Listening to music while reading?

[Tomas]

Are you listening to music while reading? Do you see any pros or cons? Do you prefer different styles for different books - fantasy, sci-fi, horror, crime etc.? Share your opinions, please.

[Osman]

If you like listening to music while you read, I think the type of book doesn't really matter. I don't usually do it myself, but I can't say I've never done it. Whenever there is a disturbance around me, it kind of helps me concentrate on the book. But at other times the music is distracting itself and I get stuck on a single page, my mind wondering in different lands than the books dictate. I guess it's more of your mood that makes you decide whether to do it or not.

[Tomas]

Osman wrote: "If you like listening to music while you read, I think the type of book doesn't really matter. I don't usually do it myself, but I can't say I've never done it. Whenever there is a disturbance arou..."

Thanks for sharing your point of view. I personally never tried listening to music while reading. I also think that it would simply distract me to much but I saw people doing it especially while commuting so I wanted to ask others here for their opinion and experience.

[Paola]

I agree with Osman, I dont really listen to music while i read... too distracting and i feel like everytime i try i just get stuck on one idea or the words of the book get jumbled with the lyrics of the song.

[Christopher]

for whatever reason, I ended up with Caribou - Our Love on repeat while reading this book for an entire afternoon, and now the two are forever linked in my head, and it is AWESOME :)

[Lukas]

Mhm, usually i don't really listen to music while i read but when i do i try to either listen to something in a language i don't know well or even at all or alternatively music without singing, I just get distracted too easily otherwise.
Electronic music can work pretty nicely.

[Dante]

Two Steps From Hell...

Search them, thank me later.

Cassandra, United we stand divided we fall, Heart of courage, Undying love, Friendship to last, Protectors of the earth and Clair voyance are some of the best ones.

[Tomas]

I LOVE TSFH! I also get distracted too easily and with TSFH I tend to just listen and enjoy the music. I think I would'nt read anything listening to their masterpieces.

[Madalina]

When reading, I prefer to not listen to music, especially lyrical or bombastic instrumental music. I have a list of calm classical music which I visit all the time :> and use it less for reading and more for writing.

[Tomas]

Maddalina wrote: "When reading, I prefer to not listen to music, especially lyrical or bombastic instrumental music. I have a list of calm classical music which I visit all the time :> and use it less for reading an..."

Thanks for sharing!

[Justin]

iron maiden somewhere in time is a great album to listen to while reading epic fantasy. well,any iron maiden really.

[Aaron]

I either read or listen to music. If you're using music as background noise you aren't really listening to the music and you're doing the music a disservice. Also if you are really listening to the music you are also doing the book a disservice.

Also, yes I'm not fun to listen to music with. I want to hear it all, in completion without interruption. No "best of's", no loops, no shuffle.

[Minnu]

I don't listen to music while reading, either. I did try it once, then ended up singing along, instead of actually reading. But I think its possible to read, while music is being played somewhere in the vicinity, if you don't actually know the song and its not a catchy tune!

[Justin]

Blind Guardian = Epic Fantasy

[Justin]

Justin wrote: "Blind Guardian = Epic Fantasy"

Hell yeah.and Iron Maiden. And savatage and helloween and manowar. All great for epic fantasy.

[Justin]

Rhiannon wrote: "I just happened to find this post while listening to Led Zeppelin, which I think would be good to listen to while reading fantasy like The Way of Kings. I usually listen to songs I've already inter..."
Yeah, totally agree,led Zeppelin is great for fantasy . Songs like the battle of evermore or no quarter or the rain song or planet caravan.

[Daniel]

Russian Circles is great for reading fantasy, in my opinion. I find instrumental music preferable as a soundtrack for reading. Russian Circles is great, in that respect. Also, they just released a new album today!

[Marion]

Let's say your'e reading and the last chapter ended with something pretty telling such as: "The battle had begun". Then you might play music that would invoke the feelings or mood of a bloody, violent, suspenseful chase or battle.

Something fleeting or inspiring if it's training or if they're traveling something awesome and swelling. The type of music entertainment that may be at a type of festival or something when there is one. Anything wistful or entrancing when something sneaky or mysterious is happening.

There are positives and negatives to music while reading. You could create your own playlist but there are so many specifics.
Changing the music would mean pulling yourself away from what you're reading, too, and I hate that so so so much no matter how brief it is.

I would create themed playlists with multiple tracks on them and hope that it may work out. Changing which playlist should be played based on what's happening, though, may be time consuming and break one's rhythm of reading. Sooooo...I vote fantasy music organized into themes that you're in control of while reading or no music whatsoever.

[Clara]

Actually, I found a background music website back when I was reading The Way of Kings. Interestingly, they have a 'Highstorm on Roshar' themed one. You can also change certain parameters such as the volume of the wind/rocks/rain.

Here's the link:
https://movies-other.ambient-mixer.co...

[Iri]

Dante wrote: "Two Steps From Hell...

Search them, thank me later.

Cassandra, United we stand divided we fall, Heart of courage, Undying love, Friendship to last, Protectors of the earth and Clair voyance are ..."

Thomas´ album Illusions worked really well for me. You know, Merchant Prince, Immortal, Soulseeker... These songs are like anthems of Dalinar and Kaladin... Oh deer, I need to listen to this songs soon or I´m going to be mad. So addictive, same like Brandon´s stories.

[Percy]

I listen to white noise or background noise while reading. It helps me focus a lot. There are a lot of background noise tracks available on Spotify. I sometimes listen to coffee shop background noise. My favorite though is the background noise inside an airplane cabin.

[James]

I need quiet when I read, I hope its not just me? My wife listens to music or 'watches' the TV while she reads. She's also written books and has the TV on while she writes. I need to be away from distractions or my reading speed drops drastically.

[Piotr]

I listen to music while reading books. It helps me to focus.
Just type "reading music" on youtube and you will get the idea what I am talking about :)

[Rirasu]

I like listening to music while reading. My most favorite songs usually fit a moment in the books I have read so far. When I was reading The stormlight archives I listened to 2am Matoma remix and the lyrics fit so well with Kaladin breathing in stormlight in that epic moment he was running towards the parshendi- "Cold running through my body, nothing ever felt so right". Or while reading Prey by Michael Chrighton I was listening to Chaotika by Bullet of reason. Listening to songs while reading is something I won't cease doing. After I am done with the books I am often left with the songs that remind me of the beautiful memories I gained by reading.

[Nora]

Hell naw.... Believe me, I wish that I could—I wish that I could be able to whip out my book whenever I hear a crappy, fast-paced pop song. But of course I cannot.