Do you ever re-read a book?

nuttynana Pickwick Papers is one of my re-reads.
I've also hung onto Nickolas Nickelby, and Bleak House. From teen years.
Currently re-reading I B Singer short stories.

Yes to re reading Thomas Hardy . Recently I re read a couple of Dickens , just for the sheer joy of the writing .
Can anyone ever forget a Dickens character ? No one can do a description like that .
I did love Larkrise to Candleford and read that a few times over the years . It was out of print and I scoured charity shops and e bay for ages to get hold of a copy .
Then the TV series came along . Lots of copies of the book and it seemed to satisfy any desire to re read it . Well - for a long while at least .

I'm with OP, there are some books that I don't weant to re-read because I'm worried I'll be disappointed. That said, I have re-read only one book (well, set of four) that I can think of - The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, absolutely magical - don't know why this is, because I'll watch films that I've enjoyed over and over...

Several times- but by accident .
I keep a list of books I've read but it's so long it's not really much use!

When I was a child I was constantly re reading books, although I had them bought for me birthdays and Christmas, I wasn't able to just go and buy them as I do now. Having said that I did have a constant supply from the library.

I have a dozen or so books that are to me so perfect, I feel I should read them again, but it's a bit like revisiting a favourite place and then feeling it's not quite how you remember it.

I have re read Patricia Cornwall and Stephen King more than once .

I’m a great rereader because I read far too quickly and don’t absorb as I should. Just rereading The Group by Mary MCarthy. Last read 40 years ago but I was surprised how much I remembered! Great read still.

The Land of Spices, Kate O'Brian.

The only books I have deliberately reread are Walk Across America and the sequel Walk West by David Jenkins. He finished college early 70s and walked actoss to California to get to know his country and the different people. I have read them a few times. And I also have the National Geographic magazines to go with them - one stolen from a doctors waiting room!

Lupin Northanger Abbey was my favourite!

fennel Diary of a Nobody was a gem. I must read it again. I have actually tried to but books on amazon and it has said you already have bought this book and I look at my archives and there it is lol!

Thanks Fennel. I must read Diary of a Nobody. There is also a French detective called Arsene Lupin. Read some of those stories for book group but they are not on my re-read list.

That was to Barmeyoldbat!
I also love and have reread Rebecca and My cousin Rachel by Du Maurier and lots of Dickens.

A lot of the books mentioned I love too but some I have found rather dull. They incude Any human heart, birdsong and Middlemarch. Sorry! I do often reread books if I have enjoyed them, particularly classics. I love Diary of a Nobody, all the Jane Austen books, to kill a mockingbird to mention a few.
Yes I have read a Dervla Murphy book about her travels in the Andes in Peru with her young daughter and a donkey!

MOnica
I enjoyed reading your reply to question about re-reading books and what you get from your five, was it reads. Very interesting.
It is very rare that I have re-read books.
Was only thinking about Middlemarch this week. I attempted Mill on the Floss for first and only time so far around 25 years ago shortly after Middlemarch was shown on TV. Had read Silas Marner at school and seemed to remember enjoying that. The Times recently had a list of fifty titles, I think that evoked British way of life or something simililar. I read too in last week or so that Middlemarch is one of the most difficult reads.
Thomas Hardy is probably the only author of British classics whose titles I have re-read. We were introduced to him via Mayor of Casterbridge also at school. My love of Hardy's novels endures. At one time Tess of the D'Urbervilles was my favourite, at other times Jude the Obscure, Far from the Madding Crowd and perhaps now I would choose Mayor of Casterbridge. My choice in most things in life now seems to have gone full circle and I am now beginning on my second time around! I now have a very short attention span like many others in all age groups perhaps? So books with three pages to a chapter can have strong appeal! Was reading something very different but with very short chapters: Liar, Liar by M J Arlidge this week having enjoyed The Doll's House but not sure I'm going to continue.
One book I reread and rebought was Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris. It's one of the few novels I have kept as I usually pass them on either to friends who I think may enjoy them or to charity shops. Thank you.

Lupin the book including your namesake is one of my re-reads. (Diary of a Nobody).

I buy and keep books I know I'll re-read. Have been a re-reader all my reading life. Alongside my Jane Austins (apart from Northanger Abbey which irritates me ) my favourite reads across the years have been Rosemary Sutcliffe books. I love the Aquila family series - Eagle of the Ninth etc, and Rider of the White Horse about Ann Fairfax, wife to civil war general Thomas Fairfax. I love to pick up a favourite book and dip back into it.
Has anyone come across a book called That Ancient River by Lesley Gervais? Published in the 40s or 50s I think. I have re- read that one many times.
I'm re-reading William Boyd's Any Human Heart at the moment.

'by' or 'at'!

I re-read most of my books, otherwise why keep them? Reading Austen again for study purposes, and appreciating every clever phrase; also reread 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel etc' preparatory to the film and was astonished by at how much I had forgotten, although it made a big impression at the time.

I've reread very few books but have picked up both A Tale of Two Cities and Life of Pi again. Still enjoyable reads a second time around.
I think you could possibly reread any Dickens book as there is so much depth in them and you can get so much out of them.

I don't usually re-read books, but there are exceptions. I've certainly read everything by Daphne Du Maurier more than once, and these days it's Bill Bryson. I actually buy his books, not just borrow them from the library, I love them so much.

Afraid I'm 'guilty' of re-reading books over and over again - although usually a fair amount of time between reads. I usually enjoy them just as much 2nd or 3rd time around (perhaps even more)!
I would recommend my favourites to anyone:-
The Belle Fields and its sequel Ashes of Roses by Lora Adams - a lovely story set around the very early 1900's which follows the life and times of a village girl who lands a job in the local 'big house'. the ups and downs of her life and the happy times and heart-ache are beautifully told - a real page-turner for me!
You might try Brother to the Ox by Fred Kitchen - the author telling the story of his life as an agricultural labourer in the very early 20th century. Lovely descriptive writing - how those folks worked for a pittance - the changes in his lifetime beggar belief.
Anyone in to poetry might try Say Kangaroo by Five Sisters. A really well put together compilation of poems written by 5 sisters about their memories of growing up in the 50s and 60s. Took me back to my childhood especially holidays, school days and Christmases etc etc.
Anyone trying any of them - hope you enjoy!

I reread most books. I have 4 bookcases full of books i cant part with. Ive reread jane eire and withering heights also many rosamund pilcher sagas . Louise cooper Crown of horn many times . Countless others

As I am a very fast reader re reading is no problem for me. I have read ‘Lord of the Rings’ ( all three) three times since my teenage years and the ‘Dance to the Music of Time’ sequence (ten or twelve novels) three times also. I must have read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ about ten times given I taught it to many classes. Like the original poster I loved ‘The Secret History’ and not only have reread it but really enjoyed the Radio Four reading. You do get something new for every rereading. Some phrases and sentences send tingles down your spine.

I've kept The Goldfinch because I really loved the first part of the book (but found the later part disappointing).