How many times?

[Antiq]

I'm on my 4th re-reading of all the Discworld novels. I'm sure there are probably some of you who have done that more often. The weirdest thing about it is that every time, every time, they just get better! Also, they're a bit like a drug. I think they should be available through the NHS or your relevant government health body. There may be side effects, such as random smiling for no reason apparent to others, strange feeling of warmth, episodes of giggling in inappropriate settings...
So, how many times have you re-read them, and why do you?

 

[Tonyblack]

I've lost count of how many times I've read them - at least six times for most of them I'd guess. And yes, most of them do seem to get better each time. They are the most rereadable books I've ever come across.

 

[Antiq]

I've lost count of how many times I've read them - at least six times for most of them I'd guess. And yes, most of them do seem to get better each time. They are the most rereadable books I've ever come across.

I know!! Why is that? Is it some kind of....magic?

 

[GAN]

I think it's a magic of the talant. Of course I read every book of DW that I can get and sometime re-read them. Pratchett he... well if he's really a post-modernist he's so good in it that no one in SF & F can beat him.

 

[Catch-up]

I think they improve for me when I re-read them because I slow down. I really devour them the first time through and tend to miss things.

 

[Penfold]

I too have lost count of how many times I've read each book. I still find new things that I previously missed or read a well crafted sentence that has a different meaning or insight to me from previous readings. I think, in part, that it is this depth of narrative that goes some way to making his books rereadable. That and the fact they are great stories as well, of course.

 

[DaveC]

I've read the whole series once and am now using Mark Reads Discworld to count as my second read through, as I watch his read -throughs every week.

 

[Ghost]

sans for the last 3-4 books published I've re-read the books at least three times and my favourites about 5 times
but right now I'm trying to take a break from them to give me time for my memory to fade
so I can enjoy them again for the first time

 

[Penfold]

I've read the whole series once and am now using Mark Reads Discworld to count as my second read through, as I watch his read -throughs every week.

I just got into Mark and really enjoyed his rendering of 'Wyrd Sisters', especially when he walks face first into a pune. I believe he intends to start Pyramids next but the one I really want to see is him reading 'Guards! Guards!', especially for the dialogue at the door.

 

[The Mad Collector]

I agree, most of them just get better every time, I've read the first 30 or so that many times that I simply cannot count and also listed to the audiobooks many times. The last few however have been a read once and then 'well maybe I'll read that again but I doubt it'

 

[Mixa]

I’m now at my first rereading of the series and I’m so excited! They do get better! I totally agree with all you have said… Discworld addiction is unbeatable!

Mx

 

[MartinMacFeegle]

i am on my second read up to Pyramids. i am reading in order of publication. i thoroughly enjoyed it which i was pleasantly surprised by as i remember it not being one of my favourites the first time, but for the life of me i can't remember why! its been so long since i originally read these books that for the most part i have forgotten what happens. which kind of feels like reading them for the first time again!

 

[raptornx01]

I've gone through the entire series (in audiobook form) at least twice. all except the last two or three about three or four times. the witch books (including tiffany's books), probably about 5 or 6 times (except for the last tiffany book which i did twice). and the watch books at least a dozen times. (and I usually include the other AM books like The Truth and Moist's books in that as well though not always)

and I think I might have gone through night watch and thud a couple extra times.

 

[Molokov]

The early ones (i.e. the first 20-25) I've read many many times, some of them probably up to 10 times, and the later ones generally twice or three times. Raising Steam is the only one I've not read more than once yet.[1]

I used to re-read Discworld books quite a lot, but in the last 5-6 years have expanded the volume of authors I read and now my "to read" queue is usually long enough that re-reads get pushed down the list. Of course, when I'm in the mood for something Discworldy, there's always a book to choose from...


[1] Out of the main novels, I mean. I've only read The World of Poo, The Compleat Ankh-Morpork, Turtle Recall, The Science of Discworld IV and Mrs Bradshaw's Handbook once each. (plus some of the non-Discworld stuff like the Long Earth series, Dodger's Guide to London, Blink of the Screen, Slip of the Keyboard, and Dragons at Crumbling Castle)

 

[Perestroika]

there are some books that I just love to read more than others. I've only read the witches books once or twice through, but the rest I have read quite a lot, though some I feel I just save for when I need a relatively new reread. I've reread the rincewind and the watch books probably 5 or 6 times through now. Feet of Clay and Amazing Maurice are probably my favourites. I also reread reaper man quite often as it was the first Pratchett for me.

 

[RathDarkblade]

I agree that Feet of Clay is definitely a good one!

I haven't read the ENTIRE series through more than once, but I do go back and re-read some of the books occasionally. More often than not, I like to listen to the recordings - e.g. Stephen Briggs's read-throughs, or the BBC Radio recordings.

As to why the books are so addictive... I can give some reasons:

1. pTerry doesn't think in terms of chapters, but in terms of scenes - like scenes from a movie - and his scenes are, for me, very visual. You can almost see what's happening, like a movie. The books draw you in and engage you.

2. The characters and the dialogue are often very funny, and you can always understand what the characters think or what they say or how they behave - and relate to it. Not only that, but pTerry takes care that we can not only see what the characters see, but we can hear what they hear, we can smell what they smell, etc.

3. The characters normally face tremendous challenges, and still win through - though not without being changed or challenged themselves - and along the way, they still have time to banter among themselves and have a pint or two.

Just my thoughts... what do the rest of you think?

 

[raisindot]

I'm there with you, Rath. There are certain books--particularly the first three and just about all of the RIncewind books--that I'll never read again.

But, like you, I tend to "re-listen" to the unabridged Planer and Briggs audio books when I go running. They just make the boredom and drudgery (almost) go away. I've got all the Watch, Witches, Tiffany Aching, Moist series, all the Death series except Reaper Man, and a few extras (Unseen Ac, Small Gods, The Truth, and Monstrous Regiment). No Rincewind books at all.

My only problem is "rationing" my listening. I try to limit the DW audiobook portion of my long runs to no more than 30 minutes because I want them (the audiobooks, not the runs) to last as long as possible.

 

[Aquamarine]

Easily the Watch books are the ones I revisit the most often. Then it's a smattering from the other series (Witches, Rincewind, Death, Moist, standalone).

It really does depend on the individual book, though. For instance, within the Rincewind series I've revisited Interesting Times frequently but haven't touched The Last Hero in years, and even then I only read it once. Within the Death series, I've gone back to Reaper Man over and over, yet barely touched Mort or Soul Music after their initial reading. I think some novels just click with me, and others don't quite make that connection.

As for the entire series, I've only read it through once. Perhaps I should try that again. It's been almost a decade now...

And now that I type this out, I realize I haven't looked at the Tiffany Aching books in a long time. A surprising oversight! I'll have to rectify that.

 

[RathDarkblade]

I think that the "theme" books (e.g. a book that uses a real-world concept as the overacrching theme, like Maskerade, Soul Music, Witches Abroad, Feet of Clay, and to a lesser extent Moving Pictures) are some of Terry's funniest. I don't know why this is - maybe it's the challenge to catch all the little references to musical theatre, rock 'n roll, fairy tales etc. *G*

 

[Mixa]

Absolutely! In general, every time you reread a book you may find out new things you missed the first time, but with Discworld books you could keep rereading them all your life and you’d always find new references and play-on-words!

Mx