Any books you love to read over and over again?

[sidthekid27]

The idea of rereading books used to mystify me, and I think it says something about Stephen King (and his talent) that I can sit down with literally anything he's written and enjoy it over and over. Just finished a reread of Misery- the first SK book I ever read- and love it more every time. Rereading has become a tradition for me. What books do you read over and over again and never get tired of, though not necessarily King?

A couple more personal examples:

• The Harry Potter series
• A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (every Christmas Eve; it's a short story but I think it still counts)
• Already mentioned- anything by SK
• To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye- read both multiple times because they were favorites of mine growing up.

[Moderator]

I thought there was a thread about this previously but it's not showing up in the Similar Threads so am putting this through.

[rose key]

Besides all the SK books? The only thing I can think of right now is Lord of the Rings.

[wally wonder]

other than sk, harry crews's stories. they're a real hoot. i've enjoyed some of koontz's stuff, as well, but on the last read of fear nothing i had to struggle through to the end. maybe i've read it too much? catch-22 by heller. and yeah, all of sk's stuff.

[tess4da]

I've read them all, many times. Based on what is going on in my life at the time, they strike different resonant chords. It's sort of like watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' every Christmas Eve, for me, anyway. Every year I see it differently, but it's an old friend, well-loved and cherished.

[BlackThorn]

I've read 'The Princess Bride' a few times. Usually the second time though, I skim through some parts to speed up sections. Only with that book though 'cause there are some parts that are tedous intentionally as part of it's dry humor. Or mayyyyybe if I was rereading the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I might skim through the endless songs a bit too. Those parts always bored me, but I would read it all every time anyway to be fair, kinda hammering through like I was climbing a hill in my head as fast as I could to get it over with.

Most King is highly rereadable. Ooo, firefox says I just invented a word. =oD I remember the first time I read 'Desperation', I wanted to continue reading it so much I brought the book into the bathtub with me. I found it was possible, but tricky, and I couldn't get as comfy as I wanted always keeping one hand dry and away from water, so it was back to audiobooks when I'm in the tub instead. But Desperation is a great re-read. I had to read it a few times once when I was makin' it into mp3 format from an old recycled library edition. (the tape that had been overplayed or melted so bad you can hear a crazy backwards echo of Kings voice on the raw copy, was only helped so much by the filters) But I didn't mind listening to it over and over to fix it. That whole book is covered in amazing scenes, and extremely powerful happenings. It was a quick read too, for King book, which also helps for reread ability.

Anything on The Dark Tower can be read and reread too, and both of the audio book readers were incredible with that series as well. Frank Muller set the rhythm for the characters perfectly, and when George Guidall began narrative work on the expanded 'The Gunslinger' and on book V, he stayed right in line with that pattern Muller had set everything into play with. The Muller version of 'Little Sisters of Eluria' is good for a reread too. More fun than reading it yourself. XoD

If you really enjoyed Insomina, that's a good one to do again someday too.

[tess4da]

Shoot, sorry! The previous message sounded so PC. I've read, re-read, and re-read, and loved, all of the Harry Potter books, and Mr. King has been a friend since 1980. The first book, for me, was 'The Stand'. I also like David Baldacci, and the backs of cereal boxes. I read everything and anything, always have. Not sure if it's a blessing or a curse.

[LittleRedKing]

I find myself going back to books like Watershop Down, The Book of the Dun Cow, Lord of the Rings and just about every SK book I own. The Long Walk has gotten a heck of a lot of mileage from me for some reason. As well as It, The Stand and the entire Dark Tower series.

As far as SK books that I don't have a desire to read again, that is a pretty short list. I can pick up just about any of his and get right back into it again.

[sidthekid27]

Thanks for putting it through, Ms. Mod. I checked for any similar threads and was really surprised not to find any, so here it is.

I agree that everything Stephen writes is worthy of being reread and IMO this is because he layers all of his stories with such meaning. What you see is not necessarily what you get. His characters are fascinating, too. There are some writers that manage to make my skin crawl with the things their characters do or say, not because they're particularly horrific but because the characters (based on my perception of them) would never do/say what the writer wants them to. That has never happened with Stephen. He's got such a great sense of reality which make his books so much more meaningful for me. I don't know- love Stephen's work more than any others on my shelf and reread them all the time.

Another reread that I forgot about- sorry Alice Walker- is The Colour Purple. I'm kinda like Tess, I think. I could read the phone book, depending on my mood. I'm just a reader, I guess. LOL

[racheypen80]

I've reread Harry Potter more times than I care to confess:-) I reread Word Processor of the Gods every once in a while.

Books I reread every year:
To Kill A Mockingbird
Franny & Zooey (makes me reread The Last Rung On The Ladder)
The Great Divorce