Does anyone else re-read old fave books ...?

I realised a couple of days ago, while making plans for what's to come, that I'm sailing dangerously close to the plot of A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. To be fair to myself, I DID have the plot in mind long before I read that, but now I'm going to have to re-read it so that I know what to avoid. I don't want to rip it off too much, it's a brilliant book and I'd hate to spoil it by associating it forever (in my mind) with my idiotic scribblings.

...actually, that's probably the exact logical opposite of what you're talking about. Ah well.

Yes I do.

I read The Lord of The Rings once a year and I am currently in the middle of reading it. I find every time I re-read a novel I find something new in it and as this is my 24th read through of LOTR I am still finding new things all of the time.

I also read Starship Troopers about a half-a-dozen times and most of the Discworld series at least three times. A good book will always make you want to go back to it.

All about changing your reality

I... just did that, actually. Curse you, Garth Nix, and your unbelievable awesomeness. I'm totally unworthy of wielding a word-processor in comparison. T_T

Then I read one of his essays about writing, felt better, and decided to completely trash my NaNo and restart. I'm less hopelessly discouraged now.

"The minstrel boy to the war is gone..."

Absolutely. Unfortunately, I'm trying to live up to Shakespeare. It's a wonder I try anymore. Who can really write the next Hamlet?

My favourite books are the Gormenghast trilogy. When I finished them, I was floored by their amazingness and mastery. I'm trying NOT to reread them because I know that I'll die of Author BSoD and never write anything again if I do. The same (almost) goes for the Mortal Engines and Noughts and Crosses series. They really struck a chord with me and made me realise what I want my own books to do - to be foremost, amazing stories.
However I have read the Redwall books countless times because I get so easily swept up in them and they remind me of when I was younger and really getting into books for the first time :D

Daydreams Etc. - http://mausengeist.livejournal.com/ Follow my NaNo adventures! Bring Brain Bleach!

Yes, I do, but while my protagonist may have the wiseassery of several of my favorite fictional characters, I don't compare myself to my favorite authors.

I also remember that my creative writing teacher in college published a novel and I could not get into it no matter how hard I tried.

Ororo
who has been rereading Bujold again

Agatha Christie has given more pleasure in bed than any other woman--Nancy Banks Smith

That's why I'm doing my best to stay away from any books by Katharine Kerr (the Deverry series), Jacqueline Carey (the Kushiel series) and Charles de Lint (everything). Opening any of those books would put me into tears instantly at this point, I think. :(

Heh....yeah....

I'm reading Sabriel right now and the Ruby in the Smoke and one of Clive Barkers books. I'm also reading a couple that are not in any way content related to my nano and that's throwing me off a little.

I and my mother have a home library over 1500 books so that we can reread the things we like. Last november my cousin moved in and brought his collection, my boyfriend saw how much reading we do and bought some books and is rereading one of his series. It's a sickness and its spreading.

I don't actually think that someone's work is better then mine when I read. I find flaws in a lot of my favorite authors work. I notice editing mistakes and areas where they could have finessed their writing a little more. Now that being said, think how my editor must go after my work. *Sobs* But usually when I read something that's by one of the authors I like its motivating. Thats why I write, because I read something and thought wow, I want to do that. Incidentally when I grow up I want to be Diana Wynne Jones(as opposed to any of the other authors I like).

Copy this code to your website to display this banner

I read all my books about twenty times each. And then, as a secret writing snob with horrid self esteem on the outside, I think about how I could easily write something better. Just not during NaNo.

I've read the entire Sword of Truth series at least five times each, and I've noticed recently that my MMC is rather similar to Richard Cypher at times. Oops!

http://scarlettindemand.onsugar.com

Follow my progress, and read my novel at my blog.

I flipped through a couple of books to get my head straight with point of view, but not read the whole books. I thought about reading The Shining since there are similarities to mine, but I can't focus to well on reading when I'm worrying about my wordcount. Apparently, if I'm going to read, I need to be able to read, and if I'm going to nanowrimo, I can't read.

But I don't need to read the books to know that my storytelling ability pales compared to the people I like to read. I try not to think about it.

every couple of years or so I reread Watership Down, Les Miserables, LOTR, the Helliconia Trilogy, and the Wizard of Earthsea books. Oh and the Elmer and the Dragon books. Those are just plain fantastic.

I think I reread old books more than I read new ones, actually. :-/