Today, I thought it would be fun to combine my passion for books with my interest in the astrological and spiritual. I was inspired by Books and Lala’s recent video to provide book recommendations based on traits associated with various zodiac signs. That being said, I have somewhat limited knowledge of the zodiac signs (I did some research on Co—Star and other astrology websites to supplement my own ideas). I hope you find a well matched representation based on your sun, moon, and rising signs.
I’m a Leo sun, Pisces moon, and Cancer rising 🙂
Taurus: Tauruses maintain calm, patient demeanors, even though the world around them can be full of challenges or emotionally draining situations. These traits remind me of Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing in novels like The Remains of the Day or An Artist of the Floating World. The serene and quiet tones of these novels at first appear to mask the intense emotional and historical conflicts beneath them, but as you continue reading you begin to wonder if this masking is an act of stubbornness or resistance on the part of the narrator. Ishiguro’s style of storytelling in these novels feels like classic Taurus behavior.
Gemini: Geminis have quite the reputation. Representing twins, Geminis have two sides to their personalities. This two sided, sometimes deceptive quality reminded me of the narrative structure of the novel Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. Without giving too much away, Fates and Furies tells the story of a playwright and his wife, first from his perspective then from hers. The two stories reveal two sides and two truths, in true Gemini style.
Note: Another Gemini type novel would be Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, with similarly employs two-sided storytelling. That being said, I didn’t enjoy Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise (though many people do!), so take this recommendation at your own discretion.
Cancer: Cancers are known for being emotional, sensitive, and material. As a Cancer rising who identifies with many of these traits myself, I thought I would recommend a book that made an emotional impact on me, Bluets by Maggie Nelson. Poetry, especially personal poetry like Nelson’s, matches the emotional intensity of Cancer. Following Nelson’s love affair with the color blue, Bluets is an emotionally intelligent and impactful read.
Leo: Leos are vivacious, passionate, and love to be the center of attention. For my Leo recommendation, I wanted to feature characters that were young, often self-absorbed, and full of passion— Sally Rooney’s Normal People came to mind. This story follows Marianne and Connell as teenagers and through their college years. The two keep coming back to one another and drifting apart, are both infuriating the way young people can be, and this story radiates Leo energy.
Virgo: Virgos are guided by the logical and practical. Richard Powers’s The Overstory radiates these qualities in its deeply intricate, scientific, and moving story. The Overstory is a work of eco-fiction that follows a large cast of characters through specific and detailed writing. It describes the impact of trees and the environment on people’s lives, and Earth’s power to connect us. Powers’s work is so well written and researched it is sure to satisfy Virgos.
Libra: Represented by the scale, Libras are forces of balance and harmony. Ann Patchett’s leveled and beautiful writing matches these Libra qualities, especially in the book The Dutch House. The Dutch House follows Danny throughout his life, detailing his relationship with his sister and the house they grew up in, referred to as The Dutch House. This novel has a slower pace but great warmth and balance, perfect for Libras~
Scorpio: Scorpios are driven by passion, power, and strength. Because they have such strong energies, I would recommend the intense and impactful novel The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nyugen. This novel follows a spy at the end of the Vietnam War as he comes to the United States to report on others who fled Saigon. This stylistically dense and impassioned novel tackles important topics in fierce scenes of violence and betrayal.
Sagittarius: Sagittariuses are always on the quest for adventure and knowledge. They also tend to be optimistic and quirky. I recommend the novel A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami to match these unique qualities. A Wild Sheep Chase is a mystery as the narrator follows a mysterious letter from his friend ‘Rat.’ It is one of Murakami’s earlier novels and has his signature strange and dream-like style that might match Sagittarius’s interests.
Capricorn: Capricorns are responsible and focused. Due to this focus, they can sometimes come off unemotional or distant. I recommend In the Distance by Hernan Diaz. This novel follows the journey of Håkan, a Swedish boy migrating to America. On his way over, he loses his brother, and must then travel the American plains in the 19th century to look for him. Atmospheric, scientific, and distanced, this novel will resonate tonally with Capricorns.
Aquarius: Aquariuses are free spirited and innovated. To match their boundary breaking spirit, I recommend 10:04 by Ben Lerner. This work of auto fiction is eccentric and breaks the expectations we have for novels. Set in New York, 10:04 follows an unnamed narrator as he explores the meaning of stories, reality, and art. This unique novel is perfect for matching the Aquarius spirit.
Pisces: Pisces are very artistic and open minded. Sometimes, they have difficulties distinguishing fantasy from reality. This blurring into reality leads me to recommend A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. This novel alternates between the life of Naoka, a sixteen year old Japanese American girl, and a Japanese American writer living in British Columbia. As these worlds combine and the stories blend together, Pisces will empathize with the real ways stories can translate into our reality.
Aries: Aries are bold, ambitious, and competitive. They can also have a streak of impatience or stubbornness. These qualities remind of the modern classic The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This critique of elitism in academia follows a group of college students in New England. Newcomer Richard describes his experiences getting involved with five other Classics students and the spiral of anger, jealousy, and murder that ensues. If Aries want a high-paced, competitive book, The Secret History is perfect.
zoreads 
Such an interesting idea. I’m a sagittarius and I’ve never heard of that book before but it surely seems interesting 🙂
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