Turning the Page: Reading Rituals for Fall
How fall reshapes my reading life.
The second I’m back at work in the library and feel the first crispness in the air, I’m ready for the shift in seasons. For me, fall always feels like the true start of the year. A new school term means new goals (most of which I’ll inevitably abandon!), and with it comes a change in my reading life. I trade out the lighter, breezy books of summer for stories that ask more of me. My brain slips back into “back to school” mode, and suddenly I’m craving depth, challenge, and even a few classics.
I’ve never sat down to design seasonal reading rituals, but somehow they’ve formed on their own. In autumn, that often looks like arranging cozy reading nooks with festive drinks or daydreaming about wandering through a bookstore before settling in at a café with a fresh read. (Note I said daydreaming- the reality of the daily schedule doesn’t always allow for it, though I’m determined to sneak in at least one introvert morning like this.) Fall rituals feel distinct from winter ones: I still want to be outside, soaking in fresh air and connection, while winter is for burrowing under blankets and rarely emerging.
As a school librarian and former teacher, fall awakens my inner student. I find myself reaching for nonfiction, tackling books I’ve long meant to read, or revisiting the classics I’ve skipped. The irony is that time doesn’t slow down in the slightest- autumn is one of the busiest seasons, with school and family schedules competing for every free moment. Still, I can’t resist making a list of books I hope to get to, even if life leaves me with only fragments of quiet reading time.
This year, that list includes Pride and Prejudice, with Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and students showing interest in reading their first Austen novel. I’ve also picked up Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, a book I once abandoned when I was in a season of craving lighter reads. Now feels like the right time to try again.
I’d love to hear from you: what are your fall reading rituals? Do you shift your book choices with the season? Share your favorite autumn reads in the comments!
