Comments on: Do you listen to music while reading?

By: gabrielle chastene

gabrielle chastene — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:10:55 +0000

Yes. I love listening to music while i read my novels. I made romantic playlist I listen to when I read novels. and Im playing it when my husband and I are having a candlelight dinner, it just puts you in a good mood quickly. But then again Im a music lover

By: ms bookjunkie

ms bookjunkie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:48:24 +0000

Heck, no. If I’m concentrating on the reading, I don’t hear the music. And if I’m listening to the music, I’m not concentrating on the reading.

I guess I’ve been lucky enough to live in places where I haven’t needed constant music to drown out the background. But then again, I never listened to music while doing my homework, like my friends did in school. I preferred the quiet so I could concentrate and be done with it.

By: Maili

Maili — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:27:26 +0000

There ought to be another option: Depends.

If it’s music already familiar – to the point of being white noise, yes I let it play while I read. If it’s not, I prefer silence.

By: Caz

Caz — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:21:59 +0000

I can’t do anything that requires concentration while I’m listening to music. Which might sound odd when I say that I’m a musician! But the thing is, if there’s music on, I’ll start LISTENING to that instead. Background music is fine for cooking or ironing or whatever, but not for something which requires close attention.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:21:46 +0000

While I read, no music. But while I write? It’s absolutely required.

By: Marianne McA

Marianne McA — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:17:33 +0000

If I’m reading when alone, I wouldn’t choose noise in the background, but if the family are there and have music or the TV on, I can tune it out: doesn’t bother me.
I’m not in any way musical – I remember a friend dragging me to one of the proms in London and being marginally appalled that I read through the whole thing.

By: Azure

Azure — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:15:15 +0000

Not using my ebook reader, because I drain the battery enough with reading! :D

But I have trouble reading when there’s absolutely no noise at all. Every little sound gets magnified, which takes me out of the book. So if there’s a steady stream of sound–whether from the stereo or the TV–it keeps me focused on the book. Strange though that may sound.

By: Caty

Caty — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:38:46 +0000

Sometimes, but not very often. And much less than I used to: I always had music on when I was studying.

I don’t mind music while I’m reading (I rarely put it on specially, but if someone else does then it’s fine), and I can usually cope with other people’s conversations, but I do struggle with having the TV on. If I’m reading and someone else comes in and turns the TV on, I often leave the room. (I can usually read with sport, but if it’s a soap or a drama then I’m gone.) I’m so antisocial.

By: Shan

Shan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:20:42 +0000

Sometimes, I do, but once I start getting distracted I have to turn the music off. I have a tendency to sing every song that I have ever heard if it comes on, so I definitely can’t do both at the same time unless I concentrate really hard:)

By: Edie

Edie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:55:39 +0000

I have to have music going at all times. At home it is generally the radio, out and about the iriver.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:22:36 +0000

I don’t generally listen to music when reading, but always do when writing. However, I will make the shameful admission that when I was an awkward teenager, I listened to the Smashing Pumpkins while reading Anne Rice. Oh the shame.

By: Castiron

Castiron — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:21:05 +0000

Depends on my mood. I don’t like to listen to English-language vocal music while I’m reading (too much competition along the brain circuits), but instrumental is fine.

By: Mireya

Mireya — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:03:21 +0000

All my life I’ve read with music playing in the background. During my college years, it was the T.V. tuned in to MTV (no joke). Even reading stuff for school or college, I needed something playing in the background. For my commutes I use an MP3 player. People talking around me is, actually, the worse type of distraction for me. If I have people babbling around me, I can’t read. That includes home, my commutes (my player is a lifesaver), and pretty much anywhere else.

By: LizC

LizC — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:56:09 +0000

Hmm. I think I actually clicked the wrong answer. In case I did my real answer is Yes. Not every time I read. Sometimes I also watch tv or a movie while I read. If I’m reading during lunch, on the beach, at the lake, etc I’m listening to my mp3 player (I’m not actually sure what I did before mp3 players. Portable cd player?). If I’m at home and the tv’s not on the radio is.

I think I very rarely read in complete silence. Probably due to years of living in college dorm rooms. I’d need something to block out the sound of my roommates, the people next door, etc so I’d pop in headphones and read.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:17:13 +0000

Many years ago when I was in my 20s I’d listen to music while reading. It didn’t distract me at all. Now I need almost complete silence to be able to get into a book. I love it when I’m home alone while I’m reading.

By: anny cook

anny cook — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:36:18 +0000

No music for reading OR writing. When I listen to music, usually it’s very quiet otherwise with no distractions. Can’t seem to manage more than one thing at a time!

By: CupK8

CupK8 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:30:47 +0000

I can’t, I get too easily distracted. My SO can have the TV running behind anything, but I can’t focus on the words.

By: Lexie C.

Lexie C. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:58:18 +0000

I do, but I only do it if someone is home or if I’m on the train/subway. Otherwise my family will see that I *only* have a book in my hand, so obviously I’m not busy enough and will then proceed to keep bugging me until I listen to them. I found if I have my iPod on as well, they assume I must be REALLY busy. they’re so weird!

By: Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:09:28 +0000

I never listen to music while I’m reading (except background music from the PS3) but sometimes I wish I could embed a song into a scene I’ve written if it really inspired me during the writing so the reader could hear it. So unfair that movies get to lead the viewer with that emotional “cheat” cue.

By: Lori S

Lori S — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:29:24 +0000

Like so many of the others, I don’t turn on the music, but with 2 teenage boys and a rock musician for a husband, there’s always rock music blaring… loudly… from somewhere + TV. I’ve learned to tune it all out, thank goodness. If I’m home alone? Dead silence. Ahhhhhhhhh…….