Challenge: 50 Books discussion

i don't mind a little background noise. in fact, i think i concentrate better when there's something that i need to tune out. however, when i'm on public transportation, i put my iPod earphones in, and don't turn on my iPod. it gives me a little more quiet than i would have otherwise (BTW, it's not the train noise that i'm blocking, it's the people. people are way too loud especially when they're on their cell phones.)

Noise is fine with me. When I watch a TV show I read when the commercials are on, and when my family are talking. Noise helps me concentrate but I like it better without.

I can read anywhere anytime. I bring a book with me everywhere I go and will always read whenever I find the opportunity to just even get a few pages in. I can read with music or TV in the background. I even like reading with Jazz or easy listening music in the background at Starbucks. However, i can't concentrate if it's people's conversation near me, especially if it's really loud and they're laughing real loud.

However, I do find that if I'm reading in silence, I can concentrate more. But it's difficult to find the time to actually read in silence these days. If I have to read in silence all the time, I won't get much reading done :)

I really prefer to read in silence. It's luxurious.

Rose

No, I actually prefer to have some background noise, such as the radio or tv, while reading. I can usually read in rather noisy situations also. About the only time I need quiet while reading is when I'm reading something very dry and boring, like most of my college textbooks were!

In my youth, NOTHING phased me. People would have to either scream my name or touch me to get me out of a book. As I got older, I've had a lot of trouble focusing. I can no longer listen to music while reading, and I can't ignore a single conversation or someone trying to talk directly to me (unless they try to interrupt when I've already been reading for quite a while). Also, I now have a problem where I tend to fall asleep a lot while reading...but it's usually short and then I wake up and just keep going, lol.

I definitely prefer absolute quiet. I am so easily distracted by the noise.

I prefer ambient noise. My favorite place to read is on my rooftop patio, with the sound of traffic and wind and insects and birds in the background.

I prefer to have quiet, but I have found that I can block out noise if the book I'm reading is one that can keep my attention!

Background noise doesn't bother me too much and I can read with the tv on but it's impossible when there are other people in the room because generally a conversation is always thrust upon me when I have my nose buried in my book!

Tim wrote: "Just as the question says; Do you need quiet in order to read your books?

A lot of the reading that I do is either during my ride to and from work, or on my lunch hour in some noisy cafe somewhe..."

I am ADD also and find that I concentrate better in a area such as a noisy cafe. I also do well @ the gym walking on a treadmill. If there are just one or two ppl around I have a hard time ignoring them also. I need white noise in the background.

I read in different places as well, but quiet and noisy. But when I want to extended periods of reading for finishing a book, I prefer a quiet place—bed, reading chair.

depends on the book. if it's a tough read - not a real page turner, then i need quiet to focus. however, i learned from my grandmother to be able to read with the t.v on and family around. that woman could multi-task! i do prefer to read in bed, though, so it's usually quiet.

I envy people who can read in bed - I usually fall asleep.

Paula wrote: "I envy people who can read in bed - I usually fall asleep."
I envy ppl that can fall asleep! I have battled insomnia my entire life!

I need quiet for the most part. Some background music isn't bad, but if I like the music then I am less focused. Same deal for TV.

I'm one of those who always has a book with me (or now that I have my kindle, hundreds of books with me) so I've gotten very good at tuning things out while reading. However, if necessary, I am able to read a book, watch a movie and carry on a conversation all at the same time.

You can thank my parents for that. They got tired of me not being a "part of the family" so insisted I start talking to them and enjoying the programs they enjoyed. I just figured out a way to make everyone happy! (Besides the fact that the first time I did it it completely freaked them out).

Noise is no bother to me, and quiet is no bother to me (unless I'm reading a really scary book, then I prefer to have the TV on to keep my imagination from telling me there's someone else walking around in the house!)

I depends on what type of noise it is. If i'm sat at home and my friends are watching TV or talking, I can't concentrate on what i'm reading. But if i'm on the train or in a cafe i'm fine.

Paul wrote: "I depends on what type of noise it is. If i'm sat at home and my friends are watching TV or talking, I can't concentrate on what i'm reading. But if i'm on the train or in a cafe i'm fine."

Julia wrote: "I don't really need it. But, if it's really loud, I would read somewhere else. Just this afternoon, I was reading and my Mom and Dad were talking about a topic concerning history, I was ok with it...."

ambience is everything,when it comes to reading..ambience includes the right beverage/coffee,the right place../on my back deck/the right music/cool jazz..and solitude..no cell phonesno pets..just me and my Nook!..lol

Not necessary but it is preferable. I like to read outside the most with a dog or two close by.

It really depends on the book. For the most part I don't need quiet, as I am usually listening to my iPod while I am reading. But for some books, I need it to be as quiet as possible. It also depends on where I am reading, as usually my iPod is just there to block out any sort of background noise.

LilSteps wrote: "I'm one of those who always has a book with me (or now that I have my kindle, hundreds of books with me) so I've gotten very good at tuning things out while reading. However, if necessary, I am abl..."

That's scary because, I find because of a young family and not desiring to permanently isolate myself from them, I will have to learn to do that too. LOL

I'm rarely without a book. Starting a book in a crowd isn't exactly ideal....worse is that one person eating nachos ..far to many distractions to hear the language and fall into that other world. But, if it's a magazine or newspaper, no problem.

I can tune things out to a certain degree, but I prefer quiet and some things are just too distracting to be tuned out. For example, I have a neighbor who likes to sit in her backyard and read. I could never do that because I am a bird watcher and a watcher of nature in general. Whenever I am outside, I am always attuned to and watching all that is going on around me, so I can't concentrate on a book. On the other hand, when I know I'm going to have to wait - in a doctor's office, for example - I always have a book with me and I can easily tune out the other people around me. At home, when I'm reading, I often have music playing in the background and that is my preferred way of reading.

I keep a book in my bag at all times & I read it only when I have nothing else to do. So I finish off books reading while waiting at my bus stop, or while commuting to & fro from work. So I'm pretty used to zoning out the noise.

Infact, I can concentrate better if there's a lot of noise around. I sort of get restless in quiet. And I would do something else when I am all alone than read. Usually I have music playing on my notebook or on my phone at all times, so music doesn't bother me at all.

However I need quiet in order to write..

I don't really need any special environment. If the book really engages me everything else falls away but the world of the book. Books have always been a way for me to escape in a noisy room. I used to walk home from elementary school reading a book. I would take my nose out of it to cross the street, however, but only then.

I like to read when it is quiet, but if it isn't and I am in the climax of the book it really doesn't matter because I am so "into it" I could care less what is going on around me. I don't watch a lot of television anyway, but I love music and when I am reading and it is noisy I will put in the IPOD on classical music and tune out the "real world".

So I can listen to audiobooks while driving and even at work with doing mindless things like filing but when I am sitting down to read a book at home I prefer quiet or music. But if I am in a crowded restaurant I can read fine.

I guess it is a mental thing.

I don't need it quiet or anything. I often read in front of the TV and with music. I also travel alot so I read in airports which aren't known for their peace and quiet.