I don’t re-read as much as I used to; it’s tough with the blog because I rarely re-review books (unless it’s a different format i.e. audiobooks), so as much as I LOVE reconnecting with old favourites, they put me behind. Most of my re-reading is reserved for either series read-alongs when the finale is in sight or novels that are being turned into movies—because, ya know, I’m one of those people, meaning I like to catch all of the things that get changed or left out.
I also find that audiobooks are a great way to breathe new life into beloved characters; it’s interesting to see how narrators portray some of your fictional BFFs. Most of the time the voice doesn’t match the image that you’ve built-up inside your head, and when you read a novel you can miss some of the emotions the author was trying to convey, so the tone of the narration can really go a long way. Audiobooks make oldies feel like new again.
One of my top re-reads is definitely Kelley Armstrong’s WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD series. I wanted to try listening to them for the very reasons I listed above, but alas, they are not available in Canada. Yeah, figure that one out… a CANADIAN author’s audios are NOT available in her home country. Don’t even get me started on that subject! Anyway, moving on, my other go-to series is OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. I wish I could squeeze-in book 1 before the TV series comes out later this year, but it’s not looking like that’s going to happen because wedding planning is a real b*tch!
As expected, my ‘want to re-read’ list is WAY longer than what I’ve actually managed to tackle, but at the top are series like Sierra Dean’s SECRET MCQUEEN, Karen Marie Moning’s THE FEVER, and Jeaniene Frost’s NIGHT HUNTRESS. *sigh* Someday. 🙂
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Yep since book blogging I haven’t reread anything. Trust me I would to read something for fun lol . But I also know that if I do reread something I might not love it as much as the first time reading it . I might end up hating it 🙁
There’s always that fear of ruining your first impressions of a book. That’s happened to be a couple of times.
Like you said, blogging really kind of puts a damper on re-reads. I am wanting to ee-read Night Huntress, BDD and many others.
I think I might do Night Huntress in audio real soon. I’m in the mood for some Cat & Bones.
Yeah, with blogging gets harder. I have been re-reading really old ones that I have never reviewed before.
Sometimes I get reader’s block lol and I got some “comfort books” that I go to.
That’s a great way to go. Pick titles you read pre-blogging, so that you can review them.
I agree! Book blogging just takes up so much time, rereading is very difficult. I’m hoping with the baby I’ll have a chance to reread some since I don’t have anything scheduled for the next two months. 🙂
Ha! Enjoy the calm before the storm. 😀
I am not a big re-reader. I tend to pick a favorite book up and re-read passages. This is usually enough to evoke my memories and feelings for the tale. I am listening again though. Each night I listen to Anne Bishop’s Other series usually a chapter or two and enjoy it. I have re-read a few classics.
You haven’t finished your Anne Bishop listen yet? Or have you started all over again? If so, I can’t say that I blame you. LOL
I’m a re-reader and now that I’ve discovered audio books, it’s putting a whole different spin on some of my favorites. Even though I’m behind in some series, I like to remind myself why I love to read. The re-reads make that possible.
I would like to re-read more but I stick to my favorites, over and over and over and over….
You can’t have too much of a good thing, right?? 😉
I use to reread the H.P. series every summer but since starting my blog, I haven’t as well. With most of the books being in the 700 to 800 page range, it puts me behind to read them all over again. I will rescan a book in a series though if it has been too long in between books but that is about the extent of my rereads anymore.
I’ll often take a peek at the last couple of chapters of a series book when I’m ready to start the next installment. I wish I could do the whole thing, but you know how that goes…
*ha* I love re-reading too, Carmel, but can’t seem to find the time to do it anymore because of blogging. 🙁 It is something I challenged myself to do this year, so hopefully I’ll find time for at least one series. Armstrong is one of my favs for sure! I’d also like to re-read Moning, Briggs, Andrews, and Frost. 🙂
Curse blogging for ruining re-reading for us!!!
I’m with you. I don’t re-read often, because most of the books I read I end up reviewing for the blog and I don’t generally re-review. But I reserve my re-reads for some of my favorite series, like All Souls Trilogy by Deb Harkness, which I’ve read and listened to too many times, I’ve also re-read some Harry Potter books, Russian classics, Jane Austen, and… Twilight (yup!).
I’ve re-read Twilight several times, but was too ashamed to admit it in my post. I guess the secret’s out now. LOL
You nailed it. With the blog to manage and my TBR pile a complete catastrophe, rereading my favorites just doesn’t seem feasible these days! I can not believe you can’t get Armstrong’s audiobooks in Canada! That is messed up!!
I know!!! Well, I did find one place I can get ’em, but they are ridiculously overpriced, and even *I* am not that big of a fan.
I’m not a big re-reader. I usually only re-read favorite scenes from a book and not the entire novel, even if there is a movie or sequel coming out. >< I rely on stock memory, although I usually end up being really confused in sequels!
Book amnesia can be a real bitch! For me, a recap in the earlier chapters of sequels is a MUST.
I agree with you. I wish there was more time for re-reads. With the blog I feel like I never have time for that. :-/
Us book bloggers have it tough! 😉
I used to love rereads, but I haven’t done any since starting my blog. There’s too many new books always coming in!
I know exactly what you mean. SO many ARCs!
HA! Didn’t you know—my name is Jessica “Reread” Haluska 😉 However, I do have less and less time for that kind of thing these days. More and more multiple volume series are getting shunted to my wait-and-see list b/c I don’t have time to reread them when new installments come out, and if I don’t reread them . . . I remember important details . . . I don’t like it, LOL.
Hehe I was waiting to see if you’d weigh-in, miss Re-Read Queen. LOL Wait until you’ve been blogging for a year, then we’ll revisit this topic. 😉
I tend to re-read when I’m in a reading slump and need something I’m going to enjoy. The Dark Hunters are a series I will return to often.
Good point! Re-reads can be a great way to break out of a slump. I’ve been known to do that from time to time when I’m desperate.
I used to re-read all the time but then I started getting arcs, then the blog happened and well, we all know the rest of the story. I do find I re-read graphic novels though – for instance, if I got it as an arc and then get the paper copy. Often I find much more that I missed the first time around on a tiny 7″ screen.
Your story sounds eerily familiar. LOL
I want to say Yay!, but I actually never re-read anymore. I used to re-read my favourite books, but now with so many new books coming out I just don’t have the time. Well, I do have the time, but I rather spend it reading a new book. So sad. I feel like I need to re-read at least two/three books in a year. I should. Shouldn’t I?
Don’t look at me! I’m lucky if I get that many re-reads in a year. 😀
YEA. 100% YEA. I love rereading! It’s so awesome- you can pick up on all the foreshadowing you missed, or even notice little details you hadn’t noticed on the first read. I kind of like to see it as the first read being for the plot and subsequent reads being for the little things 😉
And yes for rereading before movies! I’m the type of person to do that too. I like to see how well the adaptation transferred everything over, and whether certain scenes or certain awesome lines were cut and all that. For trilogies, I’m also the type of person that likes to reread books one and two in preparation for the third book. I don’t tend to do so with longer series though, because ain’t nobody got time for that. 😛
I don’t tend to re-review though. Actually, I don’t review most of the books I read because I read too many haha
YES!! I love catching things I missed the first time; it makes me love the book even more. I have such a hard time NOT reviewing a novel; it does against my nature now. Hehe
No, I very rarely re-read books. I have too big of a TBR list and never enough time sigh…. I have re-read Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (and there’s over 40 books, plus add ons oiy!), but I think that’s actually the only series I’ve ever read more than once?
Just found your blog through a comment you left on another blog, and now following you through bloglovin 🙂
Thanks for returning the comment! And, a 40 book re-read? That’s quite the accomplishment!
I’m with you on that Carmel, since the blog I’m not able to re-read as much as I’m used to but since I discovered the beauty of audiobooks I do all my “re-reading” through there! Also, at times I do go back to fave scenes of my books so I guess I would also re-read parts but not a whole book when I’m in the mood to go back to a favorite 🙂
Audiobooks have saved my reading in so many ways. I’d be lost without them!
Nope, I don’t reread. With a TBR pile so big, I just can’t afford the time to sometimes. But I sure would like to though, with some books. I do have a few put away if/when things ever get less busy 🙂
I’m surprised that so many bloggers don’t re-read, and here I was thinking that I was the only one. LOL But then again, I guess we’re all in the same boat.
Not with my reading pile! LOL The only time I’ll re-read a book is if it’s been more than two years since I read a book and there’s a new one coming out but that is a rarity. I wish there was more time in my schedule to go back to those series I really love and re-read but I’d rather get hooked on some new reads right now!
The day we quit blogging is the day we start re-reading! LOL
Definitely! 🙂
With the blog it is so hard to reread – I used to reread pretty much everything I read. But since starting the blog I’ve only managed a few – on audio mainly too. I would love to reread Outlander too – but its so long and I haven’t even read all of them yet. So when I find time, I’ll just be continuing rather than rereading.
I have a hard time with books that are over 500 pages, let alone re-reading them.
Then listen to the Outlander audio… haha time saver… you can listen while you workout, clean or drive to work… perfect solution.
I agree since I started blogging the only re-reads I have done are to do a review I didn’t do when I first read it. I have re-read all the Twilight books many times too Carmel and I could still read them again. Yes I admit it! My tbr pile is huge, There’s just too many books I want to read to re-read now. 🙂
Hehe glad that I’m not the only Twilight re-reader in the crowd. Now I don’t feel so bad. LOL
Rarely. Super rarely. There is not enough time to read all the books I want to read, so why spend that time reading something I already have? The few I’ve re-read recently have been a book club re-read of a book I read long ago to familiarize myself, and some books right before the movie comes out.
My thoughts exactly! There’s only so many hours in a day, and endless new books for me to read.
I say Yay for rereading! I love to reread series when new books come out. Growing up this meant sometimes I would reread several series once a year every time new books came out… I also have a series reading problem so there is that too. I haven’t done much rereading since I started my blog in February, but I do think that once I get a chance to reread some favorites it will give me the opportunity to justify why I bring up some books/series/authors in every Top Ten Tuesday post.
I’m horribly addicted to series too, so when I re-read one installment, I kind of feel like I need to to do ’em all.
Before I started blogging, I used to reread quite frequently, but these days forget about it, I am on such a tight schedule and I am swimming in books that I just don’t have time to revisit old favs. That is terrible you can’t get Kelley’s books in Canada! I need to continue that series and I also need to catch up on Sierra Dean.
Sometimes having a reading schedule sucks, but it’s seriously the only way I’m able to keep my blogging sanity.
I always used to reread when I wasn’t a blogger… Now it proves to be difficult. Goodreads is a pain when it comes to rereading, because you actually have to review a different edition of the book. Not to mention that rereading cuts into my reviewing time… Gah. I agree about the audiobooks, though. I tend to reread those alot.
I really want to read the Outlander series before the series as well!
Also, it’s pretty dumb that they don’t offer a Canadian author’s books in Canada *facepalm*.
You can enter how many times you’ve read a particular book on GoodReads, but yeah it’s not very re-read friendly.
+JMJ+
I love rereading as well, but you’re right that it can put a book blogger behind schedule a bit. Your point about rereviewing is also a good one: we don’t tend to do that, so rereading can double as a waste of time. (But can you imagine rereviewing becoming the next big trend? Someone should start a meme. Second Look Sundays or something. LOL!)
Yet as I’ve said, I’m a big rereader. I’ve reread my favourite novel, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, numerous times . . . and I’m planning on rereading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice later this year. And sometimes, when someone asks me if I’ve read a certain title, I don’t answer with a simple yes or no, but say, “Only once.” =P I don’t feel like I love a book unless I’ve reread it.
And some of my most recent reads happen to be rereads. I decided to give Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga another chance when a friend started reading Eclipse . . . and I liked it so much that I reread the first two, and when I was done, read Eclipse for the second time in two weeks! Now I’m on Breaking Dawn, which is at least “new.” LOL!
Basically, rereading is such a big part of my reading life that I could never do without it. Even if it means that my blog must slow down a little. After all, I blog because I read–not the other way around!
That’s a great idea for a meme! But, after reading everyone’s comments, do you really think anyone would participate? 😉 Enjoy your Twilight binge. LOL
I’d like to re.read this awesome fantasy book but no time
I hear ya!
I re-read when I get a chance – don’t have much of a chance lately but I like re-reading books by Shelley Laurenston and some of my other favorite authors – I desperately need to re-read the Merry Gentry series before the newest book comes out but I don’t think it’s going to happen…I may just start re-reading them and get to the new one when I get there…lol…I’ve already pre-ordered it
You’d best get re-reading then before your pre-order shows up on your doorstep. 😉
Yeah, I have some books that I WANT to re-read, but haven’t. I’ve only re-read 1 … maybe 2 books. And the one was because I re-read it with someone. I may skim or re-read certain parts, but I don’t full-on re-read the book. I WANT to though. lol.
You’ve only ever re-read 1 or 2 books? That’s insane! And, I thought I was bad. LOL
I used to re-read…not a lot, but occasionally I would just want to revisit a world. Now that I’m blogging though? It doesn’t happen…there’s hardly enough time to keep up with reviews and just for me books.
Blogging is definitely a balancing act; it can be hard to keep up sometimes!
I reread a ton. Not quite as much as pre blogging, but I almost always have a reread book on the night stand for before bed. These days it has been Pratchett, but after that, who know?
Nice! I’m kinda jealous!
I actually reread quite a bit. I don’t know why but whenever I feel a “blah” reading mood coming on, I crack out old favorites. I don’t quite go to the extreme I used too but still about 20 books a year make reread status for me 🙂
20 books a year is pretty darned good!
I feel like I’m in the same boat as you. I use to re-read books all the time but then when I started blogging it became about reviewing the books read and keeping up to date on new releases and so I never find time to re-read. Two years ago though I made myself pick one series per year to re-read. Two years ago I re-read the Twilight series and last year I started re-reading Harry Potter but I only got 4 books done. I want to finish Harry Potter this year and maybe re-read part of the BDB series.
Great discussion! I hope you find some time to re-read old favorites soon.
That’s a good idea! Setting a yearly re-read goal; I might steal that. 😉
Great topic. We are discussing this same stop in two weeks! YOu make some great points. I find my rereads are so much fast if I go the audio route.
Great minds think alike!
I don’t reread books anymore, except for the occasional giving an audiobook a try. I’m like that with books turned into movies as well lol
Comparing the book to the movie can make for a great review too. Win/win!
I don’t find time to reread but there are a few favorites I’d like to read again. I’m just afraid I won’t like them as much. I do listen to books I’ve read on audio if I don’t have anything else though.
Ruining an old favourite is always a concern when re-reading.
Hmm… I never re-read commercial fiction, to be honest. I mean there’s so much stuff out there on the same tropes, why re-read something when I can read another work in the same genre&on the same tropes, you know?
I do re-read my favorite classics, though. Like I think I’ve read The Picture of Dorian Grey a gazillion times already, and it never gets old. Or some Edgar Allan Poe works too, I re-read him quite often. There’s also Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with his magnific Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries – however many other mysteries I read, there’s no one quite like them for me. 🙂
I agree with you somewhat about commercial fiction, especially where PNR is concerned. UF on the other hand, is a completely different story! Well, at least IMO. 😀
I am going to try to reread Outlander before the show comes out too. I am so effing excited!!!. I am an occasional re-reader, but yeah, there is just never any time anymore. I love rereading the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews the most.
I have a feeling that a lot of peeps will be re-reading Outlander this summer!
I’m not much of a re-reader, though I have picked up a few books in the past year to do so. I think however, that I developed a dislike for re-reading when I was a big mystery reader, and, well, when you already know who done it, it’s not quite the same experience, as say… a romance.
Haha You bring up a good point! It can be hard to enjoy a book as much the second time around when you already know what happens.
No time for re-reading although I do sometimes listen to an audio and read the book later or vice versa. I like to compare how I react to the two different versions. I know…nerd! 😉
I do that too, so we’re in the same nerdy boat together. LOL
I typically re-read a series if the next or final installment is to be released. Other than that I don’t just pick up books to be re-read, UNLESS I can’t decide what to read…I will go back to a trusted favorite to read certain chapters or even the entire thing. But typically, I don’t have much time to re-read. Great post Carmel! 😉
Sometimes it’s nice to just ignore the towering TBR pile and pick-up an old favourite.
Absolutely! When I’m in a slump, I go to one of my favorites and reread it. Some I make sure I read once a year. There are a few Rachel Gibson books I’ve read like 7 times so far. It’s nice to re-read. Audiobooks always make ‘re-reading’ such an easy option too.
Wow! I can’t imagine re-reading some books once every year. You must let me in on your secret.
+JMJ+
I was betting that having an incentive to do some rereading–such as a meme which guarantees some traffic–would give the busier bloggers the last little nudge they need to go over the edge! 😉 But I admit that I’m not about to test that theory by hosting a meme and having no one show up. =P
Good call. 😛
I don’t think I’ve ever re-read a book before. 0_0 I guess I just have SO many books waiting to be read that I can’t see reading one that I already read, though I really wish I had more time so that I could because there are so many that I’d love to read again. Dumb work and life always get in the way of my reading time. lol
I’m not a big re-reader, but I can’t imagine never re-reading. That’s just plain crazy. 😉
You actually touched on why I can’t listen to audiobooks, because the voice isn’t what I expected in my head and it really puts me off sometimes. I actually don’t re-read books much but I recently read Angelfall again before World After and picked up things the 2nd time, and enjoyed it just as much. Lovely topic Carmel!
Interesting! You stay away from audios for the very reason why I’m drawn to them. I never really thought about the flip side. Thanks for sharing!
Before I started blogging, re-reads were my staple, Carmel. Now I rarely indulge because I simply have no time. You know how it is… However, this year I cut drastically on the amount of review copies and managed to squeeze a few re-reads in between. It feels sooo good. I did some J.D. Robb and and just re-read all Tiffany Reisz. I’m also angling for a re-read of The Touchstone Trilogy by Andrea K. Host because I glutted myself on her the first time, and surely missed out on some very good moments. 🙂 From time to time I re-read Anita Blake as well, but I don’t think I’ll attempt it this year. It’s way too much. Oh and I’m slowly re-reading Gabaldon although I like starting when she is back for the second time and they go to America. I enjoyed it more 🙂
It’s tough, but sometimes you just have to say no to ARCs. I learnt that the hard way.
with the constant new reads coming out and my review list. I can’t see myself re-reading anything at this point…would love to but just can’t. Awesome question 😉
I hear ya, I know that feeling well.
Don’t really have time to re-read myself, but I am not a big re-reader either. I just keep the books I love .. I am not big at watching favorite movies or anything twice anyway heh
I’m a big believer that variety is the spice of life, so why re-read when there’s always new books being released!
I’m still a re-reader. My book budget would get completely out of hand if I didn’t. But I think I’ve found a partial blogging work around on that, I’m blogging selections that are available with OpenLibrary which gives me the chance to re-read some of my favorites, and a valid reason to blog about it.
Re-reads makes sense if you’re on a strict book budget.
I used to love to reread – but now that I review books I just don’t have the time. I still want to reread an entire series that is about to finish but again…time time time. Hopefully now with my girlfriends having joined I’ll have more time to re-read something when I really want to.
I have two associate reviewers, and still can’t find the time to re-read, so don’t hold your breath on that one. 😉
Oh, I never reread books… it’s been a habit before and during blogging. Unless of course… it’s for required reads.
I don’t think I’ll reread if I even have a coblogger, lol. :p