"How often do you reread your favorite books?" Topic

This came up in a discussion with my wife today. How often do you reread your favorite novels.
I may reread one book every 2 years if that.

Every 1-3 years. About due for LotR

Every 10 years or more.

Depends on the book, 3-5 years on average

I read the Iliad about once every two years or so, Thucydides every four years or so. Of course I read parts of them all the time.

Usually quite a long time passes.

I tend not read any one book more than twice.

Lord of the Rings about 7 times.
Flashman books from 4 to 8, depending on how old they are.

The more I try to reread the Game of Thrones books, the less I want to. I feel I should do so to try to puzzle out some moonbat theories, but frankly it's not worth the effort.
The HBO show is now canon as far as I'm concerned, and the books are now fan fiction.

Lord of the Rings is the only book I've re-read consistently. Perhaps two dozen times over the years.

At least 10 years – plenty of new books to read.

I generally find after just one reading I can remember all of the details of a book I really like so there is no need to read it again, I just have to remember it.

About 10 years – my most reread book is by H. Beam Piper, "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen." Also have reread the LOTR several times along with The Hobbit.

Usually re read my Glen Cook books once a year.

For a few favorites, once every few years.

Used to be, quite often. Lately, it's difficult to find time to read them once.

Every two/three years.
Rereading books is like to listen to your favorite music.
you never get fed up!
Marco

Depends on "favorite." When I look at how much fiction I keep and how fast I read, the mean works out to 10 years. But there are books on the shelves re-read every year or two.

More often when I was younger

Depends on the mood. Depends on what else I have available to read today.

I try to re-read Homer every year or two, bouncing between the translations of Fitzgerald and Fagles (the former is better, I think). Beyond this there is a small circle of other works I love to visit again. I sometimes amuse myself in trying to think which works I'd include on my desert island if I could only have one book for each year of age (48 currently) or the somewhat mystical number 101. It's an interesting exercise. Thank goodness one doesn't have to make such a choice!

I generally reread a fave after every two or three new books, so about four or five a year.

every 3 to 5 years, I suppose.

Every 3 to 5 years.
Brazen Chariots, by Robert Crisp is on the list, as are the Bandy Papers.

Depends on the books. This is the first year I didn't re-read all of Sharpe novels. Some of my collection 2-4 times in a decade.

I don't reread, but I constantly go back to answer questions or do research.

I have a few that probably get read every 3 years, but with history it is nothing for me to pick up a book and go to whatever chapter I want to read.

LOTR every few years. I most often reread my Douglas Reeman, AKA Alexander Kent, WW II novels. Very good coverage of the non-major warship life in the RN.

LOTR and The Hobbit get read every 4-5 years now (used to be more frequent). Other things get reread, but less frequently.

Grelber

I stand with Sharpe52!

Tolkien,and related critical studies, are more a continuous read for me at this point,rather than a reread.
Others vary.

Gone Fishing--Never heard of those numbers! I always thought the traditional limit was five. My wiggle room has been to allow "titles",and things I haven't read (much) and/or could never afford. That way I get to take the latest edition of the Cambridge Ancient History,and the 1924 Kathasaritsagara. And the OED,of course. Those alone would keep me going for quite a while.

I reread my Bernard Cornwall collection about every 4-5
years. After the passage of that much time, it's all new again.

It's interesting how much Tolkien's works pop up on this list. Winston's comments about GoT and TV shows versus books ("fan fiction": good call!) obviously hasn't replicated itself into the Peter Jackson LotR/Hobbit experience too badly, which is heartwarming.

The answer to the original post (for me) is less often than I used to and sometimes (LotR, Slammers, Brisingamen/Gomrath, Kings of Space) for game and scenario research purposes.

John T

Hafen, you're quite right regarding the desert island scenario. Five is the more usual limit. I suppose I'm picturing myself as a particularly lucky Crusoe, who walks down to the beach one morning and says "Heavens, is that a case of my favourite books washed up in the surf there? Now where shall I put it?"

Honestly, even with the higher numbers it isn't easy!

Aha,so you plan on a Captain Nemo for your island--I want one of those!

Just watch out for the giant crabs 'n stuff!