My mass market debut, Surviving Demon Island, a paranormal action adventure, came out December 26th from Bantam Dell, and I’ve been loving the reader comments on the book so far.
One reader told me she’d read it three times already! Music to an author’s ears, to hear her book is a re-read.
Hearing this reminded me of some of my favorite books, the one’s I’ve pulled off my keeper shelf and read over and over again. I wondered what makes a book a reread? Is it the characters that we fall in love with and can’t seem to let go of, is it the setting, the plot, or a combination of all of those?
One of my favorite books to reread is Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Flame and The Flower, primarily because it’s the first romance novel I ever read. I can pick up that book and be 17 years old again, recapturing my youth and awe at the world of romance. That feeling of immersing myself in a historical romance for the very first time and falling madly in love with the dashing and oh so naughty Captain Brandon Birmingham, who throughout the course of the book won my heart over with his love for Heather. It’s a story I’ve read over and over and over again and will never tire of.
Jude Deveraux’s Knight in Shining Armor is another reread for me, because I loved the time travel aspect of the story, of a heroine who not only got to meet and fall in love with a man from another century, but who loved him so much she followed him back to his time.
And it’s not just the older classics that are rereads for me. Some of the newer books, like JR Wards Black Dagger Brotherhood series, are rereads for me. I love the world she’s built and enjoy revisiting the brothers over and over again. Many of Nora Roberts’ books are also rereads for me, especially her trilogies. And so is Karen Marie Moning…oh those highlander books!
What makes a book a reread for you? And what are some of your favorite books that you read again and again?
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I am a huge re-reader. The biggest thing is the emotion. Nowadays, it seems so many books depend on action or sex to keep things hopping, and I love all that, but the emotion, the ones where I cry, feel the butterflies, and just sigh with happiness because I’ve been through the wringer, even after the 20th read - those are the ones that I keep going back to. Sometimes it’s the good old-fashioned traditional romance without the “extras” that make it a classic.
My list: Judith McNaught, The Team 16 series by Suzanne Brockmann, a lot of Lisa Kleypas’ earlier historicals (”Where Dreams Begin” especially), “The Viscount Who Loved Me ” &”When He Was Wicked” by Julia Quinn, the Stephanie Plum series. I loved “Knight In Shining Armor”, but funnily enough, a lot of readers absolutely hate that book cuz of the ending. I love Jude’s stuff - the Taggarts and the Montgomerys - she got me hooked on series.
JR Ward and JD Robb are two of my current faves. Ah, the re-read. A pleasant indulgence.
by Stacy ~
on January 3rd, 2007 at 6:58 am
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Oh and Jaci, congrats on “Surviving Demon Island”. I’ve heard nothing but great stuff about it!
by Stacy ~
on January 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
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I think it is the characters and the story. Some of my favorite re-reads are Open Season by Linda Howard, To Die for by Linda Howard, Men of August series by Lora Leigh, and
The Magic Of You by Johanna Lindsey.
by Amy S.
on January 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
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Thanks so much Stacy!
And after I read Knight in Shining Armor, I went and bought all of Jude’s Montgomery series. Fell madly in love with her books!
Amy….I also love Johanna Lindsey…she’s been a favorite of mine for years. Lora Leigh’s August series is fabulous. Her Bound Hearts are my favorites, though 
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My first was Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown. . . but once I really started reading romances — the ones I always put as ones I would recommend or I’ve reread a couple times and would again for a couple million more would be A Rose in Winter and Karen Ranney’s Tapestry. They were just terrific.
Lois
by Lois
on January 3rd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
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I have never been able to re-read a book..it just doesn’t hold my interest.
by Estella
on January 3rd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
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Most of my re-reads are part of series. I’ve read the Harry Potter books numerous times and Janet Evanovich’s Stepahnie Plum series multi times too.
I don’t re-read too often as I have a huge pile of books to read and so very limited time to do it. 
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Hmmmm - I have to limit myself to only keeping books in print that I really think I will reread. The characters have to be engaging and draw me in even after I know what’s going to happen.
JP Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood in one, most of Lora Leigh’s books, Morgan Hawke’s stories, Christine Warren, and quite a few more.
I’m really hoping my bookstore has SDI tonight! I’ve been waiting a long time to read it
by Maura
on January 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
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I too like Jennifer have only reread series - usually because it’s too long between books. I’ve reread the Earth Series by Jean Auel - my favorite series. I also read a John Jakes series and some of Stephen Kings.
by catslady
on January 3rd, 2007 at 9:14 pm
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I reread many books even though I have a huge TBR pile. Because when I reread a book I pick up on different things that I didn’t pick up the first time.
by Diane
on January 3rd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
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I re read a lot, but my most recent are the Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb, anything by Lora Leigh and Sarah McCarty, Tara Janzen’s Crazy series, and yes, I still love LKH.
by cathy
on January 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
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Hey Jaci! One of my favorite reread is Sandra Brown’s Texas Trilogy–But I am getting some new favs–you and Shelly Bradley are on that list!!:smile:
by Renee
on January 3rd, 2007 at 10:29 pm
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Mostly I reread passages in books that have strong emotional appeal. I found that Stacy (post 1) voiced much of my own feelings in this matter.
I do like to reread books that I loved the first time round after a long passage of time (time enough for the memory of details to have faded). They’re almost as good the second time around. I think what makes this possible is well developed characters with strong emotion bonding between the leads.
by Sue A.
on January 4th, 2007 at 5:57 am
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I have so many books that I don’t have time to reread a book. There have been some that I’ve wanted to read again. I remember reading “The House of A Thousand Lanterns” by Victoria Holt and bought it a second time hoping to reread it. I read it years ago so that if I do get to read it again, it will be like reading it for the first time all over. I’m looking forward to picking up a copy of “Surviving Demon Island”. I just love paranormals.
by Janet
on January 4th, 2007 at 7:33 am
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The Harry Potter books are great rereads too!
And thank you Maura! Hope you can find SDI…let me know if you do! 
Renee - thank you! I’m so glad to hear I’m one of your favorites!
SueA - I do the same thing. I reread after a long time has passed. It’s like reading it for the first time again, renewing my emotions all over again. *sigh*
Janet - thank you! Hope you enjoy SDI!
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Thanks to everyone who responded!!!
