
I’ve read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner several times. It’s the only book I reread. Slow character driven novels are not typically my jam but I find myself often thinking about the opening pages and the detail to nature. I think the friendship piece intrigues me and I strongly identify with one of the main characters. It feels like a dependable steady calm in my reading life.
I mostly read mysteries, horror, thrillers and true crime. I think the Stegner brings balance. 😁
It’s a great fall read!
I go back a reread books when I’ve fallen in love with the characters. I’ve read The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver at least 3 times and In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez at least twice. Lately I’ve been listening to audiobook mystery series that I first read as books. And I’m a comfort movie rewatcher, too: The Sound of Music, Pride and Prejudice (own 2 versions) and Enchanted April.
Comfort Rewatcher, name of our new folk band. —Mel
I am not typically a re-reader (too many books, too little time). I will re-read or skim a book I've read previously for a current book club. I read Middlemarch for the second time this summer as a readalong and found it much more meaningful in my 50s than it was in my 30s. I may try some of the classics that I read too young to see if I enjoy them more now. Side note - I vote for giving high schoolers more contemporary works and saving the classics for later (in case the College Board/SAT folks are on here looking for advice 🤷🏻♀️🤞🏻).
I don’t reread all that much partly because I am a slow reader. I feel like I need to use my time to get through new books. However, a few years ago, I started listening to Jim Dale’s audio of A Christmas Carol each December. I love the language. I love Dale’s voice. It’s now one of my favorite seasonal traditions.
I also love the book Perestroika in Paris. Sweet. Found family. Quirky. Paris. It’s a true cozy fantasy that I love to revisit. Same with A Wind in the Willows.
I did reread The Shadow of the Wind and The City We Became, and I am really glad I did. There were details that I had forgotten about in each book and revisiting them helps me remember them more completely.
The annual re-read of a special book is such a nice tradition. For a long time, I re-read Jane Eyre every January, and it was awesome. Now I read it whenever I need a pick-me-up. Maybe I need to pick a new January book! —Mel
I like to re-read favorites every year or so. Recently re-read were The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield, The All Souls books before reading the latest- The Black Bird Oracle, Deborah Harkness.
The Dragonriders of Pern series is a favorite and I read these a million years ago and haven't really found any fantasy that lives up to the experience of this series, so I thought I'd start at the beginning and go through the series again.
I've also downloaded The Women, Kristen Hannah for a re-listen. Thinking of listening to the Harry Potter series, too.
It seems like when the world is crazy, I like to return to the comfort of a familiar story; like visiting an old friend...you always know what to expect.
I love The Thirteenth Tale! Have you seen the movie with Olivia Colman? —Mel
I am not a re-reader. People who regularly reread their favorites fascinate me. I am always afraid I will spoil my first experience. I have had some very satisfactory rereads in the past, but I don't make it a habit. For the most part, I align with those who want to read a book again for the first time--alas!
That said, I did reread Our Town after reading Tom Lake this summer. It was not necessary at all and in some ways reminded me of how much I prefer contemporary writing. I won't rule out a reread in the future. I was thinking seriously about rereading Huck Finn after reading James, but haven't done that yet. So I probably don't belong in this conversation of committed rereaders...Enjoy!
I agree with you. I'm always afraid I'm not going to like it as much as I did the first time.
I haven't typically been a big re-reader until lately. It's been comfy to go back to stories I already know. Recently, I re-read (on audio) Rules of Civility by Amor Towles and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I don't re-read often either, but I like the idea of re-reading these two titles!
Those are perfect rereads, Amy
I absolutely love Daniel Silva, but can't imagine re-reading him. Mostly because I've got too many books to read.
But I have read Watership Down multiple times and am sure I will again. And every ten years or so, I also reread Anne of Green Gables. There are LOADS of books I'd love to reread, but that pesky 24 hours in a day rule keeps getting in the way...
Yep, I'm still working on developing the 48-hour day so I'll have more time for books. Will let you know when I get it figured out :-)
Please do. —Mel
I reread books by Elizabeth von Arnim and Elizabeth Goudge because they speak to me in my own life. Neither are preachy but impart wisdom for navigating relationships and finding comfort for the soul.
I heard of Goudge for the first time this fall, and you are the second person to say how much you love her books. I plan to read Green Dolphin Street soon.