This is a discussion on "Do you have a re-read shelf?" in the Novels & Stories forum.
Since we're talking about what makes you abandon a book, I was just curious what makes you re-read a book. I have a single shelf in my den which is reserved for those books I love so much that I won't get rid of them just in case I need to give them a re-read. They are books from several genres, not all of them are fantasy related, but I am in love with them all.
Do you have a special place for books you can't part with? What makes these books so special?
I very, very rarely re-read a book.
I've read Peake's Gormenghast books more than once.
I've read The Brothers Karamazov a handful of times.
I've read Lolita a few times.
A couple of James Blaylock books as well.
Not too many.
"With age came wisdom. Sometimes wisdom came with an ass kicking, too. And nothing could kick ass like the whole world." -The character "Horn" ruminating on his circumstances. The Decaying Mansions of Memory, by Jay Lake.
You, too, can get a copy of Lorelei and the Lost and Found Monster from Amazon.com.
I'm the oposite of Steerpike, I will end up rereading most of my books. I also end up keeping most of my books but then again my family tend to be pack rats... (though not hoarders, that would just be scary)
I do. It's the top shelf so my kiddo can't reach it.
This includes everything ever written by Terry Goodkind, several of Anne McCaffery's novels, some old Star Trek paperbacks, and all of Jim Butcher's writings from the Dresden files to the Codex Alera, Anna Kareina, the Twilight series (insert laughter here, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and all of the Harry Potter books. I've read all of these at least 5 times, some more than that. There may be more, but I'm making dinner so I haven't had a chance to run upstairs and double check.
You can never have too many friends.
The books I keep are the ones I consider to be good enough to be worth rereading - and I have probably most of a thousand books. Granted, it has been many years since I last cracked the covers on the majority of them, but every now and again, during the slow part of the year (long cold dark winters in Alaska), I will. Most recently, I reread Kate Elliots entire 'Crown of Shadows' saga, as well as rereading parts of 'Game of Thrones' and three or four other books - this in addition to reading new books, writing a bit, and engaging in non-literary projects.
I have a book shelf with the Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard, a book with all of the pulp stories of Robert E. Howard, one with all of Lovecraft's stuff and LotR/Hobbit and Chronicles of Narnia.
I've read A Wizard of Earthsea so many times that I know the story almost by heart. I can open the book to any page at random and immerse myself in the writing. I think I've gone from really reading it to studying it. The two books that follow in the series have had their pages tickled more than once, but not as often.
Neuromancer demands at least a second read because the writing is so dense and sophisticated.
Some books are like dreams - you sort of forget them the instant you're done. So you can reread them again at any time. The English Patient is like that.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Rum Diary are always going to threaten to burn down my house if I don't give them what they want.
These books are mixed in with all the others; I don't like to make them think I play favourites, although I guess they probably know already that I do - collectively, they're much smarter than me.
i believe that studying the work of your favourite authors is an essential part of honing your craft as a writer; how else can you learn what makes for effective writing? if you're expected to revise your own work numberless times, why wouldn't you do the same with those pieces that inspired you to write in the first place?
Last edited by Phin Scardaw; 4-13-12 at 9:55 PM.
I'll hold onto my books for memory sake, but I won't reread them. Reference books, I reread them until my eyes bleed. Art of War, Book of Five Rings, Thick Face/Dark Heart are my bibles along with any Norse Mythology/eddas and rune casting readers.
Fiction belongs in the memory. When you reread them, a little of the magic goes away when you age.
While that might be true, you are also hindering your voice by analyzing works of others. Eventually, you have to stand on your own and say "This is my voice, and it belong to no one else."Originally Posted by Phin Scardaw
Trust me, if I did that, I'd still analyze Weis and Hickman from 25 years ago. I'd also never get published since writing and publishing has evolved in the modern age.
That is no slam against Weis or Hickman, it is just a sign of the times.
The Dragonlance Chronicles is a annual reread for me. There is an innocence to those books for me that still carries over after 10 or so rereads.
I have also reread bits and parts of The Dresden Files. It's such a fun series to reread.
The other book I reread once every couple of years, one that rarely gets mentioned anywhere is Imajica by Clive Barker. It was for me the first complex and deep fantasy story I have read.
Mike
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