I read The Hobbit for the nth time a few weeks ago. Probably it's my most read book.

I would be curious to know what other readers regard as the most durable book in their collection.

Please tell........

For me it's any of the books from the Hitchhiker's Guide series (with the exception of Mostly Harmless, blech!).

It's a tie. I would also say the Hobbit/fellowship series, or Watership Down. I can read them over and over...

Jane Eyre and *blushing* The Secret Garden or A Little Princess. The latter 2 I've pretty much read every single year since elementary school (I'm in my 20s). I don't know but there's something about those children's books that touches me...

My most durable book is The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas...a classic that has stood the test of time. I highly recommend everybody to check this book out.

THE NOTEBOOK by Sparks.


I'm kidding...


Seriously, for me it is the first three of the Hitchhiker's series, and... are you ready?

"Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH."

I'm not kidding.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. I think I've read it about six or seven times, and love it every time. (You don't have to be a Sci-Fi lover to enjoy this one...)

I'd have to say the Harry Potter books (please don't kill me heh) I genuinely like them and constantly reread them when I want a quick fantasy fix that sparks my imagination. Not to mention the copies I have, the original hardcovers when they came out, so far survived 50+ (I kid you not) individual readings by both myself and many of my friends. So yes, they are good yet durable too.

I'd have to say the others are the Dark Is Rising series. That's one string of stories from my childhood that still captivates me.

Forgot to mention the Tomb by F. Paul Wilson -- yet another book semi-permanently glued to my person.

i reread the harry potter books all the time, and the dark tower, ones too

Anything by Harlan Ellison.

No sh*t, really? I read everything he wrote when I was in high school, and in boxes in my parent's basement are still over 20 of his books. The man is a genius writer, for sure. A tyrannincal, pain-in-the-ass, angry, psychotic genius, but a genius nonetheless.

Some of his stories just have a power and energy that is unfathomable. Some of his essays, too...

Got to love Ender's Game. I can read that book three times in a row and still not get tired of it.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman One of my all time favs. Read it 4 or 5 times now!

On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Raw, stream-of-conciousness free verse.

Dune by Herbert

Yeah, Harry Potter gets votes from me as well. Great books actually (off topic, can't wait for the movie). As far as other durable reads, I'd have to say some of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.

Todd

I'd have to say Le Petit Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery...the lifes lessons are so enduring, it even holds up well after the translation.

Adult is Gateway by Pohl.
Children is Rats of Nimh & Charlotte's Web.

I just started "The Essential Harlan Ellison: A 50 Year Retrospective." It just came out this year, it's like 1250 pages, and it has ALL of his best stuff. The paperback is also a bargain: $25 MSRP ($17-$20 online) for an epic 3-4 times as long as an average book. I'll probably be reading it in small doses (while pursuing other books) for the next 6 months. Great stuff!

However, the 2 books I've reread the most are "The Great Gatsby" and "All the King's Men."

I have read The Fountainhead and First Light at least 10 times each. Great books and get better each time I read them.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.

I loved it before I could read for myself and Mom read to us every night. I bought my own copy when I was in my mid-twenties. It still makes me smile.

I've liked it for more than 90% of my life. Now that's durability

I just re-read that last week for probably the 5th time too. Great author.

I find I'm re-reading a lot of books. I'm in the middle of Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle for about the third time now.

I also have read Stephen King's It and The Stand numerous times.

I used to read The Stand once a year, but I haven't had the time since '99.

-Steve

yea, whenever i pick this one up i can't stop reading. same with "The Reawakening", another, albeit very different, "road" book.

-skprd

Dark Tower series for real books, but in the graphic novel genre, I keep coming back to the Elfquest series. Absolutely amazing fantasy read.