Pumpkin spice everything, chunky knit scarves, and pine-scented candles. Fall is finally here! Fall is hands down my favorite season for all the above and more. But something about the cooler weather, changing foliage, and pre-holiday publishing bonanza also make fall the perfect bookish season. Fall makes me want to slow down and settle into a long afternoon sipping tea and finally getting through that 600+ page book on my TBR that I’ve been meaning to get to. It makes me want to curl up next to a toasty fireplace with the sound of rain against the windows and a cat curled up at my feet.
Sadly, this might not be possible every day but there are definitely little things I love to do throughout the fall to make my reading a little more seasonal and my season a little more bookish. Reading is great of course but it’s not the only thing that you can do this fall to celebrate your love of books!
1. Go on a Hike While Listening to an Audiobook
Okay, I want to start with the caveat that point is not quite true, because audiobooks are books and absolutely count as reading and anyone who says otherwise can fight me. BUT Fall provides a different setting in which to enjoy a good audiobook that is not your commute, your time to do chores, or while running errands. Take a stroll through your local park, hike a nearby trail or take a day trip to a national park. If none of these are options where you live, take a walk around your neighborhood with no other intention that taking in the changing fall foliage and listening to a engrossing story. Taking a walk can be a wonderful way to hit pause on our busy days and enjoy simply being in the moment.
2. Attend a Book Event
Back to school season combined with pre-holiday publishing turns fall into a season with a bonanza of bookish events both big and small. Whether it’s a library book sale, an author reading and signing, or a book festival, fall is a great time to get out and mingle with your community and get to meet other people who share a love of reading. Check out your local bookstore or library for some upcoming events. Who said being a reader is anti-social?
3. Build up your Book Nook
Just as the polar bear prepares to hibernate for the winter, so too must the reader prepare for the cold months ahead. Okay, not quite, but there is something cozy about having a nook of one’s own to read, relax and unwind. This could be a favorite reading chair, a corner of your living room or even your bed. You can up your cozy game with a couple of candles, throw blanket, and some pillows. Add a big cup of your favorite hot beverage of choice, a large stack of books to get you through the Fall, and you’re set to go! It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect as long as it’s yours.
4. Donate or Volunteer
Who says spring cleaning is only for spring? Make some room on your shelf for all of the new books you’re planning on receiving or self-gifting (hey, no judgment) during the holiday season and clean out your bookshelves. You can spread the fall’s thankful theme by giving your books a new home. Try donating them to an organization like a shelter or a hospital that accepts book donations. You can also stock up your local Free Little Libraries or taking Emma Watson’s lead and become your town’s book fairy and plan surprise book drops for people to find. Alternatively if donating your books isn’t your cup of pumpkin spice latte: volunteer! Most libraries are always looking for volunteers to help run programs or events. And speaking of libraries…
5. Sign Up for a Library Card
Did you know that September is national ‘Library Card Sign-up Month’? Okay, this one isn’t fall specific, because any month is the best month to get a library card. But a lot of libraries will hold card sign-up campaigns and other events to facilitate the process if you do not already have one. Library cards open the door to not only free books for you to borrow but also a wealth of amazing resources like workshops, digital content, movies, and more. If you already have a library card, sign up your friends!
6. Cook a Meal Inspired by your Favorite Book
You don’t have to participate in the Great British Baking Show to enjoy a good pastry. Food and books go so well together. Well, maybe not at the same time unless you don’t mind crumbs in your books. But fall is practically synonymous with baking and good food and there seems to be an increasing number of fiction-inspired cookbooks and inversely books, especially romances, featuring incredible food porn. Pick a recipe that made your mouth water when you read that scene and give it a go!
Regardless or whether you are a “seasonal” reader (I totally am) or not, Fall can be a particularly special season to be a reader. Do you also adjust your reading habits with the seasons or are you an all-season reader? What other Fall reading rituals have you tried?
