First, I won't actually put up a poll, but you can vote yes/no in the comments.
My answer to the question is "YES". I do find fantasy books more re-readable than other genres, but I don't know why. One of the reasons I thought I would post this question was to find out if others had the same opinion, and if you do agree, maybe you have a better reason than I can come up with. I won't post a big thought piece on this. I hope some of you will comment with some thoughts, and the 'real' post will actually be the dialogue in the comments. So vote in the comments and get some discussion going :)
I think the big reason I find fantasy more re-readable is the setting. I can read a fantasy book multiple times and learn new things about the world, the history, etc. In mystery or espionage, because they take place in the real world (usually), I don't really pick up new things on a re-read. In all genres, the mystery of the ending of the story is gone. So if you are going to re-read a book, it must be to spend time with the characters or the world. I guess you can re-read other genres to spend time with the characters again, but not so much with the world.
The thing I can't explain is: why does knowing the end of a fantasy story not ruin the re-read, but knowing the ending of the mystery or spy book does ruin a re-read for me. The only real reason I can come up with is that when immersing yourself in a secondary (non-real) world, you can always learn new things, and it makes you want to read a good fantasy book again, and again. Maybe its also the fun of getting lost in a epic story?
Sorry I rambled a bit here, but as I said, I have a hard time explaining why i love to re-read fantasy stories, but not other genres. I'm hoping some of you (if you agree with me) will be better at explaining the reasons. And of course, if you disagree, tell me what I am missing by not reading my other books multiple times.
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7 comments:
most definitely and I think fantasy movies done right are more re-watchable.
Ruby: interesting, i hadnt thought about movies. If we include movies, I might have to say comedies are even more re-watchable, at least to me. I can watch Dumb and Dumber, Say Anything, or Planes, Trains and Automobiles 1 million times i think.
I definitely agree that fantasies are more rereadable; I only keep books I plan to reread, and most of my library is fantasy. A complex, well-realized setting does contribute to whether or not I want to reread any given book, but the characters are the biggest factor from where I stand. I'm not saying that fantasy is the only genre with a strong emphasis on character, but I rarely discover non-fantasy authors whose characterization really works for me. For example, most of the mysteries I read emphasize plot over character, and most of the general fiction I come across looks more at beautiful language and/or psychological themes. I enjoy all those things, but they're not going to drive me to reread a book.
Neither agree not disagree - for me the books I read many times (say 5+ though I have books I read 15 times or more like Use of Weapons, Dumas, Waltari) are my all time favorites; they include historical fiction, sf, even more literary stuff like Iain Pears Dream of Scipio (7 reads and counting)
Since I truly do not have a fantasy novel in my top 50 books - my top fantasy Scar by C, Mieville would be in my high 2 digits or low 3 digits in terms of favorites - though I own and read quite a few such and read some 3 times at least - I would not say fantasy is more re-readable but not less either.
It all comes to your favorite novels regardless of genre, so you love fantasy do not wonder you find it more re-readable
Actually I would put Jacqueline Carey Kushiel series as my top fantasy for now, but I read/re-read it within the past year and I think that at least 5 years after first read need to pass to have judgments about favorites and how they stack
I think what makes fantasy a little more re-readable then others types is the setting. I mean mystery and typical fiction is about regular people and such. Where most fantasy is made up lands/creatures/religions/and such. The fact that you have to learn a whole new place makes it a unique experience every time you read it.
Also a major factor is purely the fact that you like fantasy better then say mystery adventures :)
Not really, not for me anyways, since I value prose and characterizations much more than I do settings. I'm much more like to re-read a Hemingway novel than I am to re-read a George R.R. Martin novel, for example. All comes down to how the prose moves me.
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