Mood Music for Your Next Read (or Amy Realizes All Her Favorite Soundtracks Come From a Ten-Year Period)

Do you like mood music when you read a novel? 

Sometimes listening to soundtracks while I’m reading adds another level of depth to the words on the page, but there are so many different soundtracks and scores in the world, how can you possibly find ones to suit your taste and preference? Well, one of the best ways I’ve discovered to find soundtracks to listen to is to ask people for their favorites. I’ve found many new favorite songs, tracks, playlists, and sometimes even movies that way. 

Mood Music for your Next Read by A.C. Williams Share on X

So, here are my top favorite soundtracks to listen to when I’m reading, based on genre or general mood of the story.

Stargate (David Arnold, 1994)

This is my favorite soundtrack ever. While it definitely has some Egyptian-style thematic elements in it, the score overall is a brilliant mix of action and adventure. Some pieces are slower and gentle, and others are fast-paced and structured clearly enough you can feel the tension of battle. It’s the kind of soundtrack that works for science fiction, suspense thrillers, or action/adventure stories. 

Mulan (Jerry Goldsmith, 1998)

My favorite animated soundtrack ever. While most Disney animated movies are all about the songs princesses sing or romantic ballads or funny sidekick choruses, Mulan is different. Yes, it has some lovely lyrical songs, but the instrumental scores are phenomenal. Breathtaking. Among some of the most beautiful orchestrations I’ve ever heard. If you’re reading a story set in China or in an Asian-inspired fantasy world, this is the soundtrack you need to listen to. 

Anastasia (David Newman, 1997)

Another animated masterpiece. The lyrical songs in this one are also fun, but the orchestrated scores are where the genius truly lies. Many of the thematic elements lean heavily Russian, of course. Some of them are complex, integrating many different instruments across the orchestra. This soundtrack works great for historical romance novels with a little bit of action. 

The Prince of Egypt (Hans Zimmer, 1998)

Wow, another animated movie from the late 90s. Maybe I’m dating myself. But, seriously, if you haven’t checked out these extraordinary scores, you’re missing out. This soundtrack has some absolutely gorgeous tracks that present a musical journey of Moses’ life story, from his life in Egypt to the burning bush to the parting of the Red Sea. The music has a definite Middle Eastern sound. This soundtrack would be amazing for any story set in a desert world, or stories about long journeys and powerful emotional revelations. 

Pirates of the Caribbean (Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer, 2003-2011)

I can’t mention Hans Zimmer and not talk about the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks. These pieces are just FUN. I’ve never heard another composer use an entire orchestra the way Hans Zimmer does, especially in these specific orchestrations. Each of these soundtracks has a similar overall sound—a full, pulse-pounding, swashbuckling mood that begins with a call to adventure and ends with a triumphant, victorious final charge. I’ve listed the dates for four of the movie soundtracks, The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, and On Stranger Tides. I can’t tell you which one is better because they are all extraordinary. While they all do feel nautical with the way the rhythms roll and sway, many of the tracks are great for any story about adventure, romance, and redemption. 

The Lord of the Rings (Howard Shore, 2001-2003)

I’m a nerd. So, of course, I’m going to go here. There’s a reason these soundtracks won awards, though. They are among the most gorgeous refrains put to paper in modern music history. If you’re reading something epic, throw one of these soundtracks on, and it will provide the most stunning background ambiance for you. You don’t have to be reading fantasy, although it works best with fantasy, but the theme running through the Lord of the Rings Trilogy is the beauty of home, the simplicity of friends, and the peace that hope brings. Frankly, you could probably listen to these soundtracks no matter what you’re reading. Howard Shore makes everything epic. 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Harry Gregson-Williams, 2005)

Wonder. That is the theme and the mood of this entire soundtrack. When I heard this movie was coming out, I was very skeptical that any music composed could add to C.S. Lewis’s masterpiece. This score does it and does it well. It’s passionate and full of whimsy. It’s dangerous and threatening. It’s sorrowful and triumphant, and it’s the sort of music that makes you want to cheer. A great soundtrack for stories with children as the protagonists—or stories about a great hero who sacrifices himself and still manages to save the day. 

Firefly/Serenity (Greg Edmondson/David Newman, 2005)

I went ahead and included this one because it brings me so much joy, and it’s just so ODD. But then, Firefly was an odd show. This is a legitimate space western. The very educated and elite people of the worlds have more of a Chinese-themed culture, and the more blue collar folks speak with an almost Appalachian dialect. The soundtracks for the show and the movie reflect that unique cultural mix. So there are Chinese flutes mixed with country fiddles. These are great soundtracks for stories set in rural areas, although one or two tracks do sound like spaceship battles—because that’s what they are! But that’s okay. It’s shiny. 

I could keep going. There are so many more soundtracks that I love so dearly, and they add so much to the joy of reading. But I’d better stop for now, otherwise this will be a novel! If you all enjoy this post, maybe I’ll do another one. But until then, share some music with the rest of us. 

What is a song (instrumental or lyrical) you like to listen to while you’re reading? Or if that’s not your thing, was there a time you heard a song and thought it fit a fictional character perfectly?

Meet Amy

Author A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. With fifteen published books in both fiction and non-fiction, she is a Realm Award winner and a Selah Award finalist, as well as the 2022 Arise Daily Writer of the Year. She is also a popular monthly contributor to two blogs ranked in Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 sites for authors.