I only pick up the sequel right away if I was very impressed by the first book and I’m curious about what happens next. Like I read and adored Children of Time but I was satisfied by the end. I may continue at some point because I liked the first one so much, but have no plans to do so currently. But the Broken Earth trilogy I ripped through in about three days because I found it so compelling.

I’m basic but I think probably The Odyssey. I had an illustrated kids version of it as a bean.

Oh man I didn’t even think about HOME. I’ve been reading that my whole life in a very disordered way, so I may have read it all by now, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if I’ve missed some bits, too lol

Cryptonomicon. I’ve been reading it since March. I honestly don’t know why it’s taking me so long. I love it while I’m reading it, but am never compelled to pick it up once I’ve put it down.

I’ve also been reading Liberation Day, Hercule Poirot: the Complete Short Stories, and The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe for a while, but they’re anthologies so I picked them up with the expectation I’d read a story or two and then wait a while to read another.

This doesn’t quite fit your example because I don’t dislike it, but I had to read Wuthering Heights three times along with watching various adaptations in a very short period (read it in English & Creative Writing one year and then again in English the next year after I moved) and just… haven’t felt the urge to pick it up again. I feel like if I’d just read it once, I probably would have reread it on my own a bunch and would call it a favorite, which is what happened with Anna Karenina.