Books you've read again and again and again...

[alfaniner]

The Tripods by John Christopher. You can skip the prequel, the trilogy stands alone.

 

[fromdownunder]

John Wyndham's Day of The Triffids, The Kraken Wakes and Trouble with Lichen.

Just about anything by Heinlein, all of his juveniles except the first two, Stranger (of course), Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Friday, The Puppet Masters and Double Star.

Dougals Adams - all 5 Hitchhikers books and the two Dirk Gently books, plus Last Chance to See .

Neville Shute's On the Beach

Spider Robinson's Callaghan series.

Catch 22

Norm

 

[Fireshadow]

I regularly reread the Hitchhiker's Guide series (although I can't stand Mostly Harmless), and most of the Discworld books (at least, the ones I own). My go to books to re-read, though, are probably Heinlein, particularly Stranger in a Strange Land, Time Enough for Love, The Number of the Beast, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (although it's been a couple of years for that one, as I loaned it out and never got my copy back), and The Door Into Summer (One of the first ones I read, and the earliest one that I read that I keep returning to).

 

[gtm]

Here is one more:

The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough

My wife & I read the whole Masters of Rome series (all 7 of 'em ) by Colleen McCullough every 2 years or so although we reckon the first 3 are the best.

 

[Morrigan]

I rarely read any book more than once. But my friend and I have translated A Game of Thrones (all of it) into French. For fun. Does that count? >_>

 

[Flashman]

The Flashman papers by George Macdonald Fraser. Each new instalmant over the years prompted me to read the whole lot again so I've read the first one, Flashman, at least a dozen times. Excellent adventure stories, very funny and informative to boot. The first Anglo/Afghan war, The Indian mutiny, The Taiping rebellion, The first Anglo/Sikh war, The Charge of the light brigade, The Battle of The Little Bighorn, Harper's Ferry, The Underground Railroad etc. etc. What's not to love?

The Aubrey/Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian. I'm half way through the series for the third time.

Everything by Iain M. Banks and three or four by Iain Banks without the M.

The Jeeves and Wooster stories by P.G. Wodehouse - god knows how many times and the Blandings stories, too, to a lesser extent. The one book I've reread more than any other is The code of the Woosters, I'd say twenty at the very least. The thing is, if I read it again tomorrow I'd still giggle all the way through with the odd belly-laugh thrown in even though I know the story backwards. I love P.G. Wodehouse.

 

[hgc]

The Flashman papers by George Macdonald Fraser. Each new instalmant over the years prompted me to read the whole lot again so I've read the first one, Flashman, at least a dozen times. Excellent adventure stories, very funny and informative to boot. The first Anglo/Afghan war, The Indian mutiny, The Taiping rebellion, The first Anglo/Sikh war, The Charge of the light brigade, The Battle of The Little Bighorn, Harper's Ferry, The Underground Railroad etc. etc. What's not to love?

I've not read Flashman yet, but it's been recommended. I'll get to them as soon as I'm done with Hornblower.

 

[Doctor Evil]

My wife & I read the whole Masters of Rome series (all 7 of 'em ) by Colleen McCullough every 2 years or so although we reckon the first 3 are the best.

I would slightly disagree. The first is clearly the best, which is why I recommended it here. Then the third and fifth. But they are all good. I would definitly recommend the whole series.

 

[gtm]

I would slightly disagree. The first is clearly the best, which is why I recommended it here. Then the third and fifth. But they are all good. I would definitly recommend the whole series.

The star of the show for the first 3 books is clearly Sulla. He's a much more complex & interesting character than the conceited Caesar or the doughty old war horse, Marius. I thoroughly enjoy his ruthlessness in the Social War (book 2), sadistic cruelty during his Dictatorship & no hold barred partying during his retirement. He's modelled entirely on Plutarchs biographical sketch of him which is worth a read if you've got 10 minutes to spare.

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Sulla*.html

I think book 7 is pretty good as well. Her characterisation of Octavius is spot on in my opinion. A political genius with a hefty sliver of ice in his heart.

 

[jenspen]

I try to keep to a rule of not giving permanent shelf space to any book I am not going to read at least three times. The books that have been read to bits and had to be replaced include:

The novels of Jane Austen
The Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian
The Penguin Book of English Verse

I predict the same fate for the novels of a recent discovery, Kate Atkinson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Atkinson

 

[Yithmas]

Chinua Achebe - The Arrow of God

read it four times so far.

 

[Ethan Thane Athen]

Inspired by this thread.

What book (or books/series) do you enjoy reading the most?
The ones you'll happily read repeatedly. It doesn't matter if they're popular or even good literature. Just as long as they are books. Heck, I'll even allow graphic novels.

For added content, give a brief blurb as to why you like it.


In my case, I have two guilty pleasures:

The Deathstalker series by Simon R. Green is one. It's a nice, long and engrossing space opera. Not particularly good, and the author is obsessed with bloody swordfights, but still enjoyable.

And Rats, Bats and Vats along with its sequel The Rats, the Bats and the Ugly by Eric Flint and Dave Freer. Just because they're fun.

Just to annoy Morrigan: 'Magician' by Raymond E Feist, read it at least 4 times, including the 'author's cut'.

The reason, it's my all time favourite book. Probably because everything in it pretty much exactly matches what I want in my fantasy (it's very close to the AD&D approach to magic and mythical races but where it varies, it varies in exactly the way I think it should) so: the various races are exactly how I think they should be (Elves are like I want my Elves, Dwarves are like Dwarves, there's even a race (Valheru) that sort of match the Melniboneans of Michael Moorcock's Elric saga); wizardly magic works in pretty much the traditional way but with the twist of 'greater' and 'lesser' paths; Clerical magic is spot on etc etc.

In other words, I guess it's derivative but it's derived all the (IMHO) best bits and combined them into a cracking yarn - and Feist does some epic big battles.

The only serious complaint I'd make is the name of the main protagonist - 'Pug' is a seriously duff name and the rest of the characters have perfectly serviceable monickers.

Just to be clear,in the spirit of the OP, I do not hold it up as 'great literature' but then I read fiction for enjoyment and escapism. If I want to expand my horizons, I do it by reading non-fiction.

My Asimov stuff used to get re-read loads of times as well - especially his short stories.

 

[Helen]

I am lazy and unambitious, and always eager to exploit others, but I am also loath to be left out, so I'll just steal a couple of posts:

Can I ask what you find particularly appealing about Mansfield Park? Austen's books are on my list, but not that one--too soppy.

Otherwise: Malory, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Pearl, Canterbury Tales (well, some of them--I can get by without repeated readings of Melibee). On the other hand, I would never voluntarily read Piers Plowman.

Beowulf, Battle of Maldon, Battle of Brunanburh, The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Ruin, Dream of the Rood.

Bunch of sagas, esp. Grettis saga. Bunch of Shakespeare.

First three Hitchhiker's Guide books, Dirk Gently books.

I'd just like to subtract a few Anglo-Saxons, and add a few Greeks...

I try to keep to a rule of not giving permanent shelf space to any book I am not going to read at least three times. The books that have been read to bits and had to be replaced include:

The novels of Jane Austen
The Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian
The Penguin Book of English Verse

I predict the same fate for the novels of a recent discovery, Kate Atkinson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Atkinson

I have just been re-reading Atkinson as well, she really is funny, with a not unconsiderable amount of depth to the funny! I haven't read Patrick O'Brian. perhaps I should?

Oh, and Terry Pratchett!


LibraryLady, thanks for your explanation about Mansfield Park. I've re-read it a number of times, it is after all Jane Austen, but it is my least favourite of hers. Not because of Fanny, but because I feel that Jane Austen actually preaches at me at times. It is also more coloured by her times, than any of the others, I feel. But I shall re-read it with your words in my mind now. I think it will appeal far more that way.

 

[jenspen]

I am lazy and unambitious, and always eager to exploit others, but I am also loath to be left out, so I'll just steal a couple of posts:



'I have just been re-reading Atkinson as well, she really is funny, with a not unconsiderable amount of depth to the funny! I haven't read Patrick O'Brian. perhaps I should?'



Patrick O'Brian's favourite author was Jane Austen. And he's very funny.

 

[Dystopian]

Seems a bit ridiculous to me to read a book or watch a film more than once. Playing through a video game more than once is different if there are numerous paths the story depicted can take, and then there's the interaction with the gameplay.

Played Deus Ex about 28 times right through.

Half Life about 20

 

[LibraryLady]

Seems a bit ridiculous to me to read a book or watch a film more than once. Playing through a video game more than once is different if there are numerous paths the story depicted can take, and then there's the interaction with the gameplay.

Played Deus Ex about 28 times right through.

Half Life about 20

Yes, but every time you read the book again, you are a different person, and bring different ideas and experiences to it. I first read Anne of Green Gables, for instance, when I was 9. Reading it again in my 20s, I found a completely different book. After I visited the actual Green Gables when I was in my 30s, it was different again. And recently, reading it (or actually listening to it) at age 56, I found yet another book. A book is a living thing that changes and grows with the reader.

 

[Brainache]

Put me down as another compulsive LOTR re-reader. Along with The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and all of the Discworld books and Good Omens. I also Love Stephen Baxter and re-read the entire Xeelee sequence several times. H2G2 as well as the Dirk Gently stories too.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Books I've read at least 10 times:

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.

 

[epeos76]

So many of the ones listed above would be on my list. Lloyd Alexander! - I particularly love The First Two Lives of Lucas Kasha which I also used to read almost every summer at my grandparent's house. Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series. The 1001 Arabian Nights. The Once and Future King almost every year since high school. Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome series. Hitchhiker's Guide and Dirk Gently. Almost everything by Ursula K. Leguin. The Hobbit. The Wind in the Door series by Madeline L'Engle. Watership Down. The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury. A lot of Steven King - Through the Eyes of the Dragon and the Stand are the one's I've re-read the most, though its been a decade or so. More oddly, I read the collected short stories of Hans Christian Anderson probably a dozen times as a kid. The Sirens of Titan, Cat's Cradle, and Timequake by Vonnegut. The Name of the Rose. Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. Ian M. Bank's Culture books.

Could go on and on. I guess I tend to be a little conservative about approaching new books until I've completely exhausted my favorites.

 

[RoboTimbo]

duplicate