On rereading

[chameleon_irony]

hikarific has a thought-provoking post on rereading fiction and the experience of reading a book for the first time vs the second or fifth time. Me, I think it depends on the kind of reader you are. Some people do catch every mistake, along with the author's technical and stylistic tricks, on the first reading, no matter how engrossing the plot is

Comments

[chameleon_irony]

It takes about ten years for me get to the point where I've forgotten enough of a story to have fun reading it again. Otherwise, even if I don't consciously remember much about it, it all comes back as soon as I start rereading it.

I'm really interested to see what other people think!

I totally understand that. I'm the same way (and therefore a psychology student). ;)

By the way, I really like your post on reading works similar to the ones we are writing. You make some excellent points on both sides of the issue. I'm still deep in thought about it.

[frostbit_sky]

I almost never reread, because my memory is too good. Once I've read a book, it's boring to read it again because I remember everything and I don't notice any subtle things I missed the first time, because I do notice these things the first time

aww, I wish I had that skill. I find I forget things too easily so I like doing rereads of books I loved a few years after the first read.
There are many books on my shelf that I read years ago, I knew I love it, but I could not tell you what they are about or what happened. That is when I put them back on the reading pile to read again.

[chameleon_irony]

but I could not tell you what they are about or what happened

That happens to me too, but usually, as soon as I start rereading the book, it all comes back and the experience is ruined.

[ansketil_rose]

I read books fast. Very fast. So, if I enjoy a book, I'll happily read it again. I've read certain Harry Potter books more than I can count, I read Lovecraft again and again - Bernhard Schlink's short stories I love... 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is another one I re-read.

But the thing is... I remember the moments perfectly. But I love to go back and re-read those I love; it's about evoking emotion in me, absorbing a beautifully set out paragraph - revelling in the gorgeous text. I come back to roll around in books they way dogs roll around in the mud.

When beta-editing, I tend to go through it over and over again, trying out different things in my head, trying to make the text flow as easily as possible. I'm completely anal-retentive about saying things aloud and making sure the sentences sound nicely. But I mostly leave all that off the draft I send back because I can't take over their story!

I have only once had a beta-editor myself. I am far too much of a control freak. >.>

[ansketil_rose]

That being said, I do tend to skip around in them a lot and only re-read the bits I particularly enjoy.

[chameleon_irony]

Why does everyone assume that if I remember the details, it means I don't read fast? I read faster than anyone I've met in real life. Not exaggerating.

I have only once had a beta-editor myself. I am far too much of a control freak.

I think there is a common misunderstanding about what a beta reader's role is. I don't understand authors who give their beta reader the final word on their stories, i.e. who write fic, send it to their beta, receive the beta's edited version and post it.

A beta reader's comments are only the opinion of one person on your work. No one knows your work better than you do. A beta reader's "corrections" are suggestions that you should seriously consider, but ultimately decide whether or not each of them suits what you are trying to say in this fic. The reason I like having a beta reader is not because I need someone to correct my writing. I can do that myself. What I want from a beta is the kind of detailed feedback that reviewers almost never give. Comments that will make me see things in my stories that

[chameleon_irony]

Yeah, I understand being too picky. I rarely read fiction because the overwhelming majority of it bores me. The plots are too predictable, the characters not real enough, the relationships contrived and cheesy... My favorite types of books to read are biographies and psychology textbooks. There are some fiction authors whose work I really enjoy, but I can count them on the fingers of one hand: JK Rowling, DW Buffa (he writes the best legal thrillers), Keith Ablow (psychological drama/horror), Jean Plaidy (historical fiction).