Read, Repeat
May. 4th, 2020 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
therealsnape in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
covidcoffeecornerHello, everyone at the coffee corner,
Today it's my turn to post an item. And as usual, it's a bookish one.
Are you a re-reader of books? If not, why not? And if so, which books in particular? And which is the book you've re-read most often, and why?
I am a great re-reader myself. My father, who was also acompulsively-buying book addict dedicated collectionneur, even had it as a criterium for his purchases: if it's a book you want to read more than once, buy it. If not, get it from the library.
Wise words, and he lived by them. Therefore his collection, after some thinning, fitted into three large Billys. In my case it was more difficult. Not because I lack self-control (which I do) but because I like to read lots of English books, and live in the Netherlands. While the English section of our library is largish and fairly well-stocked, it has its limitations.
Things are better now that I have a kindle. That allows me to read all the lovely bookses without actually buying them in paper. I only do that when I want to re-read.
The book I've read most often is Dickens's Christmas Carol. Every year, when the tree is decorated and the final lesson given, out comes my lovely copy, with Rackham's illustrations, and at that moment Christmas has truly started. The reading count is well over 30 times.
An other book I've re-read often is Terry Pratchett's Night Watch.
And how about you?
Today it's my turn to post an item. And as usual, it's a bookish one.
Are you a re-reader of books? If not, why not? And if so, which books in particular? And which is the book you've re-read most often, and why?
I am a great re-reader myself. My father, who was also a
Wise words, and he lived by them. Therefore his collection, after some thinning, fitted into three large Billys. In my case it was more difficult. Not because I lack self-control (which I do) but because I like to read lots of English books, and live in the Netherlands. While the English section of our library is largish and fairly well-stocked, it has its limitations.
Things are better now that I have a kindle. That allows me to read all the lovely bookses without actually buying them in paper. I only do that when I want to re-read.
The book I've read most often is Dickens's Christmas Carol. Every year, when the tree is decorated and the final lesson given, out comes my lovely copy, with Rackham's illustrations, and at that moment Christmas has truly started. The reading count is well over 30 times.
An other book I've re-read often is Terry Pratchett's Night Watch.
And how about you?
no subject
on 2020-05-04 08:16 pm (UTC)compulsive book-buying addictdedicated collectioneur myself, I confess that I sometimes feel a twinge of guilt when I reread an old, comfortable book instead of plucking something from the stacks of as-yet-unread new books. But mostly I'm able to suppress it.I cycle through Jane Austen fairly consistently, and every four or five years, I return to Middlemarch. Sherlock Holmes is a frequent companion, as are Agatha Christie and Margery Allingham on occasion.
But most of my comfort rereads are children's books. I revisit the Harry Potter books often (if listening to them on Audible while I walk and drive counts as rereading). The E. Nesbit books, especially the Bastables, are a never-failing source of pleasure. I have a lot of old girls' school stories and series, both American and British, that make for lovely summer afternoon retreats.
I have not yet mastered your father's sensible distinction between re-readable ownership and one-off library-ship, but one day I will run out of wall space for shelves and will have to reconsider.
no subject
on 2020-05-05 10:31 am (UTC)I think I've only read one Margery Allingham. I liked it, so I'll have to check out some more.