Books to read based on your Zodiac sign
While I don't tend to read horoscopes, I find the idea of star signs fascinating, not least because their given personality traits are often scarily accurate. And over Christmas I have fallen in love with Debbie Wiseman's The Musical Zodiac, for which Wiseman (Classic FM's current in-house composer) has composed a piece of classical music for each star sign.* So, whether you religiously read your daily horoscope or whether you don't even know which star sign you are, scroll down and check out these book recommendations, because your future next books are written in the stars.**
*I would highly recommend it.
**And don't take it too personally; after all, you can't help when you were born.
20th January - 18th February
Independent, unconventional, and intellectual; leaders, trend-setters, and humanitarians; and loyal to a fault. Sound like you? Try these on for size:
God Help the Child (Toni Morrison, 2015)
The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL (Eric Greitens, 2011)
Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro, 2005)
On the Road (Jack Kerouac, 1957)
19th February - 20th March
Dreamy, wise, endlessly creative, you want everyone to notice when you walk into a room. Living in two worlds, the real and the mystical, you want to feel connected to others and the world at large. Am I right, or am I right? Try escaping into these:
Dangerous Angels (Francesca Lia Block, 1998)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson, 2005)
How to Be Both (Ali Smith, 2014)
The Time Machine (H.G. Wells, 1895)
21st March - 19th April
You're driven and extroverted, spontaneous and bold. You're doers not talkers, and you appreciate people who tell it like it is. You're a tough, independent ram. Sound about right? Then I dare you to give these a spin:
Divergent (Veronica Roth, 2011)
Freedom (Jonathan Franzen, 2010)
Graceling (Kristin Cashore, 2008)
The Great Railway Bazaar (Paul Theroux, 1975)
20th April - 20th May
Grounded, practical, and reliable;stubborn steadfast, and patient; and loyal to your few, close friends. While you appreciate the beauty in all nature and animals, it is the bull who you're most akin to. If you take that as a compliment, which you should, you're sure to appreciate these:
H is for Hawk (Helen Macdonald, 2014)
Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee, 1960)
Wildlife (Richard Ford, 1990)
21st May - 20th June
Curious, clever, restless, and indecisive, Geminis are not so much two-faced as mercurial. Those lucky enough to be born under this star sign* share a thirst for knowledge, a love of conversation, and like keeping busy, and staying ahead of the crowd. And I reckon they also share a love of these books:
*Yes, I am a Gemini. And yes, I could have been more subtle about it.
All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr, 2014)
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened (Allie Brosh, 2013)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs, 2011)
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway, 1926)
21st June - 22nd July
Protective, family-orientated, and nurturing, don't let anyone tell you that being sensitive is a bad thing. You crave reassurance and intimacy, and your contradictory nature will keep those lucky enough to love you on their toes. Sound like you? Then curl up with one of these books:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith, 1943)
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers, 1940)
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (Mindy Kaling, 2011)
Little Women (Louisa May Alcott, 1868)
23rd July - 22nd August
Confident, ambitious, and deeply loyal, you're always the leader and it's not surprising why. Those born under this star sign apparently make the best bartenders and friends, which, let's face it, is really the same thing. Now for some books that are worth your time:
The Complete Short Stories (Ernest Hemingway, 1987)
Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell, 1936)
Inherent Vice (Thomas Pynchon, 2009)
The Spoils of Poynton (Henry James, 1896)
23rd August - 22nd September
Creative, meticulous, and intuitive, you exist mostly in your own mind and give nothing away. You don't see yourself as the protagonist, but then where would Harry be without Hermione, whose Virgo-ness* made the literary world fall in love with her, and saved Harry's and Ron's lives several times over? These books are all yours:
*Yes, thank you, I am aware that's not a word.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon, 2003)
The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank, 1947)
The Inverted World (Christopher Priest, 1974)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K. Rowling, 1997)
23rd September - 22nd October
You're the archetypal* balanced person, as the name implies. You're thoughtful, independent, charming, social, and diplomatic. Venus is your ruling planet, which makes you deeply romantic and sensual by nature. And, apparently, you say "yes" a lot. I know you're going to say "yes" to these books:
*I love that word.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Dave Eggers, 2000)
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States (Sarah Vowell, 2015)
On Beauty (Zadie Smith, 2005)
Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare, 1597)
23rd October - 21st November
Passionate doesn't even begin to cover it. Extreme, intense, driven, fiercely loyal, observant, and resourceful, you're wise beyond your years, and you love to win. Ready to admit to this? Then you'll devour these books:
Antigone (Sophocles, c.441BC)
The Cuckoo's Calling (Robert Galbraith, 2013)
Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn, 2012)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis, 1950)
22nd November - 21st December
Optimistic, curious, stubborn, and ambitious, you see every day as a new day, you have a wicked sense of humour, and you're often accused of being tactless (*shocked expression*). Here are some books which are as good company as you are:
Candide (Voltaire, 1759)
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, 1990)
The High Mountains of Portugal (Yann Martel, 2016)
Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice, 1976)
22nd December - 19th January
Gentle, quiet, patient, self-reliant, disciplined, and traditional, you worry about being admired by your friends and family, and combine innovation with hard work to become unstoppable. If this sounds like you, then chance are you're a Capricorn. Here are some books to read in your down time:
The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt, 2013)
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë, 1847)
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky, 1999)
The Queen of the Night (Alexander Chee, 2016)
What star sign are you? And what do you think of these book recommendations? Do you read horoscopes? Did you know what your star sign was before reading this post? Have you heard The Musical Zodiac yet? Let me know either via Goodreads or Twitter!
*I would highly recommend it.
**And don't take it too personally; after all, you can't help when you were born.
20th January - 18th February
Independent, unconventional, and intellectual; leaders, trend-setters, and humanitarians; and loyal to a fault. Sound like you? Try these on for size:
God Help the Child (Toni Morrison, 2015)
The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL (Eric Greitens, 2011)
Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro, 2005)
On the Road (Jack Kerouac, 1957)
19th February - 20th March
Dreamy, wise, endlessly creative, you want everyone to notice when you walk into a room. Living in two worlds, the real and the mystical, you want to feel connected to others and the world at large. Am I right, or am I right? Try escaping into these:
Dangerous Angels (Francesca Lia Block, 1998)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson, 2005)
How to Be Both (Ali Smith, 2014)
The Time Machine (H.G. Wells, 1895)
21st March - 19th April
You're driven and extroverted, spontaneous and bold. You're doers not talkers, and you appreciate people who tell it like it is. You're a tough, independent ram. Sound about right? Then I dare you to give these a spin:
Divergent (Veronica Roth, 2011)
Freedom (Jonathan Franzen, 2010)
Graceling (Kristin Cashore, 2008)
The Great Railway Bazaar (Paul Theroux, 1975)
20th April - 20th May
Grounded, practical, and reliable;
H is for Hawk (Helen Macdonald, 2014)
Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen, 1811)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee, 1960)
Wildlife (Richard Ford, 1990)
21st May - 20th June
Curious, clever, restless, and indecisive, Geminis are not so much two-faced as mercurial. Those lucky enough to be born under this star sign* share a thirst for knowledge, a love of conversation, and like keeping busy, and staying ahead of the crowd. And I reckon they also share a love of these books:
*Yes, I am a Gemini. And yes, I could have been more subtle about it.
All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr, 2014)
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened (Allie Brosh, 2013)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs, 2011)
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway, 1926)
21st June - 22nd July
Protective, family-orientated, and nurturing, don't let anyone tell you that being sensitive is a bad thing. You crave reassurance and intimacy, and your contradictory nature will keep those lucky enough to love you on their toes. Sound like you? Then curl up with one of these books:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith, 1943)
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers, 1940)
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (Mindy Kaling, 2011)
Little Women (Louisa May Alcott, 1868)
23rd July - 22nd August
Confident, ambitious, and deeply loyal, you're always the leader and it's not surprising why. Those born under this star sign apparently make the best bartenders and friends, which, let's face it, is really the same thing. Now for some books that are worth your time:
The Complete Short Stories (Ernest Hemingway, 1987)
Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell, 1936)
Inherent Vice (Thomas Pynchon, 2009)
The Spoils of Poynton (Henry James, 1896)
23rd August - 22nd September
Creative, meticulous, and intuitive, you exist mostly in your own mind and give nothing away. You don't see yourself as the protagonist, but then where would Harry be without Hermione, whose Virgo-ness* made the literary world fall in love with her, and saved Harry's and Ron's lives several times over? These books are all yours:
*Yes, thank you, I am aware that's not a word.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon, 2003)
The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank, 1947)
The Inverted World (Christopher Priest, 1974)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K. Rowling, 1997)
23rd September - 22nd October
You're the archetypal* balanced person, as the name implies. You're thoughtful, independent, charming, social, and diplomatic. Venus is your ruling planet, which makes you deeply romantic and sensual by nature. And, apparently, you say "yes" a lot. I know you're going to say "yes" to these books:
*I love that word.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Dave Eggers, 2000)
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States (Sarah Vowell, 2015)
On Beauty (Zadie Smith, 2005)
Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare, 1597)
23rd October - 21st November
Passionate doesn't even begin to cover it. Extreme, intense, driven, fiercely loyal, observant, and resourceful, you're wise beyond your years, and you love to win. Ready to admit to this? Then you'll devour these books:
Antigone (Sophocles, c.441BC)
The Cuckoo's Calling (Robert Galbraith, 2013)
Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn, 2012)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis, 1950)
22nd November - 21st December
Optimistic, curious, stubborn, and ambitious, you see every day as a new day, you have a wicked sense of humour, and you're often accused of being tactless (*shocked expression*). Here are some books which are as good company as you are:
Candide (Voltaire, 1759)
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, 1990)
The High Mountains of Portugal (Yann Martel, 2016)
Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice, 1976)
22nd December - 19th January
Gentle, quiet, patient, self-reliant, disciplined, and traditional, you worry about being admired by your friends and family, and combine innovation with hard work to become unstoppable. If this sounds like you, then chance are you're a Capricorn. Here are some books to read in your down time:
The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt, 2013)
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë, 1847)
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky, 1999)
The Queen of the Night (Alexander Chee, 2016)
What star sign are you? And what do you think of these book recommendations? Do you read horoscopes? Did you know what your star sign was before reading this post? Have you heard The Musical Zodiac yet? Let me know either via Goodreads or Twitter!
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