Authors I want to re-read – and some I don’t

Our reading tastes tend to change over time. We return to some authors again and again, authors we never get tired of. Others, we might re-read to see if we still like them. And there are those we have no inclination to return to.

Here are 5 authors I want to re-read:

Stephen King. I was impressed with my re-reading of The Shining, after avoiding King for years. I plan to try another of his books, not any that I’ve previously read. If anyone has enjoyed reading Doctor Sleep, let me know.

Terry Pratchett. I’ve read most of the Discworld series and have kept a few of the best ones. My favourites are the Moist von Lipwig trilogy and any which feature the witches. I’m thinking of reading the very first, The Colour of Magic, again.

Stella Gibbons. In the last few years I’ve read the reissues of Gibbons’ novels, some of which were long out of print. I really like her style and at some stage I will re-read these novels again, but not Cold Comfort Farm any time soon.

Virginia Woolf. She has a reputation for being a little difficult to read, but I think Woolf’s novels are rewarding. My favourites are Mrs Dalloway and Orlando. The last I read was The Waves. I’d like to read Night and Day again.

Jane Austen. I had a pleasant re-read of Sense and Sensibility and a not so good re-read of Persuasion. I plan to continue with her books, probably leaving Emma until last because that’s the one I know the best.

And here are 5 authors I’m not going to re-read:

Ursula K LeGuin. Having tried a few of hers, I find that her style is not for me. I know she’s a classic sci-fi and fantasy author but I prefer some humour when I’m reading those genres. She’s just too serious for my taste.

George Eliot. I’ve tried Middlemarch. I’ve tried The Mill on the Floss. I’ve tried Adam Bede. I didn’t get on with them. I tried Silas Marner – and liked it. With the exception of Silas, it’s very unlikely I’ll be reading any more Eliot.

Joanne Harris. Having read several of her novels, I think she’s a good writer but I don’t have the urge to re-read her at all. The most recent of her books I tried was Different Class, which I ended up abandoning.

Ann M Martin. The author of the Babysitters Club series, her books were very popular in the 90s and featured a group of teenage girls who actually enjoyed looking after small children. Unless I get very nostalgic, I won’t be re-reading this series.

R L Stine. One of the most successful popular writers for children and young adults, R L Stine’s Goosebumps and (later on) Point Horror books were a regular feature in my reading. It’s highly doubtful I will ever crack open an R L Stine book again.

Which authors do you plan to re-read – and are there any you don’t want to?

12 thoughts on “Authors I want to re-read – and some I don’t”

    1. I liked Gentlemen & Players but Different Class was the sequel and I really didn’t like it.

  1. I really want to read some more Stephen King as well. I’ve only read Misery by him, I loved it so I have high hopes for enjoying more of his work. I’m not sure why I haven’t read more by him already. I agree with you on R.L Stine, I read so many Goosebumps titles as a kid and whilst I loved them I can’t see myself reading them again. Great post ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. I have a library reservation on Doctor Sleep so let’s see how that goes. If I like it then I’ll read another of his. Thanks for your comment โ˜บ

  2. King will always be a favorite. But there are some books that I could not get in to. One that comes to mind was his 1994 novel – Insomnia. At the time it just wasn’t for me. Now I’m thinking of giving it another try.

    As for other authors I like to give as many a chance as I can. I’m always picking out one, hoping it stands out.

    1. At one time I was very into King and similar horror novels but it’s not a genre I want to read much of now. King has written so many, however, that I’m sure I will try some more of them. I have a library hold on Doctor Sleep to start with. Thanks for your comment ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Thanks ๐Ÿ™‚ I have read several of Edith Wharton’s and I studied her at university so I’ve re-read them too. I think out of all of them, I’d probably only re-read Ethan Frome again.

      1. Itโ€™s great, isnโ€™t it? Iโ€™ve been wondering about Zeenaโ€™s story since I read Ethan Frome, the question of how she came to be who she was keeps going around in my head.

        1. I think if it was written today, we’d see her side of the story more ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. I know you’re a Discworld fan ๐Ÿ˜‰ The characters are like old friends.

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