Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 08:20     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:I read a lot, so I both DNF and reread pretty frequently. I’m always looking for recommendations or willing to try a new author, and so I start a lot of books that really just aren’t for me. For example, I DNFed a couple of Colleen Hoover books before accepting although she’s enormously popular, not my cup of tea. I also DNFed a couple of Kristin Hannah books, again incredibly popular, but the books were so relentlessly depressing and full of suffering, I just couldn’t take it.

I also do a lot of rereading. I’ve been going back and rereading some classics, like Jane Eyre and The Great Gatsby, because it’s been decades and I was young when I read them. I’ll also reread books when one of my kids becomes interested, so we can chat about the books as we go. For example, I reread the Harry Potter books and The Thursday Murder Club series for the kid bonding. I also love a good comfort read, a book that I know I will like and characters that I will enjoy spending time with, like Pride and Prejudice.

Like one of the PPs, I also feel like I don’t remember the details of what I read as much as I used to. It may be getting older (I’m in my 50s) or that I read 200+ books a year and my brain can only hold so much.


I have DNFed so many books lately. I just lose patience with ridiculous plots or characters or tropes.

I tried re-reading The Great Gatsby as an adult and by choice versus forced reading when young, and I couldn't finish it.

I'm so glad I'm not alone in being unable to remember details of what I'm reading! I hope it's because I read so much versus that my memory is going.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 13:32     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:Re-Read: One Day by David Nicholls. It's a comfort read for me. I enjoy a friends-to-lovers trope and the dialogue and enduring friendship in this one just does it for me. It lives in the sweet spot between literary fiction and beach read (I mean that as a compliment). I'm not particularly romantic or a "soul mates" die-hard but this makes me believe.

DNF: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. The writing and gentle storytelling were lovely but I just didn't care very much. I couldn't put down Bel Canto or Commonwealth and even though I didn't like the characters in The Dutch House I wanted to see it through. I was so bored with Tom Lake.


Am I the only one who DNF Bel Canto? It was the first Ann Patchett book I read and I found it excruciatingly boring. I later read The Dutch House and thought it was fine, but not memorable. What am I missing? She's the one author my book buddies love whom I strongly dislike.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 13:07     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Stopped reading This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. One of the worst books I've read.

Most book I stop reading have bad writing - either really poor grammar or just way too kitschy.

I haven't been doing too much rereading lately.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 21:55     Subject: Re:Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Over and over- The Secret History, The Catcher in the Rye

Stopped Reading- Cold Mountain


I think Cold Mountain broke a record for the most pages before any actual dialogue. I actually like the movie (mostly because of Jude Law- yummy).
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 21:07     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
I read a lot, so I both DNF and reread pretty frequently. I’m always looking for recommendations or willing to try a new author, and so I start a lot of books that really just aren’t for me. For example, I DNFed a couple of Colleen Hoover books before accepting although she’s enormously popular, not my cup of tea. I also DNFed a couple of Kristin Hannah books, again incredibly popular, but the books were so relentlessly depressing and full of suffering, I just couldn’t take it.

I also do a lot of rereading. I’ve been going back and rereading some classics, like Jane Eyre and The Great Gatsby, because it’s been decades and I was young when I read them. I’ll also reread books when one of my kids becomes interested, so we can chat about the books as we go. For example, I reread the Harry Potter books and The Thursday Murder Club series for the kid bonding. I also love a good comfort read, a book that I know I will like and characters that I will enjoy spending time with, like Pride and Prejudice.

Like one of the PPs, I also feel like I don’t remember the details of what I read as much as I used to. It may be getting older (I’m in my 50s) or that I read 200+ books a year and my brain can only hold so much.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2025 20:40     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
I read the entire game of thrones series in 2011. I loved it so much that I immediately reread it. So bummed he never finished it.

I’ve also read the hobbit multiple times
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 23:07     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I used to reread books often when I was younger. I could read something 5 times and not get enough. I now will reread things I hadn’t read in a decade and it’s enjoyable. Off the top of my head, common rereads throughout my life have been “Wuthering Heights,” “The Secret History,” “The Poisonwood Bible,” “The Namesake,” “Gone with the Wind,” the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the His Dark Materials trilogy.


Was just coming on here to say I DNF The Poisonwood Bible. It’s been awhile so I don’t remember why I felt it was so tedious, but I tried reading it several times and it just didn’t hold my interest. Tell me why I should keep reading!


Yeah, I love Kingsolver-- in fact one of my favorite re-reads is Prodigal Summer-- and I wish I hadn't slogged through The Poisonwood Bible.

Did not finish even the first chapter of a highly recommended book by Curtis Sittenfeld (?). Just... garbage. And I love the occasional fluffy fun read! I couldn't believe i had the right book, since it was a smart, funny friend who recommended it as one of her favorites.


Was it Prep? I was unimpressed. Finished it though.

I read Rodham and while I liked the effect of the writing, it felt very voyeuristic and weird. Like political fanfiction.

I discovered after that that American Wife is based on Laura Bush and I decided not to read it. Got it at a book sale and will be returning it there.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 22:57     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:Read Jane Eyre a few times. It’s just so good.

Read half of Atlas Shrugged twice. It’s not good.


I have never attempted "Atlas" because I slogged through "Fountainhead" (tiresome) and "We The Living" (most of it is somewhat interesting because it's semi-autobiographically-inspired with a female lead and I'm interested in early USSR history).
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 22:52     Subject: Re:Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
I tend to read a lot of memoirs from my own personal book collection over ➕ over since I love memoirs.

Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 21:45     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gentleman in Moscow. Everyone said it so good but I can't get through it.


Same. I don’t understand what people liked about this book.

Another DNF was The Goldfinch. I made it at least 2/3 of the way through. I liked the first section in NYC and really got into the Vegas part. But when the story shifted back again to NYC, I realized I no longer cared about the fate of the main character. At all. I tried to keep going, but I was done. Super weird for me to DNF that far in. Usually I drop a book much earlier.


I liked it because I want to see Ewan MacGregor's television series and wanted to read the book first. Unfortunately, I don't have the streaming service to watch it, yet....but I enjoyed imagining how they would adapt for the screen while reading it.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2025 17:37     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I used to reread books often when I was younger. I could read something 5 times and not get enough. I now will reread things I hadn’t read in a decade and it’s enjoyable. Off the top of my head, common rereads throughout my life have been “Wuthering Heights,” “The Secret History,” “The Poisonwood Bible,” “The Namesake,” “Gone with the Wind,” the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the His Dark Materials trilogy.


Was just coming on here to say I DNF The Poisonwood Bible. It’s been awhile so I don’t remember why I felt it was so tedious, but I tried reading it several times and it just didn’t hold my interest. Tell me why I should keep reading!


Yeah, I love Kingsolver-- in fact one of my favorite re-reads is Prodigal Summer-- and I wish I hadn't slogged through The Poisonwood Bible.

Did not finish even the first chapter of a highly recommended book by Curtis Sittenfeld (?). Just... garbage. And I love the occasional fluffy fun read! I couldn't believe i had the right book, since it was a smart, funny friend who recommended it as one of her favorites.
Anonymous
Post 06/30/2025 17:09     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
I used to reread The Stand by Stephen King every few years. The last time I read it though it affected me differently and was too disturbing. Maybe I’ll try again this summer.
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2025 22:08     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
A Barchester Towers reread is a treat I allow myself every few years and I love it every time.
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2025 02:23     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:I used to reread books often when I was younger. I could read something 5 times and not get enough. I now will reread things I hadn’t read in a decade and it’s enjoyable. Off the top of my head, common rereads throughout my life have been “Wuthering Heights,” “The Secret History,” “The Poisonwood Bible,” “The Namesake,” “Gone with the Wind,” the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the His Dark Materials trilogy.


Was just coming on here to say I DNF The Poisonwood Bible. It’s been awhile so I don’t remember why I felt it was so tedious, but I tried reading it several times and it just didn’t hold my interest. Tell me why I should keep reading!
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2025 00:25     Subject: Book you've reread over and over OR Book you stopped reading and never finished
Anonymous wrote:Gentleman in Moscow. Everyone said it so good but I can't get through it.


Same. I don’t understand what people liked about this book.

Another DNF was The Goldfinch. I made it at least 2/3 of the way through. I liked the first section in NYC and really got into the Vegas part. But when the story shifted back again to NYC, I realized I no longer cared about the fate of the main character. At all. I tried to keep going, but I was done. Super weird for me to DNF that far in. Usually I drop a book much earlier.