So I just got into reading The Hunger Games this past wednesday (great book btw) and today, I was listening to some songs while I was reading, and I don't know why but Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold came on and it just seemed to fit the part of the book I was at perfectly.

Anyone else have times where you were able to sort of match a song to a book you were reading?

Yea.

Taking Back My Soul - Arch Enemy seemed perfect for the "Darren Shan" series..

Edit:

As for another A7X song; Afterlife - Avenged Sevenfold sounded like it was made for "A Scanner Darkly".

Muse - Resistance -> 1984

But that one's obvious. And the song is meh.

I dunno, I never really listen to music when I read books. Webcomics on the other hand, totally. In-fact I'll usually end up finding one song in particular and literally listen to it over and over and over while I read through archives. Afterward I always seem to associate the song with the comic.

Of course usually the song has nothing at all to do with the comic. I'm not that deep.

Edit: Oh there was that one time I read Dracula and got such a strong urge to play http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NflkcoxJk at one point that I just HAD to. But that's about it.

Whenever I'm reading a fantasy novel, "Death and Healing" by WIntersun fits well.

Nope, I rarely listen to anything when reading.

All the time. It works for games and movies, too. Coldplay's Viva La Vida (yeah, I know, but what can I say--I like the song) always reminds me of the backstory for the Tribunal in MW. And you're never going to convince me Thea Gilmore's http://lyrics.wikia.com/Thea_Gilmore:This_Town isn't secretly about Silent Hill 2.

Nope, but I do remember one book I read had an introduction which listed the music the author was listening to when they wrote the book (I think it was Joanne Harris, but I don't remember exactly), saying that it would be a good accompaniment to reading it. I thought that was a nice touch.

I can't actually concentrate on both music and words of the book at the same time; it's only when Im going one that I am reminded of the other..

I listened to Elder Scrolls music while reading the Infernal City, but I don't know if that counts. :tongue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpt7RJUGpdE

You listen to music while reading? Wow. How can you possibly immerse yourself in a book when you have music blasting in your ears (especially Avenged Sevenfold. I mean come on)?

If the music fits with what you're reading you don't even notice it in the background, but the reading experience improves.

I remember about 10 years ago when I had bought the Still Life album from Opeth and I listened to it while reading The Belgariad from Dave Eddings, I read the book (eventually the whole series of them) for about 5 hours and didn't even notice that I had pushed play again every time the record ended. The music just integrated with the story and even today some parts of that record remind of those books an certain events in them.

I agree...when reading I simplyenjoy the read, which probably wouldn't happen if I was hearing Bat Country (great song though).

I only listen to ambient music when I read, so I don't feel the urge to really listen to it and I can pay attention to my reading.

Brother's In Arms by Dire Straits for the Book "Armor" by John Stakely(both are friggin excellent.)

I always have to have some sort of background noise, otherwise I get nervous - even if I just put on the TV (I know it's a bit weird). I never really pay attention to it though. It used to drive my Mum mad when I lived with her because she loved silence My sister's the same - she was glad when we moved out; peace and quiet at last!

same with me...can't stand silence...

I need music to drown out ambient noise otherwise I get distracted or frustrated when I'm reading. Obviously nothing too lyric-y (i.e. folk or rap) but, though I can't stand Avenged Sevenfold, I don't see how loud music like metal should be a problem... I often listen to Electric Wizard when I'm reading, actually...

i used to listen to music to drown out the sounds of apartment life, as well as helicopters...

I read to read. I immerse myself in the story with every word I read further. The sounds of the subway car disappear as Shahrazad's words take me into the mystical past. I hear her speak of demons and kings with each passing night, I hear the demons and kings themselves, and I hear their stories and the stories told by people in their stories. It's like Inception, except I can't hear the music that's just been put on.

My point is: I don't really read and listen to music at the same time. Not even when I'm reading really old, translated text. Not even when I'm reading exceedingly popular, mainstream novels. Not even when I'm reading anything in between. I can do one or the other, but if I try to do both, neither would be enjoyed as much as it could be.

Yes, I've been reading Thousand and One Nights. Shut up.

Not books. My focus is usually just figuring which cake songs I can reference for certain threads.

I can think of two for this thread.

Old studying technique I used to use:

If I could remember the last song that I listened to then I wasn't concentrating hard enough on my work :laugh:

Not exactly the same as reading, but a known phenomenon is watching "The Wizard of Oz", and listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in sync. You hit play on the music when the MGM lion roars. Very Eerie. It's almost as if they wrote a score to the film, as the songs change when the scenes change....etc.; and the words seem to go with what's happening in the flick.