Bible (not quite the same category) Pilgrim's Regress War in Heaven several Carter Dickson mysteries (have to wait decades before I forget enough) Thief of Time (Pratchett)
i'm re-reading the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin series. Almost every year I re-read one or more Heinlein tales, some or all of C.S. Lewis's space trilogy but at least "That Hideous Strength," several Jane Austen novels, and some Nick Lane popular biology. Often "The Mote in God's Eye" by Pournelle/Niven. Maybe "Annals of the Former World." I find that a year is about all I need between readings to enjoy all of these afresh.
- A Canticle for Liebowitz - Permutation City - Johnny Tremain not sure this counts, since last time I read it I was nine or ten - My Name is Asher Lev - buncha romance novels
Canticle bears up under rereading I think because it says some timeless things about humans. Permutation City could be reread every few years, I think, because its philosophical and plot complexities (and its holes!) are the kind of thing where you forget the details, and rediscovery is interesting. Johnny Tremain, well, I'm not sure it counts as a reread, but I found myself coming across things—lines of dialog, character details—that have lived in my brain since then without my realizing where they came from. I'm not sure how much benefit I got from rereading Asher Lev, although I enjoyed it. The romance novels were like revisiting some known, homey place. Not fresh but comfortable.
@ jaed. My wife is a children's librarian, so we give re-reading Johnny Tremain a thumbs up. She reads romances again, now that her husband has stopped being critical of the practice (terrible thing I did as a young and middle-aged man). She has gone and found the beloved Betty Neels of years ago, listens to Georgette Heyer on audio, plus Debbie Macomber.
Romances are the perfect confectionary fiction for certain moods. The hero and heroine may be flawed but they will be winsome, there will be at least some sympathetic characters in addition, and there will be a happy ending.
Sublime to ridiculous...
ReplyDeleteBible (not quite the same category)
Pilgrim's Regress
War in Heaven
several Carter Dickson mysteries (have to wait decades before I forget enough)
Thief of Time (Pratchett)
i'm re-reading the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin series. Almost every year I re-read one or more Heinlein tales, some or all of C.S. Lewis's space trilogy but at least "That Hideous Strength," several Jane Austen novels, and some Nick Lane popular biology. Often "The Mote in God's Eye" by Pournelle/Niven. Maybe "Annals of the Former World." I find that a year is about all I need between readings to enjoy all of these afresh.
ReplyDelete- A Canticle for Liebowitz
ReplyDelete- Permutation City
- Johnny Tremain not sure this counts, since last time I read it I was nine or ten
- My Name is Asher Lev
- buncha romance novels
Canticle bears up under rereading I think because it says some timeless things about humans. Permutation City could be reread every few years, I think, because its philosophical and plot complexities (and its holes!) are the kind of thing where you forget the details, and rediscovery is interesting. Johnny Tremain, well, I'm not sure it counts as a reread, but I found myself coming across things—lines of dialog, character details—that have lived in my brain since then without my realizing where they came from. I'm not sure how much benefit I got from rereading Asher Lev, although I enjoyed it. The romance novels were like revisiting some known, homey place. Not fresh but comfortable.
@ jaed. My wife is a children's librarian, so we give re-reading Johnny Tremain a thumbs up. She reads romances again, now that her husband has stopped being critical of the practice (terrible thing I did as a young and middle-aged man). She has gone and found the beloved Betty Neels of years ago, listens to Georgette Heyer on audio, plus Debbie Macomber.
ReplyDeleteRomances are the perfect confectionary fiction for certain moods. The hero and heroine may be flawed but they will be winsome, there will be at least some sympathetic characters in addition, and there will be a happy ending.
ReplyDelete