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re-reading books

do you reread books that you like?


  • Total voters
    51

Kasper

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I was serious, I usually only buy books when I know I'll enjoy re-reading them (most of my books are from 5 or so authors whose work I almost universally like, or excellent books that I've read elsewhere) and even then I try to avoid it. My money is too vluable to me to waste it on books I'm not pretty sure I'll like. If I only want to read them once or if I'm trying out new authors I do go to the library. And I borrow (and lend, too) books from people whenever I can. Why wouldn't I?

And if I didn't like reading them enough to re-read them, I get rid of them. Why would you waste shelf space? seriously, I don't get it. But it's pretty uncommon that I don't enjoy a book I've bought, I guess I have a good idea of what I like, or I'm not picky.

I love books, I love book stores.

If I go to a second hand book store I'll go crazy and get books on a whim, spend $20 and walk out with more books than I can carry, they don't have to be expensive if you know the stores to go to. When they're second hand I'll be more carefree and get books by authors I haven't heard of before, or obscure books that I've heard of but can't remember if what I heard was great or just average, for a couple of bucks a pop I'll risk it.

If I go to a new book store I'll be more frugal in my purchases, I'll stick to subjects, genres or authors that I have a reasonable expectation to love.

If I read a book that I love I myself won't read it again however I'll remember it and if a related topic with a friend or stranger comes up and I think they'll love the book to I'll lend or give that to them.

For me I get my moneys worth if I enjoy it the first time around.

And I like having a full bookself.

Naturally if I dislike a book I've bought I will want to get rid of it.
 

Randomnity

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I get you, kinda, I'm just cheap I guess. And fairly lacking in space.

I guess it just never occurred to me that anyone wouldn't reread books. I mean why keep it around otherwise, even if you were buying terrible books all the time. I guess it looks better than an empty bookshelf, lol. Just seems strange to me. Why don't you go to the library instead of used book stores? :huh:

I've always been a huge library user so I guess I'm biased :laugh: but really, it's cheap (usually nearly free) and just as convenient and less wasteful, if that matters.
 

Kasper

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Why don't you go to the library instead of used book stores? :huh:

I do that too :D

Number one problem is I'm bad with getting books back on time, which incurs the wrath of the librarians. Their low-tone whispery wrath intimidates me *fear*

Number two, I don't love the collections available at the libraries I visit. If I buy a new book it's generally something that a library wouldn't stock, I'm not into reading the latest top-selling thriller or book-to-movie release that will end up in the library, I tend to go towards books that are specifically relevant to my interests and often they'll be in the "have to order from our on-line store section as it's not in stock" category.

Number three is I love used book stores. You never know what you'll find, and often the people in those stores will put down their current read and be up for a chat about the books they have and what they recommend. I love that atmosphere.

Number four, most of the time I read books when I'm not at home, either when I'm out at a coffee shop, or when I'm on holidays. Library books aren't the best thing to take away and coffee stains are frowned upon by the whispery librarians..
 

Randomnity

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lol, that's why I didn't go to the library for a year or so until this week - didnt want to pay all the fines I'd accumulated. but this time will be better, I swear :laugh: so maybe not cheaper if you're like me.

Maybe libraries are better here. I actually find that the city-wide selection here is much better than new or used bookstores (though the individual branch's selection may be shabby, you can "order" any book from any branch in the city which is a fairly staggering amount of books, both new and old). Haven't had much luck finding a good used bookstore in my city, maybe that's why I'm biased - they're either hideously expensive (5-6$ for a battered paperback that's 10$ new???) or don't have a great selection, or both. And I get a lot of people trying to talk to me even when I use earbuds to signal solitude. And the disorganization drives me crazy, though sometimes it's fun to browse.

haha if I ever come to australia, I'll have to get you to show me a good used book store, since you're pro, it seems ;)
 

Kasper

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haha if I ever come to australia, I'll have to get you to show me a good used book store, since you're pro, it seems ;)

Library quality has a big impact. When I was at uni the library was delicious, the ones I have access to now are aiirite but not great.

Country second hand book stores run by the RSL (Returned Serviceman's League) are teh tops! :wub: in good condition and nothing over $6, average price being $2-4!
 

Eckhart

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I reread some books that I liked, but I think I never read one book more than 2 or 3 times so far.
 

Aquarelle

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I love re-reading books. :) I always discover something new, and it's nice to re-live my favorite stories. I must have read The Cather in the Rye 10 times! Also most of the Harry Potter books at least 3 times.
 

kyuuei

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Just like a good movie, you can catch things you missed re-reading books. I enjoy it. Usually I re-read books that I haven't picked up in a long while (1 year+) because although I remember the jist of the story, I forget side characters, sub plots, emotions, etc. So a lot of things get re-discovered and I can fall in love with the characters again.
 

musicnerd93

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I re-read books all the time. I think some of it has to do with, not just liking the book, but also that you get more out of it the second time around...if that makes any sense...
 

Chaotic Harmony

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I usually try to re-read books that I like... but the problem I run into is... I get about six pages in and it's hard to re-read them because I know exactly what is coming, so it's just not as fun to read it because I don't have that same anticipation as I did the first time I read it. If I do re-read a book I usually wait several months and sometimes several years before I pick it up again. And even then I usually remember all the details after I've read several pages... Sigh... Damn you good memory! :mad:
 

disregard

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There is no greater comfort than rereading a book you know is insanely satisfying to your bookworm needs.
 

Tamske

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He blames my tendancy to have a very short attention span for the fact that I'm just as into the same book again as the first time :doh:
I've got a weird ability/trait: I remember every story I ever read. I forget title, author... but I can give you a short summary whenever something prompts me to remember that story.
Nevertheless, I reread. Some books I've reread very often already, almost to the point I know them from heart. If I read a book, I can quite accurately say whether I will reread it or not.

When you read a book in class, you read and analyse it at the same time. It drives me up the wall! My first read is for the overall story. I read very quickly and will miss the finer details. I want to know the ending.
After that, I'll reread for the details, the characters, in short for all those things the teachers want us to do. Some books I've started again the moment I've read the last page.

Now I'm reading a book that I only find okay. Definitely not a keeper. But I want to know what exactly irks me about it. Knowing what you don't want in a book is quite interesting too.

About library vs buying books. I use the library quite a lot. I experiment with new authors there. When I know I will reread the book very often, I'd buy it. I love second-hand bookstores and the book fest. Also: reference books. Those I like to buy, too.
 

Nicodemus

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I've got a weird ability/trait: I remember every story I ever read. I forget title, author... but I can give you a short summary whenever something prompts me to remember that story.
I think that ability is rather common.
 

InsatiableCuriosity

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I'm a fan of highlighting in my books... I don't necessarily go back and re-read the entire book, but I go back to read all the stuff that I highlighted. I usually highlight the important parts of each chapter or quotes that jump out at me.


I do this too so don't feel bad. :) Once upon a time my books were sacrosanct and I couldn't handle lending them to people who didn't know how to turn pages, left them dog-eared, with broken backs and with stains on them. My books were like a bookshop shelf. These days I treat my books as friends, I highlight, scribble in the margins and use copious numbers of different coloured flags so I can find the salient passages that speak to me. :wubbie:
 

Randomnity

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You're only the second person I know who thinks that.
Everyone you know forgets completely every book they've ever read, even with prompting?? :thelook:
 

InsatiableCuriosity

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Haven't had much luck finding a good used bookstore in my city, maybe that's why I'm biased - they're either hideously expensive (5-6$ for a battered paperback that's 10$ new???)

If I had new book prices like you have I would be buying my books new too!! I live in Aus as well and buy most of mine new because I have to order largely from overseas. We seem to have lost our one main remaining SF specialist bookstore and I cannot get a good range of SF in Perth from our local chainstores.

I'm not certain where Trinity is but I am in Perth and a trade paperback here can cost $27 - $39. A hardcover can cost up to $50 depending on the author. 2nd hand books are usually up to $13. I buy my Charles de Lint and most of my technical type books on learning, psych, aptitude and physics direct from Amazon US because if I had my booksellers here order them in they would cost me double, treble or quadruple the cost!!!
 

Randomnity

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If I had new book prices like you have I would be buying my books new too!! I live in Aus as well and buy most of mine new because I have to order largely from overseas. We seem to have lost our one main remaining SF specialist bookstore and I cannot get a good range of SF in Perth from our local chainstores.

I'm not certain where Trinity is but I am in Perth and a trade paperback here can cost $27 - $39. A hardcover can cost up to $50 depending on the author. 2nd hand books are usually up to $13. I buy my Charles de Lint and most of my technical type books on learning, psych, aptitude and physics direct from Amazon US because if I had my booksellers here order them in they would cost me double, treble or quadruple the cost!!!
Wow. That's bizarre, maybe it's an import cost or something?

Though to be clear, not sure what a trade paperback is, I'm talking about trashy fiction novels (paperbacks 10-12$ usually and hardcover 35-45$ which is why I never buy hardcover). When I buy nonfiction, paperbacks are 20-30$ and hardcovers are worse (also more expensive used). I don't really like buying nonfiction used though unless it's fairly new, because most of my favourite subjects tend to be updated over time. And I vastly prefer trashy entertainment novels anyway. :D
 

InsatiableCuriosity

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OK -trade paperbacks are the larger sized paperbacks and are usually the first issue paperbacks of a new book. They don't often produce TPBs in 2nd or subsequent editions of books. I like them because they're easier to hold particularly if they are a thick book.
 
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