Reader Friday: Books Worth Reading More Than Once

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We’ve all read books that pulled us in, entertained us, inspired us, informed us, enough that we wanted to read the book again, maybe multiple times.

  1. What books have you reread because they were so good?
  2. Do you plan to reread any of them over the coming vacation?
  3. Would you recommend any of them to the rest of us?

 This is my last post for 2023. I wish you and your family a Happy Holiday season and a Wonderful New Year!

I’m off from blogging in January, but I’ll see you in February!

This entry was posted in reading, rereading, Writing by Steve Hooley. Bookmark the permalink.

About Steve Hooley

Steve Hooley is the author of seven short stories published in four anthologies, a Vella serial fiction, and is currently working on the Mad River Magic series – a fantasy adventure series for advanced middle-grade to adults. More details available at: https://stevehooleywriter.com/mad-river-magic/

46 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Books Worth Reading More Than Once”

  1. A couple of years ago, on her blog Helping Writers Become Authors, K.M. Weiland posted a list of her favorite books for the year. One of them was Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell. She urged readers to look past the title and cover because the book was definitely worth reading. I read it four times the first month, and at least twice since. The next year, two more of O’Connell’s books were on Weiland’s list. I love these historical romances and would recommend two others, Into the Light and Without Words, which I’ve read at least three times. I have tried to analyze why they are so good, but all I can see is that the stories and characters are compelling.

    Sandra Brown’s Lethal, and The Witness by Nora Roberts are two more favorites.

    We will be spending a couple of weeks in Woodbridge, Virginia at our daughter’s house, so I will not likely be reading any books.

    Have a restful and blessed holiday season, Steve, and I look forward to your posts in February.

    • Thanks, Becky, for your list of books that made you read them again.

      I enjoy these posts, when we all get to report, and we see what others recommend. I’m making a list today. Your additions sound compelling.

      I hope you have safe travels and a wonderful holiday visit with your family.

      See you in February.

  2. I don’t tend to re-read when it comes to fiction. The only exceptions I can think of are a few of the classic Star Trek TOS paperback novels that came out in the 70’s/80’s and my all time favorite western, Zane Grey’s “Forlorn River”.

    One disappointing thing about 2023 was how intensely, ridiculously busy it was–I’ve read less this year than ever in my life. A trend I definitely do NOT want to continue in 2024.

    Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, Steve and all!

    • Thanks, Brenda. I’m sorry that you had less time to read in 2023. From previous comments, it sounds like you may have been spending more time writing. That’s good. We can’t do everything.

      Thanks for mentioning Forlorn River.

      I hope you have a great holiday with more time to read and write.

      Thanks for your faithful participation here at TKZ. See you in February.

    • Thanks, Priscilla.

      I think I read that book many years ago. I shall put it on my list to read again.

      Thanks for your faithful participation here at TKZ. I like your book review website. Good luck.

      Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday, and a successful New Year!

  5. Thanks, Mike, for contributing to the list this morning. I’m adding those titles to my TBR list.

    Thanks for your contributions to the discussions here at TKZ.

    Wishing you a Happy Holiday season! See you in February.

  6. The first book I read more than once was “The Catcher In The Rye”, by J.D. Salinger. It still resonates with me decades later – after at least ten readings – as one of the most haunting, humorous, and original novels of all-time.

      • Thanks Steve, the same to you and yours! We’ll both be back in February!
        P.S. One more repeat reading – “Shutter Island”, by Dennis Lehane. I met him at a book signing and he is one of the most down to earth, approachable guys around.

    • “Catcher” is an excellent book. The theme is grief–mind-numbing, soul-crushing grief. Understanding the book requires having known a similar loss–Allie, in the case of Holden Caulfield. Why high schools assign it is a mystery. I’ve seen long threads where people call Holden boring, stupid, etc., based on having read it (and totally misunderstood it) in high school.
      For one item, Allie had red hair, which explains Holden wearing the red hunting cap–he’s trying to bring Allie back to life.
      Another item: The book is autobiographical. There’s even a website that explores “Pennsy.”
      A final item: Salinger’s unit in WWII discovered a death camp.

      • Thanks for that background material, JG. Very helpful. Very interesting. You’ve made me want to go back and reread it.

        Thanks for all your excellent comments.

        Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday season!

  7. The Caine Mutiny – Herman Wouk
    1984 – George Orwell
    A Confederate General from Big Sur and The Hawkline Monster – Richard Brautigan
    Most of the colorfully titled Travis Mcgee series – John D. MacDonald
    Most of the Dr. Suess stuff… as a kid, with my kids, and yet again with my grandkids… 😁

    • Thanks, George, for all those great additions to the list. I’m glad you didn’t give up on Dr. Suess.

      I could see you putting some of the Dr. Suess books to music. Just sayin’.

      Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday, sans the Grinch.

  8. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien is the book I’ve reread the most, probably ten times when I was younger.

    I read Isaac Asimov’s “The Caves of Steel,” his first science fiction-mystery several times, again when I was younger.

    There were others, these are just the two I read the most.

    These days I’m always reading something new, and haven’t given myself the pleasure of a reread in some time. Time to change that in the new year.

    Thanks for another fun, thought-provoking post, Steve. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

    • Thanks, Dale. I’m working on “The Hobbit” right now. My mom was the last person who I thought would ever read fantasy, but I inherited her set of Lord of the Rings. I smile whenever I pick them up.

      I need to read “The Caves of Steel.” I agree there is never enough time.

      Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy (and successful) New Year!

    • How could I have forgotten Asimov? Foundation and Foundation and Empire –
      And Bradbury? Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Illustrated Man, The Martian Chronicles…
      But like you, Sir… my TBR stack seems to get the way of my TGRAgain stack…

  9. Harriet the Spy
    On Writing
    Batman the Dark Knight
    Louis L’Amour is always a fun travel re-read
    Anthony Bourdain Kitchen Confidential. He has a great voice, under valued as a writer.

  10. Harriet the Spy (started my life long love of writing)
    On Writing
    Batman the Dark Knight
    Louis L’Amour is always a fun travel re-read
    Anthony Bourdain Kitchen Confidential. He has a great voice, under valued as a writer.

  13. Great questions, Steve. I don’t usually read fiction more than once, but I did read Chandler’s The Big Sleep a couple of times. I also read Hank Philippi Ryan’s Truth Be Told a second time in order to outline it while I was writing my first novel. I guess The Iliad by Homer fits in this category too.

    For non-fiction, I’ve re-read
    West With the Night by Beryl Markham. It’s a memoir, but so gorgeously written, it could be fiction.
    Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
    The Sabbath by Abraham Heschel

    I wonder if it counts that I’ve read the first three chapters of A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking about ten times, but can’t seem to get all the way through the book. Maybe that will be my holiday reading this year.

    Thank you for all your challenging and entertaining posts this year, Steve. Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season, and a 2024 full of fantastic (pun intended) writing.

    • Thanks, Kay. Your list included some heavy hitters. Your mention of Hawking’s book reminded me of my attempts at understanding Le Carre’s “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” JSB suggested that I watch the movie first.

      Thanks for all your wonderful posts over the past year.

      I hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday Season and a Successful New Year. I believe you drew the short straw for the first post of 2024. A suggested title: “How to Withdraw from Watching Football.” Go Bucks!

  14. I read some of the classics over and over. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird, Anne of Green Gables. But I also read childhood favorites few people have heard of again and again. My Side of the Mountain, Mystery of the Witch’s Bridge, various Hardy Boys. There are a few Sci Fi that I go back to. Tuf Wandering, Threshold. And some non-fiction. A World Lit Only by Fire, The Devil in the White City, One Day at Teton Marsh, Troubled Waters. The list could also include just about any book I’ve enjoyed over the last 60 years.

    • Wow, Joe, thanks! That’s quite a list. You are right. Some of those I have never heard of. But, I’m adding them to my list.

      I hope you have a chance to read some of them during the coming holiday break.

      Happy Holidays to you and your family. See you in 2024.

  15. Lord of the Rings
    Chronicles of Narnia
    The Hiding Place
    Anything Agatha Christie (and I don’t care that I know who dunnit)!

    I haven’t read it yet, but I have an original 1917 edition of Winston Churchill’s novel, The Dwelling Place of Light. It’s stained, falling apart, and contains English I’ll probably have to reread and reread as I go to understand it. But I’m convinced I can do it…after I finish my read-through of LOTR-all three novels.

    Happy Holidays!

    • Thanks for weighing in, Deb. I like your list.

      That Winston Churchill novel sounds exciting. It would be nice if you could find another copy of the book to read, and protect your heirloom.

      You reminded me of a theological text I inherited from my father. I never asked him how he had inherited it. It was originally published in Europe in 1565, then translated into English and printed in Pennsylvania in 1869. I should donate that book to a museum.

      Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy (and successful) New Year!

  16. Steve, what a tough question b/c there are so many to choose from.

    For fiction: anything by Raymond Chandler, Herman Wouk, Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton.

    For nonfiction: mostly writing craft books including anything by a guy named Jim Bell; Jack Bickham’s Scene and Structure, Lisa Cron’s Wired for Story, Sol Stein’s books, H.R. D’Costa’s books.

    For historical nonfiction: Erik Larson.

    Thanks for your excellent TKZ contributions which often spark new ideas for me! Merry Christmas to you and your family and best wishes for a productive, creative New Year!

    • Thanks, Debbie. What a great way to organize those books – by the authors.

      In the nonfiction category, I’ve read several of those books more than twice, for Jim’s books, more than several.

      Thanks, Debbie, for all your contributions. With blogging on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I don’t know how you do it. But we all reap the benefits of your posts.

      Congratulations for winning the Publisher’s Weekly Prize for Thrillers! Merry Christmas and a Happy (and successful) New Year to you and yours!

  17. These are my desert island books.

    The Friends of Eddie Coyle-George V. Higgins
    The Digger’s Game-George V. Higgins
    Cogan’s Trade-George V. Higgins
    Boyos-Richard Marinick
    Moby Dick-Herman Melville
    Work and Other Sins-Charlie LeDuff
    Up In The Old Hotel and The Bottom of the Harbor-Joseph Mitchell.

    And one writing guide. The Lie That Tells The Truth by John Dufresne.

    • Thanks for sharing your list, Robert. I like that, your “desert island books.”

      I’m adding these books to my list. I don’t have any plans for travel, but one never knows when they are going to get stranded on an island. An airport comes to mind.

      I hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday season with no island, but yet time to read.

  18. For me it’s The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s a long book, like most classics, but man does it get me in the feels. The scene where Edmond Dantes saves M. Morel and his family from ruin makes my eyes water every time.

    • Thanks for stopping by and sharing your favorite, Nana. That’s one I’ve never read. I’m putting an asterisk beside it on my list.

      Wishing you and your family a Happy Holidays. And I hope you’ll come back to TKZ soon. I’ll be blogging again in February.

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