I often find myself reading something on the bus or subway, but then not understand anything I read. This seems to be because of the constant noises. Not even instrumental music helps, as that distracts me as well and also does not always match the theme of the book.
The best working one in noisy places seems to be white noise, with complete silence being the best overall. How do yall handle such situations?
Uh, really depends on the type of book, what kind of noise it is, and how concentrated I am. I don’t think I can do it early in the morning or after a long day. I have some amount of tolerance when my brain is still well off. But there’s certainly a limit. And it’s different on each train. The people who commute to and from work are often considerate. But once I’m directly in between a group of people who talk to each other, I put away my book and switch to music, or doom-scrolling on my phone. But I’ve read quite some things at various places and on the train. So it can’t be too hard for me.
I actually need some kind of unobtrusive noise. I usually pick some ambient scene off YouTube that has a fireplace and rain or rain with thunder.
How else would I hear the narrator in my head?
Been reading Dan Simmons Drood. There are two characters who I can hear. They sound like the boss guard in Alien 3, also the sergeant from Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment. No idea which English accent that is, can’t even imitate it IRL, but I can hear it.
Any suggestions on best Pratchett novel to start with?
Just start with the first. It’s not the best, but it’s not bad. I went in order and that worked great.
Same I can’t belive there’s people who don’t hear thoughts like that. I couldn’t see myself reading nearly as much as I do if I couldn’t “hear” it when I’m reading
i feel like i’m the opposite, if i’m still “hearing” the words after a few paragraphs then something is wrong, it’s more like a movie, the words aren’t even there
It might be auditory processing disorder. The second more than one person is talking (and books count) I begin to crave death.
For me in a way, yes. When I used to read books on a regular basis, I found it more easier to digest if I had nobody or nothing around to make noise. I can deal with small noises like random cracks or a pop here and there. Long as it wasn’t amplified or anything. When I listen to things such as music or take in sound in general, my mind goes everywhere and it can’t focus on the pages of a book.
I always hated it when people try talking to me when louder noise is present and expect me to hear them perfectly. My mind is not focusing on your words, it’s focusing on that obnoxious noise that’s disrupting things.
Honestly, no. I actually prefer a bit of background noise.
I have tinnitus that makes concentrating on anything in complete silence absolutely aggravating. The tiniest bit of background noise makes it so I don’t notice it anymore, so I generally have an instrumental playing when I need to focus on something like homework or reading.
LOL, I kinda like the tinnitus. Mine is either on the low end, or it just doesn’t bother my brain.
Sometimes I’m reading in bed, twist my ear into the pillow just right, “eeeeeeee”. I pause and think, “Neat! There it go!”, and start reading again. Like I have a volume knob in my head to squelch it.
Y’all talking about tinnitus got me thinking. Is that why I’m uncomfortable without the white noise of my little computer rack or bedroom fan? Or is 25-years of IT work telling me, “silence BAD!” Honestly don’t know.
I don’t really need silence to read, but I much prefer it.
Getting really good noise cancelling headphones was one of my best qol improvement in the last years. I often wear them without even listing to anything.
I can read with noise, but I’m not absorbing anything I’m reading if that makes sense. I have to concentrate harder to mentally block the noise.
Not at all.
I grew up in a big family, in a busy household. My kids laugh at me because when reading (and it really is only when I am reading) I tune out everything. They would be yelling “mom! MOM!” and I wouldn’t notice.
I have an album associated with nearly every book I have read. Music is a must while reading.
I don’t need silence, I usually read to instrumental music. But if you throw in any lyrics or speak while I’m reading I’ll look at you angrily get up and move.
Nope, my hearing is waaaaay too selective. I can get engrossed in a book even in loud environments.
I don’t need it, strictly speaking, but I definitely prefer it. White noise is okay if I need to drown other sound out.
No, but I will ignore people who are trying to talk to me if I’m reading. It’s involuntary and tends to annoy people.
