The autumn months are generally where the world begins to wind itself down and slow off for many people. Of course, students go back to learning, jobs often face the end of year crunch, and many people feel the pressure of Christmas looming just three months ahead – but autumn remains cosy.
For the bookish types, autumn is probably the season most linked to the aesthetic of reading. Cold weather, heavy clothing, warm teas and coffees, auburn leaves, and a general sense that everything is shifting towards hibernation for the next few months. It really is lovely, and stands as my second favourite season behind winter.
For readers, although it is a visually pleasant season, it can be pretty draining. Younger readers who study tend to be more occupied with getting back into the routine of education, classes, assignments, and the gradual increase in academic pressure compared to the previous year. Those who don’t study will have work like usual, so they’re probably less affected, but will still feel at odds with how the days begin to grow dark earlier, but the world is still bustling along at its usual rate.
One big positive for autumn is that noise tends to die down. Cities will always be busy, but generally decrease in activity and events once September comes along. This makes it great to curl up, undisturbed, book in hand, and while away some hours with a good read. Coffee and teas are now also back in season, if you really needed an excuse to drink some.
Weather is a mixed bag and really depends on where you’re at. Autumn can be cosy to many people who like a slightly colder climate, or don’t mind warming themselves up with heavier attire and maybe fireplace or home heating system. For those who get flung into freezing territory the second the summer ends, you have my sympathies, because it is probably much harder to feel comfortable or focus on your reading.
A lot of insects tend to disappear across these months. Some bees, flies, and general little critters will linger until the cold really comes to stay, but you will generally see less and less of our tiny friends as the weeks go by. As someone who prefers the bugs to stay outside his home, this doesn’t upset me, but I suppose the world does end up feeling that bit more lifeless during autumn, and then especially in winter.
Overall, I think autumn is a good stretch of time to get solid reading in. It could be more or less hectic than your summer, but that depends on you, what you do, and how sociable you are.
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