If you like reading, you’ll like this too

If you like reading, there are likely other things you’ll like that have to do with reading. For instance, there are a couple of podcasts about books that I keep up with, or specific music I enjoy listening to while reading. Or specific movies or series that feature reading and literature. In this post, I will highlight some of these things that I like, and hopefully you will enjoy some of these as well.

Podcasts

Besides listening to audiobooks, I also enjoy some book podcasts. In particular, there are three that I frequently catch up with and that I will highlight here.

The first podcast I started listening to, is Bookmark’d by Sara and Destiny, and although they have paused on new episodes for now, they have a bunch out already that you can listen to. Their content is not exclusively about books, but also includes pop culture, movies, series, etc. Listening to their episodes feels like catching up with friends, which is perfect to take a break from your day, or to put a bookmark in your week, as they so beautifully described it when explaining their title.

I came upon I’ll Read What She’s Reading, because Sara actually featured on their podcast for one episode, and I was hooked since then. Their content features more in depth discussions of books, recommendations, and some author interviews, which I always find interesting.

Finally, I recently discovered Kris and Mads, which is a podcast by two sisters who talk about, you guessed it, books. Their content is diverse, spanning from recommendations, what they read, analyses, etc. Their energy is really contagious and I am always extra motivated to read after listen to one of their episodes.

Music

Some people prefer reading without distractions, but I sometimes find certain types of music can heighten the reading experience. Depending on the genre, music can make scenes more thrilling, calming, joyous or intimate. While I go between different types of music or playlists, there are a few artists that I particularly enjoy listening to paired with a good book.

Noah Kahan is the first one I think of to play when I want to read, because his music is the perfect balance between calming and emotional, which I find encapsulates the reading experience. Some of his songs are a bit more excitable than others, but over all I can play his music in the background without getting too distracted.

Similarly, Cigarettes After Sex does not have similar music to Kahan, but the effect it has on me is comparable. Their music calms me and does not distract from what is happening in the book, but carries an emotional layer that pairs well with heartfelt stories.

Yehezkel Raz is a composer and pianist, who has created such beautiful, but soft melodies that have the power to carry you away completely. For books that are more complex, or when reading in a more busy environment, his music is perfect as it is solely instrumental and very tranquil. My personal favourite is ballerina.

Finally, I want to recommend Novo Amor and Bon Iver. You can sense a theme in the music I pair with reading, but although they have lyrics in their music, I find it again does not disturb the reading experience. Their music is both really calming and very atmospheric, often transporting me to imaginary worlds.

Movies or series

An obvious choice for a series is Gilmore Girls, as one of the two main characters, Rory Gilmore, is very interested in literature and is studying to become a journalist. While I know some readers like to play this in the background as an atmospheric setting, for me that makes it too hard to focus on my book. But, seeing others read makes us want to read more, and for that it is a great show.

The Dead Poets Society. This is a movie, starring Robin Williams who plays an enthusiastic English professor at an elitist boys high school. In very unusual ways, he wants to convey his enthusiasm and passion for poetry to these boys, so they start a society called, you guessed it, The Dead Poets Society. This movie heavily centers around literature, and was such a success that this is one of the few cases where a book was written about a movie in stead of the other way around.

If you have any recommendations for one of these categories, or something else you think readers might enjoy, leave a comment down below with your tip!