Books We Love to Reread

Aquila: I've tried to limit myself to books that aren't already on this list, but it would be a lie not to include my most reread book.

tardis: I re-read LOTR less than I used to, but it still has the power to suck me in all over again.

MaowangVater: Sure to enter the canon of 20th century English literature.

CarltonC: I reread LotR multiple times into my twenties, but have only attempted it once in my fifties.

JohnChic: This is and has been my most re-read book in the last 50 yesrs.

Porua: I was at a very impressionable age when I first read it. This book touched me in a way only a book can touch one when one is young. I re-read it many times during my adolescence-teenage just to recapture that feeling.

dutchgirldtd: I first read this when in my 40's and I'm very glad because I don't think I would have appreciated Jane Austen's wit and writing when I was younger. It just never gets old!

jwhenderson: This is a book I have read and reread many times over my reading life.

AbigailAdams26: The story of an orphan who finds a home and family, there is something both reassuring and deeply moving about this, and all of LMM's books.

loomis22: I just love these books. They spark so much joy and make me laugh out loud that I reread them again and again.

al.vick: Well, the whole series really...

AbigailAdams26: As one of three sisters, I always find so much I can identify with in this story of the March family.

AbigailAdams26: This story of healing and rebirth is one I like to revisit every winter, when the idea of a green garden has great appeal.

shervinafshar: There's so much to absorb in any re-reading of this book. My favorite chapter is that which narrates the ultimate fate of the Imperial Planetologist, Liet-Kynes.

vwinsloe: Dune is a place you can go when you need to get away from where you are.

kindlibrarian: With its child protagonists, it was accessible to me as a young person, with additional layers of comprehension and reflection gained with each re-read as an adult.

Stbalbach: With a good annotated illustrated edition, surprisingly rich.

dutchgirldtd: This is representative of all of Dorothy Sayers. I love all her books, but especially the Harriet Vane/Peter Wimsey ones and don't ever get tired of rereading them!

perennialreader: Short and easy read. It's good for when you need to change genres.

kindlibrarian: A glorious portrait of long distance friendship, shared love of books, a charming bookstore, and a sideways glance at history.

WordMaven: Mood, mood, and more mood. I love how overwrought Cathy and Heathcliff's love for each other is, the intensity of Heathcliff's character, the doom of it all. Passion, love, revenge, hatred, intensity...

elahrairah: Most of Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman's works could be on this list, so I chose their joint work to represent them both. I learned a lot from these books!

scraps: I find this satirical look at good and evil to be funny and a great reminder that not everyone is acting as you expect.

dutchgirldtd: I read the whole Narnia series for the first time about 55 years ago and have read the books many times since then. Such a beautiful, creative story, and for Christians, also full of spiritual parallels, I love them on so many levels....and I just KNOW Narnia is real.... :-)

WordMaven: Holden. The first time I read this, I thought it was the funniest thing ever. But when I re-read it, I realized that I was reading the story of a teenager who'd had a nervous breakdown and was in a psych hospital; it broke my heart. I want to wrap Holden up in my arms and hug him until he lets it all out.

tardis: This is representing ALL the Murderbot books for me, because I re-read them all.

knerd.knitter: This is also a book whose audiobook I used to listen to as a child.

SandyAMcPherson: A captivating adventure saga, with heart-felt passages and daily struggles we can understand, likeable main characters with effectively nasty villains. MC, Maia, is an engaging, three-dimensional personality, having an unusual back-story of being completely ignored by his emperor-father and 3 older half-brothers. Yet he becomes the heir to the throne with next-to-no training or education in Imperial behaviours and governance.

tardis: This stands for all of the Discworld books, which I reread often.

CarltonC: I have reread many of the Discworld series, but the City Watch, Witches and Death sub-series are particularly entertaining.

perennialreader: Love this story and all the tv adaptations also.

jwhenderson: This book was one which began my reading career and it has a special place in explaining the meaning of reading in my life.

shj2be: Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

waltzmn: (Am I really the first to point out the world's greatest puzzle book?)

perennialreader: Always a good read to take to the beach.

pandr65: The three "Harper Hall" novels set in the Dragonrider Universe are the best part of it. They avoid the soft porn aspect of the first trilogy and are more realistic about emotion and growth. They influenced me as a teenager, and are always worth a nostalgic look back.

tardis: Such a good story!

QuareMorito: there's only a few books I can say I've reread so many times that I've had to buy multiple copies, the warmth in these pages? unmatched

Aspenhugger: A wonderful comedy. I only wish the list included Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog.

2wonderY: Yes, yes, yes! Delightful!

dara85: I first read this book as a teenager and then as an over 50 adult. My feelings for the book did not change. I loved it just as much the second time.

perennialreader: Read it 3 times.

perennialreader: Loved this and reread it with my book group.

invisiblelizard: My favorite book as a kid. I love the twist at the end and how she tricked me all the way through. I checked this out of my library many times and read and re-read it. As an adult I ordered a nice hardback copy for myself and read it every couple of years.

Aquila: I can reread this book on a hot day in the middle of summer and still end up curled up under the covers. Winter.

jwhenderson: I think Ursula LeGuin writes some of the most exquisite prose, and I was deeply touched by this book's depiction of friendship.

dajashby: Stands in for the whole series

kindlibrarian: Uncommon survival story with a well drawn main character and space science cleverly woven in. Each fresh read or listen uncovers something new.

grant5038: Gail's mix of Steampunk Victorian England and the Super Natural (Vampires, Wolves, Ghosts) is so well-crafted.

pandr65: OSC burst onto the science fiction scene with innivative short stories and "Ender's Game". The first Enderverse novel had a fresh perspective and glorious action; the second, "Speaker for the Dead", adds more depth to characterization and emotional perspective. I love this book.

jwhenderson: Having perused all of Dicken's works, this particular novel stands out as my favorite.

dutchgirldtd: So well-written, such beautiful descriptions, such a sweeping story with interesting characters - so much to love!

jwhenderson: The best American novel of the twentieth century draws me back with its exquisite prose and captivating characters.

MaowangVater: We reread it every Christmas. First with our children, and then the grandchildren.

wyvernfriend: Death's apprentice has to take the reins, litterally.

dutchgirldtd: Representing all of Agatha Christie's work - some I reread a lot, others not so much, but I am a big fan of (almost) all her books.

jwhenderson: I return to this novel for its amazing story and wonderful center in Dorothea Brooke.

WordMaven: Oh yes. My #1, my best beloved. I've read this book 5 times now and every time I read it, it gets better. How does that happen? How did Tartt do that?! And where the heck is her next book?!!

scraps: This book is one of the most spiritual books I have read. It is about not giving up on yourself and finding your own way to happiness. I reread it every couple of years.

jwhenderson: Tolstoy's finest book, full of amazing, enduring characters.

kindlibrarian: Tales of a kooky, brilliant large family that really existed. Charming and funny.

Porua: One of the scariest books I have ever read but strangely enough it became a comfort read for a younger me.

invisiblelizard: A masterful blending of history and magic. Clarke is a genius. She's written layers upon layers. I've read this several times and each time I have a somewhat different, wonderful experience.

tardis: Something about watching Miles implode and then reinvent himself always works for me.

NoPlanetB: Reading it again to try a different translator. Worth a second read in any language.

wyvernfriend: It's hard to pick just one story in this series, this is an alternative middle ages where magic is an undercurrent. Katherine Kurtz was killing well-loved characters well before other writers.

dutchgirldtd: Really, all of Jane Austen.

jwhenderson: Waugh never performed better than in this book, which I keep returning to because of its captivating prose and story.

Aquila: My favorite Wynne Jones, and there's so much in it.