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I was wondering what causes other people to reread a book or series of books. What is the catalyst?

Do you find it better the second time?

I thought I would answer my own question to get the discussion going.

Generally I reread a book or books if something reminds me of the book and makes me think of it fondly. Since joining Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ I have done a lot of rereading.

I often reread a series if I know a new book in the series is coming out.

Sometimes I reread a book if I liked it a great deal and felt I might have missed something in it. I just reread Dead and Gone for that reason.

I do reread books, but not as much as I used to. Re-reading was a constant feature of my childhood, and carried on through my young adulthood. I guess I had fewer books then?

That's not really it, because I've always been awash in books ... but I suppose I want to recapture the pleasures those books gave me.

My re-readers include (even to this day):

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Narnia (always read in the original publication order, not this new-fangled of idea of reading them in the Narnian timeline)
The Black Stallion books
Jane Eyre
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which I reread recently)
The Jungle Books
H.P. Lovecraft Stories
Poe Stories
A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes Stories

(I have these last 4 on my Kindle, so if the mood strikes me, I'm off and running.)

Hmm. Maybe it has to do with overall length. I want to reread Atlas Shrugged, but it's so darn long ...

I've never been a re-reader of books. Usually when a new book comes out in a series, I'll grab the last one in the series and skim the pages so I remember what happened.
There are times when I wish I would have re-read a book but then I just move on to a new one. Don't know why.

I've reread several. Probably one of my first was "Wait Till Helen Comes". I got in 3rd grade and just thought it was delightfully scary and probably read it 4 or 5 times. I'v reread the Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon books at least twice. They're some of my favorite stories. I also reread Dead until Dark, the second time right after I finished it the first time just because I enjoyed it so much. And I'll also reread a book if the series is continuing and I want to refresh my memory. It's always nice to go back to those books that are like an old friend and spend time with them again!

I've always been a rereader :). I like to visit with old friends, or reread something to prep for a book group. I also reread during stressful times--I've reread several series this year, and misc other things, as I started a new job last December, moved to a new city in February, and started a leadership course in Feb also. The course is almost done, but it's been so comforting to reread old favorites as I learn a lot of new things.

Yes, Patti, I forgot that one, I also reread old favorites during stressful times. I also have two chronic illnesses that cause daily pain and when I am in a lot of pain, I prefer to reread. It comforts me a great deal.

I have only recently started re-reading books. Particularly when I found a really great book and read another crappy book with the same theme. To sort of wash that memory of that crappy book away. And re-live the moment I first discovered the author/book.

Oh yes it can be a comfort [from stress:] I think, maybe. Hmmm. I never thought about that. I know that I have a lot of books I could be reading but I know that re-reading a fave only [usually:] takes a day.

I re-read books if a new book is coming out in the series, if it has been so long that I don't remember the book well, or if I REALLY loved it the last time I read it. Sometimes I will re-read a book that I didn't like when I was young, because now that I am older I might like it...

I am re-reading my fave YA suspense/thriller authors [bit by bit:]. I don't remember the stories at all and it only takes an afternoon to read the books.

I also want to re-read V C Andrews older series since I read those in my teens and loved them.

I'm a slow reader and have so many books on my TBR list, I don't re-read often. When I do, it is usually one that was a favorite the first time I read it, and I just want to relive the story again. I typically allow quite a few years to pass between re-reads though. Otherwise I remember too much, and it isn't as fun. I don't think I necessarily like a book better the second time around. If I liked it then, I'll still like it now. I do sometimes see things in books that I didn't see before that makes me appreciate the story more, probably the result of maturity.

I usually don't reread a whole book. Sometimes I'll reread some favorite parts when they pop into my head. :)

new_user wrote: "I usually don't reread a whole book. Sometimes I'll reread some favorite parts when they pop into my head. :)"

Same here. I'll read the parts that I liked best. Sometimes that leads to me reading most of the book.

I think I always re-read books. When I was finally allowed into the adult library getting a new author was pretty hit and miss since there was no way to get suggestions, so I re-read some books that I had enjoyed every year until I couldn't get back to that specific library again.

Over time some favorites went away and new favorites arrived. I'll generally re-read a whole series once there are enough books that I think I'm missing something. And I tend to try to read EVERYTHING a favorite author has written.

I never really used to be into rereading books, but when 'The Golden Compass' became a movie I decided to reread that and 'The Subtle Knife' because I originally read them back in like 1998 or something like that. It also got me to finally read 'The Amber Spyglass.'

In rereading these two books I realized what a great benefit rereading can actually have. The first time I read purely for plot, plus I was 11. However, the second time through I was able to comb through for foreshadowing and double meaning and got so much more out of the book. It made me wish schools had more time to do books this way. So the first time you read a book it could be for the plot and then you could go through it a second time for the analysis since you already know what is going to happen. I think students would get so much more out of it and find it more enjoyable.

I'm now rereading 'East of Eden' by John Steinbeck and am amazed at all the little things he put into the book. There is so much more depth to it the second time around.

I will be re-reading Storm Front for a Group Read. Weird to me because like I said, I don't re-read. But I'm doing it anyway.
I also discovered that I don't remember quite a bit of the Harry Dresden books. My husband is reading book 4 and asked me a question (wanted me to tell him what happened) but I couldn't remember the book...at all. I think maybe I should become a re-reader! lol

Lisa Anne, I actually did the same thing. I read The Golden Compass when I was younger and a lot of the subtext escaped me until I read it again years later and I was really amazed at everything I missed. On the other hand, I've reread some books and found that they are not nearly as good as I thought when I was younger, so that's another reason I avoid rereading, LOL.

new_user wrote: "Lisa Anne, I actually did the same thing. I read The Golden Compass when I was younger and a lot of the subtext escaped me until I read it again years later and I was really amazed at everything I ..."

Yeah, sometimes you have to be careful what you reread. There's some that in retrospect I kind of know were probably quite terribly written (such as the LJ Smith books I was obsessed with for awhile) and I won't reread those. They have a nice fond little spot in my memory and I know if I reread them that will be ruined. haha

I'm afraid to reread EIGHT COUSINS. Loved the book when I was 11, 12 and 13 and then moved to High School and could not get at the book again until now, when it is suddenly available again.

I know now that one of the things I was longing for was my missing cousins. I didn't know I had a huge extended family because they all moved away just before I was old enough to remember them. But part of me did remember.

And I don't want to ruin the memory of reading that book over and over an over again.

I have started going through the mystery shelf marking and rating the books that I have read. The problem with that is I want to reread everything. Since I tend to read a lot of the authors who were prolific, it is impossible.

I love to reread, depending on what book it is. Some children's books I won't reread, because as someone else said, I don't want to ruin the impression I have of them in my head. But otherwise, if it's a book that I just really liked I will re-read it several times, or at least my favorite parts.

I am actually trying to decide whether I want to read Until I Find You A Novel or reread The Historian. That's right. "The Historian". I am one of those crazy people that liked the book. lol

I loved the Historian! Couldn't put it down. So we bought it for my mother-in-law and she said she struggled to get through it. That's a book I would definately reread.

Sometimes I reread simply because I have not had enough of the characters to 'satisfy myself'. Meaning: I need more of the characters or plot etc. So I reread the books.

Kristina wrote: "I loved the Historian! Couldn't put it down. So we bought it for my mother-in-law and she said she struggled to get through it. That's a book I would definately reread."

Yeah, it has been my experience that people usually either love it or hate it. lol There's not many with in between feelings. I think some people expect more action in it. But come on, it's called "The Historian"! lol

@Ellen - Yep, that's why I like to reread. I miss the characters and/or the plot, so I visit them. :)

I'm a huge rereader. Some books I reread every year! Whenever I look at a book on my bookshelf that I can't really remember, I reread.
I've always done it, even as a little girl I had my absolute favorites that I read 10 times or so.
That's why I'm building my own little library, so I have all my favorite books and can reread them whenever I want.

It's like visiting old friends

I have certain books that I re-visit,I usually know the minute I finish a book whether I'll want to read it again....I never tire of these books! and can re-read them over and over again, they remain just as fresh as the first time. Sometimes I re-read if I feel as tho' i've missed something or I suddenly see a situation in a different way, I very rarely get rid of books so I do tend to borrow from the Library alot, then If I find a re-reader I'll buy them.

I can only reread certain books that have captured my attention from the very beginning, and for me that's how I tell whether its a great book or not (for myself).
If it captures my attention, cant put it down, or can reread it a million times and never get sick of it!

I always save the books I enjoy, because chances are...one day I'll want to re-read them. :)

If I love a book or characters, I will eventually reread the book. It's like visiting old friends. Sometimes, I see something that I didn't see the first time and I'm a observant person. I've picked up something about For The Roses, which I am rereading, after nine years.

I never reread a book, even though I always save them "in cause I want to reread them". Maybe I should reread some, you all had some good arguments for rereading lol!

Emma, try it one day. I think you will like it.

I think I will! I'll report back when I did =)

Emma wrote: "I think I will! I'll report back when I did =)"

Okay. :)

Ya'll will think I'm crazy. I re-read a book when I can't remember anything about it. It's crazy I know. I see the book, recognize the title as one I've read, but can remember anything about it.

Re-reading books is what got me back into reading. I had a baby in May 0f 2008 and I took 3 long months off from work and by the second week I was bored out of my mind! I remembered that I had a couple boxes of books in the basement so I re-read both boxes. I then went online to see what new books the authors had out and got sucked back into reading. After a 4 year reading hiatus I think I am back for good. I really forgot how much fun it is to read and I am so happy that I got back into it!

southpaw285 wrote: "Ya'll will think I'm crazy. I re-read a book when I can't remember anything about it. It's crazy I know. I see the book, recognize the title as one I've read, but can remember anything about it."

That doesn't seem crazy to me southpaw. If it was a book I really enjoyed, I'll usually remember little tidbits, but I prefer to wait until I've forgotten most of it before re-reading. I think it's more fun that way, because it seems like the book is almost new again.

I agree Amber. A reread, will show a person what they have missed the first time.