I have only ever read one book more than once and that was by accident. I know people who read books several times. I always want to go on to the next one as there are so many good books out there to read. Friends say you get a lot more from the book by reading it again. what do other book readers think.

I have a few old favourites that I re-read on occasion, but I must admit that this is happening less frequently lately, as like you I agree there are too many new ones that I would like to read. I also hate parting with books, and for years have only got rid of ones that I know I will never read again. My house is full of books and I'm running out of shelf space, so I've recently had to bite the bullet and get rid of some. Now I am just trying to keep the very best ones, and also those of authors that I always buy as soon as they come out.

I often finish books and think that I've missed - or failed to appreciate - some important points. I make a mental note to re-read them but very rarely get around to it. In fact, the books I have re-read have often been ones that don't really require a second reading. Like you, bennieblue, I did re-read one book by accident (Daniel Kehlmann's "Measuring The World"), which wasn't a very rewarding experience.

When I was about 10-11 years old I would often read books several times (our local library wasn't very well stocked). I think I read "Jennings Follows A Clue" 34 times.

I constantly read books again and again over my lifetime. It's not the destination, ie; how the books turns out at their end, but the journey. Some of my books are almost like old friends.

I read books more than once..usually after a good few years so I've forgotten parts of it. Recently finished the Flowers in the Attic series for the third time. Will also re-read Stephen King on occasion. I think if you enjoyed a book the first time round, what is the harm in enjoying it again and again! x

So far, I have never re-read a book as I've always thought that there were too many great new books out there waiting to be read that I shouldn't spend time re-reading old ones, however good they were. However, I've been taking part in this fiction forum over the last four months or so, and have been reminded of so many old favourites that I've decided it's time to revisit them. I wouldn't like to reread a paperback so have been collecting all my favourites in hardback which now have pride of place in my book cabinet, waiting for me! I've still got about 20 new paperbacks to read first but when they're read, I shall start my mammouth reread and can't wait!

There's a book about to be released on 15th October on the subject of re-reading- Howards End is on the Landing: A year of reading from home by Susan Hill. Looks good.
Janet

I've always been a rereader. I by no means reread everything - not even everything I enjoy. I think some books don't bear rereading - off the top of my head, Maeve Binchy would be an author like that for me - I enjoy her books first time through, but can't reread them. Some books absolutely bear rereading - and if you accept the notion that reading is like a conversation between the book and the reader, you bring different things to a book at different times of your life. I like Austen, but really disliked Northanger Abbey when we studied it in school. I think I was too close to the heroine's age to enjoy her folly. So I always left it out when I reread Austen's books. However I did reread it before the recent ITV adaption, and surprised myself by enjoying it.
Some books belong to a period of development - I read and reread Anne McCaffrey as a teenager, and then sort of left her behind. Others have been with me for ages - I first read Heyer at 10ish, and can still enjoy the books now in my 40s.

If I had a choice between never reading anything new again, or never being able to revisit old favourites, I think I'd have to choose the latter. It's like M. Bailey says - those books are almost friends, and it'd be hard to part with them. And it's part of my idea of what home is - from way back in childhood - home is a place where there are shelves of familiar books.

@Janet - thanks for the reminder of the Susan Hill book. I'd completely forgotten it was coming out. When I read about it before somewhere, I had thought that it might be a great Christmas-Present-Book.

I often read books more than once - if they become favourites of mine. For instance I always end up reading Moby Dick about every 18 months, and have been doing so for years.

When I was about 12 or 13 (I'm 19 now) I would re-read the Harry Potter books fairly often, because at that time I was wanting to read, but really struggling to find books I actually liked.
I don't think I could re-read books now, as like the general opinion on this board, there are just too many great new books out there begging to be read! :D

I can't stand to re-read a book I never have,for me all the suprise has gone, i know whats going to happen! just like i can't re-watch a film for the same reason many people don't understand it. Even my favourite books don't get a second chance, read it once then it's off to the charity shop for someone else to enjoy, & the memory of the book gets stored away in my brain somewhere until i need to pluck it out for a conversation etc if i can't remember much of it it can't of been that good! I know i won't remember the books as i get older & will probably have to re-read them then but for now it's my brutal way to get through all the books i want to read.
Furny x

I agree with @M.Bailey and @Jen Errik, books become like old friends. It doesn't matter that nothing has changed, it's just nice to see them again! I honestly can't count how many times I have read Magician!

I do like to read my books again at a later date if I enjoyed them the first time...among a wide variety, one book I`ve read many times is The Wolf`s Hour,by Robert R. McCammon...a mix of horror and thriller with the werewolf of the story being the good guy for a change....not everyone`s cup of tea but to those of my friends whom I did recommend also enjoyed reading it... Raymond E Feist`s Magician saga is also something I like to return again and again...it can be like catching up with old friends... I am in the process of reading about Medjugorje,which is a place in Boznia-Herzegovina and is growing in the hearts of thousands of people worldwide...I would be interested if anyone has any comments about this too...

I do sometimes read a book more than once. But never straight after I've just finished it. There's usually a gap of years inbetween, giving me chance to have forgotten most of it.

When I was younger, I'd re-read all my favourites on a monthly or even weekly basis - I was a very fast reader so when I visited my school library every few days I'd pick up a book to read and one to re-read (I've lost count of how many times I read Ferenc Molnar's The Paul Street Boys back then, I'd say definitely over fifty and quite possibly a hundred).

Now I read a lot slower for a lot of reasons so new books get priority, however I keep books according to whether I think I'll ever read them again. I only try to buy books that I will want to read again (that's why I don't generally read whodunnits, for example).

Every time I visit my parents I'll do a spot of re-reading, as I'll see a book on the shelf which I'll have read and loved as a child but don't remember in fine detail - i.e. the Stephen Kings I used to devour. Incidentally I'm now looking for nice keepsake copies of those and you won't believe how hard it is, it's ridiculous that most of the early work of one of the most acclaimed writers alive is only available in such trashy editions.

All in all, I share my nan's conviction that a good book will have different things to say to you at different stages of your life. My favourite book, Hugo's Les Miserablés, I read at 14, when it taught me most of what I know about life, love, friendship and ideals; ten years on, I'm looking for a copy of my own to see some of the things I might have missed.

[Deleted by the author on 6 Oct 2009 15:51 BST]

MD, "Moby Dick" is one of the books I've been thinking I should re-read. I first read it about 15 years ago and I think I went through some of the denser chapters too quickly. I know that the chapter entitled "Ahab & The Carpenter" made a big impression on me when I first read it but I can't remember why.

There are several books that I have re-read several times as I think that what you get out of a book depends so much on your frame of mind when you are reading it and where you are at with your life. Books that I return to time and time again include Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Book Thief, A Prayer for Owen Meany and The Prince of Tides. A second or third read is very different from a first. I am often surprised how differently things affect me emotionally, or how a particular sentence or paragraph leaps out at me when I am not so desperate to devour the story to find out what is going to happen next. The temptation is to move on to the next read, but a well-used book feels like an old friend and sometimes familiarity is what is required.

Not very often. Only if they are true favourites (Chocolat/Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris and Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella) but even these I have only read twice. I think lifes a bit short to be going back to books you've already read. Especially when I have about 200 on my to be read pile!

I have re read quite a few books, especially from my favourite authors its true there are loads of books to read but when I really love a book I enjoy re reading it, normally a couple of years later so dont remember the whole story. Its good to have favourites its like rewatching favourite programmes these are the things that make life good :-)

Some books I read again but only after I've left it for a while, that way I've read other stuff and forgot the details and then it's (kinda) like reading it for the first time again. The only book i could read on a repetive loop, not bothering to leave it for a while, is the Host which I've read 4 times so far.

If you're not sold on the idea of re-reading books I would urge anyone think of the best book they have read (from at least a few years ago), dig it out and read it again. The merits of re-reading will be obvious. Think about how much you have enjoyed watching an old favourite TV show, listening to music again and again or even revisting old places. It's the same with books (but maybe even better).

I don't usually, but...
The Magic Scales by Sam Wilding has been read 3 times since April.
Every time I read it I learn something else and try and empathise with another character.
The Magic Scales: Book One of the Denthan Series

Never deter yourself from reading the same book more than once. You don't buy a DVD, watch it once, then shelf it forever do you? More often than not by the reading the book again you'll pick up things you missed previously. Or, with the benefit of hindsight gain a fuller understanding of the story and its characters. But the main reason for re-reading any book again is for the sheer joy in doing so.
These are just some of the books I've re-read:
4x The Lord of the Rings
3x Harry Potter 1-7
2x The Young Wizards Series
6x The Elenium Trilogy
15x The BFG

I regularly read books more than once. I don't agree that if if you don't remember a lot about a book that it can't be that good. If I read a books a couple of years ago then chances are I have read about 150 - 200 since then and it is hard to remember details about everything read. Depending on the gap between a series of novels I will often reread the previous one before the new one comes out. It is also true that with a truly great book you can read it numerous times and get something new out of it with each rereading. A book you read as a teenager will change if you read it again in your 20's, 30's and beyond as your life experienes change your view of themes and characters.

It depends on the type of book. Many books are page-turning thrillers where the twists and turns of the plot amuse and delight and lead you to read all night. I love reading this type of book, but I can only read them once - the surprise is gone the second time. However there are many books that give the reader a journey, transfering you to a world away from your present life, giving you a real escape into the depths of your imagination. These are the books I read again - to make a return journey to a place you love - like taking another holiday at a destination you previously loved.
Read once thrillers - anything by Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Dan Brown.
Read and live again journey books - any science fiction, fantasy, or historical novel - for the romantics I guess a romantic novel may fall into this category.
Combination books - both a thriller and a journey - Marley and Me, The Time Travellers Wife.
Remember Fiction is not meant to be Real - so dont test its realism!