A new survey from the UK has produced findings that suggest the Harry Potter novels by author J. K. Rowling are the most re-read series among readers in the UK. The BBC reports that the survey, conducted by Costa, found 77% off readers re-read books as well as placed the Potter novels above such titles as J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” as their most re-visited reads. On the subject of the state of reading today, literary agent Simon Trewin is quoted in the article as saying:
“The public want instant gratification and there has never been a more important time to remind the reading public not to judge a book by its cover.”
The study also notes that nearly one ‘fifth of readers read their favourite book more than five times.’ The complete list of the most re-read books is as follows:
1. The Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
2. The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
4. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
5. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
6. 1984 – George Orwell
7. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
8. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – CS Lewis
It could top this list for the amount of times I alone have re-read the books (not to mention the audiobooks)! It’s nice to see “Wuthering Heights” here too, though I must say I’m surprised that “The Catcher in the Rye” is missing; one of my favourite re-reads.
I have a hard time imagining people would re-read Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code multiple times.
I’m not going to trash the book, I found it entertaining enough, but compared with the rest of these books in the top 10, it’s a lightweight “popcorn” book.
Artemisia- i quite agree. =D I am really glad HP got 1st but was anyone really surprised?? Do you think they will do this survey in the States?? If so I think it would top the list here too. Yay! I’m really glad Leaky put this on here… not terribly significant but a fun read! =D
I think if they did this study in the US they would get the same #1. I can’t even count the times I read and re-read (and listened to the audio books). As for the others on the list I have also re-read 3,5,&9 but not as many times as #1
I’ve reread the HP series a few (many) times. I always find something I’d missed before. For example, I read Deathly Hallows so fast the first time to find out what happened to Harry that I missed the “kiss” between Harry and Hermione.
The Harry Potter saga is a great re-read because of all the subtle clues and the continuing threads of information throught the whole saga.
Personally I would add To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Earth’s Children series (particualrly Clan of the Cave Bear and the Mammoth Hunters) by Jean Auel as great re-reads.
Why, oh why, would anyone re- read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe? It took me two hours and bored the h—- out of me.
Duh!