Books You've Read More Than Once
Discussion
I re- read the Jerry Ahern Survivalist series every few years, it's quite an undertaking at 25+books and it took many years to pull the collection together. Gets a bit odd towards the end though.
Without Remorse and Rainbow 6 always worth a read, though in the latter I always root for the bad guy.
Without Remorse and Rainbow 6 always worth a read, though in the latter I always root for the bad guy.
eccles said:
thismonkeyhere said:
'The Rachel Papers' by Martin Amis. An apparently semi-autobiographical story of a precocious late-teen boy, reminiscing about the last few months leading up to his 20th birthday.
I first read it as an inexperienced 15 year old, and I'm afraid his approach to life and the opposite sex may have at least partially shaped who I later became in my late teens and twenties. I read it loads in my sixth form and uni days, and later on as I knocked around the world at the start of my career, and these days go back to it on a regular basis. I find it quite a comforting book to immerse myself in. Not sure why.
I've read this a few times over the years. Every time I have a clear out of books I end up keeping it. I quite enjoyed the film of it as well.I first read it as an inexperienced 15 year old, and I'm afraid his approach to life and the opposite sex may have at least partially shaped who I later became in my late teens and twenties. I read it loads in my sixth form and uni days, and later on as I knocked around the world at the start of my career, and these days go back to it on a regular basis. I find it quite a comforting book to immerse myself in. Not sure why.
I'm still reading the same paperback copy I bought back when I was 15. Waterstones Birmingham I think it was....
Now this is going to bring the tone down a bit, all simple novels, easy reads, nothing classical or heavy going.
The Philip McAlpine series by Adam Diment. Swinging 60s take on James Bond, a spy who smokes pot instead of custom rolled Morlands. I read the first in '68 when it came out (public Library) and then found a copy years later in a bookshop. Recognised the cover, spent all of £1.50 on a fine first edition and loved it just as much the second time around.
The Dolly Dolly Spy
The Great Spy Race
The Bang Bang Birds
Think Inc.
All in the late 60s, very much time capsules. Apparently Diment was contracted for 6 books but disappeared after the 4th, even today his whereabouts are talked about amongst fans of the series.
Also the Boysie Oakes series by John Gardner, before he started writing the James Bond novels. Reluctant agent, light hearted stuff.
The Liquidator, Understrike, Amber Nine, etc. 8 novels between '64 & early 70s.
The Philip McAlpine series by Adam Diment. Swinging 60s take on James Bond, a spy who smokes pot instead of custom rolled Morlands. I read the first in '68 when it came out (public Library) and then found a copy years later in a bookshop. Recognised the cover, spent all of £1.50 on a fine first edition and loved it just as much the second time around.
The Dolly Dolly Spy
The Great Spy Race
The Bang Bang Birds
Think Inc.
All in the late 60s, very much time capsules. Apparently Diment was contracted for 6 books but disappeared after the 4th, even today his whereabouts are talked about amongst fans of the series.
Also the Boysie Oakes series by John Gardner, before he started writing the James Bond novels. Reluctant agent, light hearted stuff.
The Liquidator, Understrike, Amber Nine, etc. 8 novels between '64 & early 70s.
yli said:
It may sound odd. But I read Pride and Prejudice more than once. The first time I read it was not long after I got my first job almost 20 year ago, though I cannot remember what made me pick up this book in the first place.
To me the story was actually plain. And as a non native English speaker I cannot fully appreciate whether or not Jane Austen's writing skills in English were great other than some of her writing was indeed very witty. However this book changed my view on perceptions to a person's true character that I should never be misled by first time impressions. Back then I didn't know how and why this book had such a profound impact on my views. Now looking back I wonder if it has more to do with the fact that it coincided with my first taste of the real and rather complex side of a human being right after the university. 20 or 30 years ago a youngster's life in China as a student was pretty simple
and naive. We had to devote most of our time to study in order to getting admitted by the universities in order to change our lives. As a result we were academically trained but not short of social awareness and skills. As many Chinese said back then, after we finished our academic universities we embarked on a new journey of being educated by the university of societies.
After reading this post I ordered a copy of the Great Expectations and I'm looking forward to it.
I always enjoy your posts yli and hope you post more, always fascinating to read from perspectives like yours. To me the story was actually plain. And as a non native English speaker I cannot fully appreciate whether or not Jane Austen's writing skills in English were great other than some of her writing was indeed very witty. However this book changed my view on perceptions to a person's true character that I should never be misled by first time impressions. Back then I didn't know how and why this book had such a profound impact on my views. Now looking back I wonder if it has more to do with the fact that it coincided with my first taste of the real and rather complex side of a human being right after the university. 20 or 30 years ago a youngster's life in China as a student was pretty simple
and naive. We had to devote most of our time to study in order to getting admitted by the universities in order to change our lives. As a result we were academically trained but not short of social awareness and skills. As many Chinese said back then, after we finished our academic universities we embarked on a new journey of being educated by the university of societies.
After reading this post I ordered a copy of the Great Expectations and I'm looking forward to it.
eccles said:
I'm not one for re reading books often, but over the years a few books have stuck out as ones I can read time and again
Rimrunners by C J Cherryh
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
Chickehawk by Robert Mason
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
It's like slipping on a pair of old slippers reading these books.
I've lost track of the number of times I've re-read Tripoint by CJ Cherryh.Rimrunners by C J Cherryh
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
Chickehawk by Robert Mason
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
It's like slipping on a pair of old slippers reading these books.
I remember Margaret Thatcher saying in an interview that she was RE- reading a Jeffrey Archer book. That says more about the reader than the author - I dipped into one at a friend's house and would only do so again at gunpoint . But I wish my book royalties were even 1 % of his ...
Anyway - my nomination is my favourite Hemingway - A Moveable Feast. Written by Hemingway in middle age, beset by his demons and in poor health and it is about his life as a broke young writer in 1920 Paris. Exquisite , hear-tbreaking and sometimes even very funny . And written by my favourite author , the man whose writing made me want to do it myself .
Anyway - my nomination is my favourite Hemingway - A Moveable Feast. Written by Hemingway in middle age, beset by his demons and in poor health and it is about his life as a broke young writer in 1920 Paris. Exquisite , hear-tbreaking and sometimes even very funny . And written by my favourite author , the man whose writing made me want to do it myself .
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