Books Pulps

Reread or not?

'Land of Always-Night'Looking for a distraction while taking my car in for servicing, I grabbed a well-worn copy of “Land of Always-Night,” number 13 of Bantam’s Doc Savage paperback reprints.

By the end of the third short chapter, I had to put it down. I just couldn’t continue.

It wasn’t because the story wasn’t good. It was because I’d read the book sometime in the 1980s or ’90s, and remembered what was going to happen just before I read it.

That’s why I rarely reread fiction books. The stories stick in my mind long after I’ve read a book.

I can read quickly. I had speed-reading training during junior high, and use it frequently when I’m doing research for work or the pulps.

But when I’m reading for pleasure, I’m a slower reader. About a minute per page. The story plays out in my mind’s eye, almost as a film. Maybe that’s why it seems to stick.

My wife, on the other hand, reads quickly for work or pleasure. Our youngest daughter is also a fairly quick reader, falling somewhere between my wife and me in terms of speed.

We’ve talked about what goes on in our minds when we read. Our daughter visualizes the story as I do; my wife says she doesn’t — it’s just a series of words to her.

Despite the different way they read, they both often reread books for pleasure.

I do sometimes reread books, but usually because I have to. I reread a number of the early Doc Savage stories about 10 years ago for a project I was working on. But more often, instead of rereading a book, I’d rather pick up a new book. (There’s certainly a bountiful supply of pulp reprints to choose from these days.)

I’m curious if other pulp fans revisit the stories and books they have already read. What’s your story?

4 Comments

  • Bill, I often re-read my books. I catch things on the second readings that I didn’t catch the first time through. I can read a paperback in an evening. Maybe I’m just reading them more quickly and not picking up the details. JMTC. – Ben

  • Funny you should bring this up with “Land of Always-Night,” since that’s one Doc novel I definitely feel like I could re-read, although I rarely read any novel more than once. There’s just too much out there I haven’t read yet!

    • That was my thought when I picked up the book, too. It’s a fun adventure.

      To paraphrase a common saying: “Too many pulp stories, too little time!”

  • Same with me. I only reread a story if it’s for research. Lord knows, I have more books now that I may never read in my lifetime, so there’s no need to reread one.

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