Seasonal Book Lists are for Nostalgia-Provoked People
Late last year, I decided to start preparing seasonal book lists. Originally, it was to ease the burden of choosing a new book every 2 weeks, or however long it takes me to read. My shelf has all sorts of stories that vary in genre, era, and pacing. To prepare my lists, I consider and attempt to choose books that are an even mix of the aforementioned elements AND that evoke feelings of the season I'm in or am about to enter.
Lately, I've started reading more than one book at a time. I've wanted to engage with more scholarly & nonfiction texts, but I find reading those at night to be nearly impossible. Fiction serves as my "sleepier" reads (most of the time). So far my books-read track record has been fairly decent. I check off at least most of the titles during the 3ish-month periods I set. I too will freely allow myself to swap book(s) for another if I decide I missed something or if my preferences shift. There is no need for restrictions. Here are my recent lists from late 2025 to now (these are lists of the sleepier reads):
Lists are prepared in my journal. I am currently using a Leuchtturm1917.us Hardcover Notebook (size: medium A5, ruling: plain, color: powder). I've used Moleskines as well (frequently I find that I need a new journal while in an airport; luckily, Moleskines are easy to find there). There is no particular reason why I changed it up this round. Fun to try something new, I suppose.
One book I ought to include on my late summer list is "The Mountain Lion" by Jean Stafford (I've read it, but I do think it's worth mentioning).
List Prep
To prepare for a new list. I first sit in front of my bookshelf for a weird amount of time and stare. "What's she doing?" my FIL asks M this morning - lol
Nostalgia searching is what I am doing.
When I reflect on my childhood, thoughts of me reading appear. I think of which books I chose, how they made me feel, where I read them, and what time of year it was. I do this with music too (maybe one day I'll prepare a *seasonal-time-in-my-life playlist..). I fondly remember these moments and the stories that I admired through them.
When I was experiencing severe autistic burnout last year, it carried on for many months after the major stress source was removed via layoff. Since I had more time to actually think, I recalled these memories and thought of how I could recreate them. Much of my process for returning to a more balanced state of mind was considering what made me happy then. A very normal formula that tends to work well, esp. for ND people.
When I hear people discuss nostalgia, whether it be their own or about it in general, I reluctantly admit that lately my initial reaction has been slightly negative. I believe this knee-jerk response is something I've picked up from listening to others discuss it and how it can propagate for people in harmful ways. I'd like to personally approach nostalgia the way people should view bodies - neutrally. When a mind is level and not particularly feeling extreme in any direction, one can find those memories that provide a sense of peace. Sometimes they are as simple as recalling you bearing witness to the way sunlight passed through a particular window. Nostalgia, when conducted in this mild manner, fills me with joy & (x). x being the emotion(s) accompanying for which I can't quite find the correct term. It could be a slight yearning or even an antsiness. These sprinkled additions hold no weight, however; they are only just present.
My negative influences, I think, had a lot to do with hearing how people are suffering and coping poorly with nostalgia, particularly on social media. I don't have a good specific example to present at the moment. The best one I can muster is generational divide wars. The boomers v everyone else. Or the millennials v Gen Z. We all are living our lives in cycles. We just don't have great enough memories to realize. Hopefully, you have an inkling of understanding what I mean.
Some memories that sparked my latest list include:
- sounds of crickets from my bedroom window
- sounds of the neighborhood dogs barking to one another
- elementary school plays
- swimming in Mexico
- manhunt & capture the flag
- watching the remaining embers burn out of a fire late in the night
If you are a bit tense and find a moment, I suggest this practice of seasonal book lists. As long as you have a home library (or tbr that's accessible), nostalgic memories that can be tied to seasons, and a pen/paper, a list for the rest of Q3 can certainly be in your future (Doesn't matter that we're a third of the way through. I mean, I just made mine today too!)
These lists were very important for my recovery. I hope they can provide you with a small sense of joy as well, even just an ounce.
Note: I'd like to add that memories that do not spark joy can be used as book list motivation as well. As long as you are ready for them, for you are the celestial being of your own book world. You have the power to truly do whatever pleases you most!!