Top Ten Books I Loved But Will Never Re-Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

As a general rule, it is far, far more difficult for me to find books I won’t re-read than books I will. I’m a committed re-reader. There are books I’ve read upwards of a dozen times. Scouring through my Goodreads list, though, I’ve found some I don’t think I’ll be revisiting, even though I rated them highly.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle

I rated it highly, but…I am aware, in retrospect, of the heavily eugenics-based philosophy present in the story. I don’t think I could stomach it again.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

This was an interesting read, but I definitely feel like most of my interest was in the novelty of the setting. It’s difficult to recapture that feeling on a re-read.

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

I don’t, overall, love Game of Thrones in any sense. However, when I read the first two books, I loved them! I rated them very highly. I was approaching them in the most favorable possible light, and it showed in my original opinions of them – opinions which were soured considerably by the third book, which I rage-DNFed midway through, and my subsequent failed attempt to watch the TV show.

I tried, y’all. I tried really hard.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

I thoroughly enjoyed this one (and the rest of the series), but I don’t feel any pull toward re-reading them. I got what I wanted – a fun steampunk romp. I don’t think I’ve read much steampunk since, either.

Jane Slayre by Sherri Browning Erwin

I’ve re-read Jane Eyre a number of times, but the conceit behind Jane Slayre means it has a little less returning power. (There’s probably an undead joke in there somewhere.) The first time round, though, it was great!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I liked it! I just don’t need it again.

Reenu-You by Michele Tracy Berger

This had a great concept and good pacing, but I feel satisfied going through it once. It’s well worth a read, though.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

This is one of my favorite kids’ stories, but after reading Daniel Mallory Ortberg’s amazingly chilling version in The Merry Spinster, I don’t think I can ever read the original again!

Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

This one was great, but it definitely drew a lot of its power from the unkown. The knowing kind of ruins that effect.

Stray by Andrea K. Höst

I really, really loved this series! I’ve actually tried to re-read it once. I got all the way to the last half of the third book, where I could no longer deal with the very strange choices made by the admitted teenagers, and the strangeness of their ability to make those choices when adults existed in the world. But I loved these books!

What books did you love, but feel no need to go back to? Do you re-read books in general? I’d love to hear from you!