Enhance Your Read by Setting the Mood

Enhance Your Read by Setting the Mood

North and South by John Jakes
North and South

A few days ago I was ready a novel about a civil war at the local library. They have a large picture window with a window seat and I had snagged it just before the busy lunch hour traffic started arriving. While I was there the sky grew dark and the sky began to rumble with the typical afternoon thunderstorms that we experience here in south Florida. The funny thing was the more violent and suspenseful the battle in my book became, the darker the sky grew and the harder the rain fell. It was as if the mood of the day was exactly reflecting the mood of the book I was reading.

While having a thunderstorm at my beckon call every time I read a battle scene from this novel is not exactly viable (outside of May – November from 1pm – 3pm), there are things that we can do in order to help enhance our reading experiences.

Find a special spot

Special Reading Place
Special Reading Place

When reading Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden I typically will go to a local coffee shop downtown where I can see lots of people passing by and there is quite a bit of traffic. Why? Memoirs of a Geisha is set in Kyoto, Japan in the 1930’s and 40’s. Kyoto at that time was a very busy city full of hustle and bustle at all hours of the night.

When reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I would sit on my back porch because there I got the background soundtrack of local birds and insects. At times it sounds like I am sitting in a forest.

When reading Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, I would often go to the local bookstore and get lost in their stacks. It was as if I was sitting in the middle of the ancient library at Hogwarts reading about the students.

Eat a special snack

I always buy a 4-pack of Peroni when I go to read The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato. In the story the main character’s favorite Italian beer is Peroni and it makes a frequent appearance in the pages.

When I read One Week in December by Holly Chamberlin I settled in on my couch with a decaf cappuccino in one hand and the book in another just how Becca would prefer enjoying a good book.

Remember the lighting

Thrillers are often times suspenseful enough, but I often find that I will curl up in dark room with a blanket and one small light when I read works from authors such as Dean Koontz.

Whenever I read the North and South Trilogy by John Jakes, I’ll find a place in front of big window so I’m reading by natural light because the main characters would have relied on natural light to assist them in reading as well.

Dress up a little

Go Ask Alice
Go Ask Alice

I love books set in the late 60’s and early 70’s. When I read Go Ask Alice or Running with Scissors By Augusten Burroughs, I will sometimes wear my most “hippie” clothes. Didn’t think you would ever find a use for that old tie-dye t-shirt, did you?

I even read an article recently that talked about how to match your bathing suite to your book.

You can decide how crazy to get with your mood setting rituals, but just know that sometimes you can add a little to the story just by adjusting the environment in which you read it in.

 

 

What is your favorite book to read? Have you ever changed your environment in order to enhance the reading of this book?

Bookworm is the reading hippy who uses books to escape reality and take far out trips. In the afterglow of her trips, Bookworm is always struck with enlightenment from what she has just read. She sees how modern literature is influencing cultures, society and even future histories. If you dig it, stay tuned as Bookworm shares her thoughts and ponderings related to the books she’s reading.