If a book is good do you read it more than once?

Question

I have read The Grapes of Wrath twice, All Quiet on the Western Front about 3 times, and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch twice. What good books have you read more than once?

Answer 1

I have read Lord of the Flies four times. Each time I found something new about it. Once you have a thorough understanding of how the symbols work with the entirety of the novel, you can go back and discover some of the other ways those symbols pop up. I have read Dr Zhivago and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man twice for the same reason.

It's good with books that are particularly heavy or have some kind of twist ending to read them more than once. One Day in the Life, for example, you might even want to read once more.

It's also great to read books again after you have gained a new insight about it. For example, if I had read The Grapes of Wrath and then later found out that the entire thing is a biblical allegory, I would have to read it again.

It's not just about how good a book is. It's more about how dense a book is. There are always new things to discover about the better literary works.

Answer 2

I do it all the time. The thing is, I read pretty fast. Time permitting, I could swallow up a fairly thick book in one whole day. Especially with thrillers. And what I do after that is re-read the whole thing again, taking my time this time around to really get into the details of the story.

Sorry if that sounds wierd, but that's how I savor my books. And if the book is really good, I usually pick it up again sometime in the months ahead. English fictions cost pretty high here in Malaysia so it would be kind of wasting if I only read it once. And I sometimes sell back the books I didn't like.

I especially re-read all of Harry Potter books. I love picking up all the small and subtle details that I tend to miss the first time I ploughed through at top speed. As with the Lord of the Rings trillogy too.

Funny question, this. I would never have thought about it if I hadn't come across your question! Cheers!

Answer 3

Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird, Macbeth, The Godfather, Harry Potter books, The Secret Garden, Like Water for Chocolate, James and the Giant Peach

Answer 4

Yes I have probably read Catcher in the Rye 5 or 6 times. Same goes for Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. This summer I plan on rereading Don Quixote. You can never get too much of a good thing.. Pax - C

Answer 5

Sometimes I do. I've read a LOT, but some of the most recent were...

Here Today by Ann M. Martin
Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee and
Queen Bee by Chynna Clugston

I like to re-read books so I can remember exactly what I loved about them the first time!

Answer 6

I have read Lord of the Rings 13 times, The Hobbit 13 times. Shattered Chain 6 times, and Dune 12 times.

Answer 7

Yes.
Most of Jane Austen's books, I've read them at least 3 times. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series, at least twice. I've reread Gone With The Wind, Roots, etc.

I can't live without books.

Answer 8

yea, i've read Harry Potter 1-5 more than once <3, 3, 4, 2, 2 in that order> but've grown out of that. in fact, i havent even read the 6th book exactly. i've also read twilight by Stephenie Meyer and New Moon by the same author twice. they're both really good, and i'm planning on rereading them again soon.......I tend to reread good books that are also on the shorter side......but that was while i was in middle school....i havent got time right now, not really, in fact, i shouldn't be on Y!A but it's addicting.......

Answer 9

Yes; The Mist of Avalon
Katherine
Dune series
A Storm of swords
Interview with a vampire
Lestate
many..many..more

Answer 10

Yup I do. The English Patient (fab writing!), Gone With the Wind, The #1 Ladies Detective Agency, East of Eden