Not including short story collections, poetry collections, anthologies, etc.
For me, I believe it’s Oroonoko by Aphra Behn because it was on the syllabus for three different classes that I took in college. Other than that, the most I’ve read a single book is twice, and that was Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. I’ve read Dracula 1.5 times. Didn’t finish it the second time around.
Toss-up between The Age of Innocence, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Pride and Prejudice. Aka: classics.
Wharton is the best. Weird movie though.
I saw the movie in the theater when it came out. I was 16 and Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, and Daniel Day Lewis were huge at the time. Teenage me loved the sets and costumes but I found the story boring and the subtlety went over my head. I rediscovered the book in my late 20s and fell in love.
I’m thinking I should try a tree grows in Brooklyn again. It was a DNF for me. Spent over a year picking up and then putting back down. Made it through maybe 70%. Gave myself permission to abandon, but you are making me think I should try again?
The last 30% are much the same structure-wise as the first 70% and there isn’t a big third act climax imo. It just finishes telling this family’s story and nicely wraps up loose ends. I kind of wish she came back to it like Little Women/Young Wives style so we could keep following them.
Thank you. It’s been about a decade since I read it, so maybe one day I may try it again. You have helped me in that if it’s the same the last 30%, I may not. For a book that was so boring to me, I remember everything I read.
I LOVED A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It was my reading groups book and without it I would have probably never even heard of it. Love it so much I’ve lent it to a few people and excited to reread it in a few years 🫶
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is such an amazing book! I’ve also reread it many times and this reminds me I’d like to do it again soon 🥰
I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Loved the film too. Read the book twice seen the film 3 times.