What's Your Literary Horoscope?

By Gwen Glazer, Librarian
July 23, 2018
Literary Horoscopes

Is today your lucky day? Should you go for that promotion? Who’s your true love match?

We have no idea—but we do know books, so we’ve come up with a list of authors, characters, and titles that resonate with the various astrological signs. Based on the personality traits of each sign, we’ve picked out some personalized reads that might increase your reading karma.

Have more ideas for reads foretold in the stars? Let us know in the comments.

Aries Symbol

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Dynamic, quick, competitive . . . sounds familiar, Aries. You remind us of the one and only Katniss Everdeen. Just one question: Peeta or Gale?
Recommended reads: The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, and Stephen Floridaby Gabe Habash.
 

Taurus horoscope

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Simon, the hero of Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, is warm-hearted, dependable, sweet, and sometimes uncertain—just like you, Taurus. Check out her books to find some kindred spirits.

Recommended reads: everything by Becky Albertalli, When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, We Are the Antsby Shaun David Hutchinson, all our favorite young-adult love stories.

Gemini Symbol

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You know how to embrace a challenge, Gemini, and so do the people in Tayari Jones’ novels. Her large casts of characters are realistic and varied, and her deft writing style renders them all in careful, believable detail.

Recommended reads: American Marriage, which has gotten tons of attention since Oprah picked it for her book club, but also Jones’ earlier novels: Silver Sparrow, The Untelling, and Leaving Atlanta.

Cancer Symbol

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

We’d like to take this opportunity to name LeVar Burton your official spokesperson: compassionate, intuitive, sometimes sentimental, and generally awesome. (Fine, Burton was technically born in February, but we’re pretty sure he’s a Cancer at heart.)

Recommended reads: Check out the stories for adults that Burton’s featured on his podcast:  "What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky" by Lesley Nneka Arimah, from What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky; "The Second Bakery Attack" by Haruki Murakami, from The Elephant Vanishes; "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu from The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories; “The Baboon War” by Nnedi Okorafor, from Kabu Kabu.

Leo Symbol

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Harry Potter—impulsive, self-assured, and brave—is a great example of a Leo... and so is his creator, J.K. Rowling, who shares his July 31 birthday. If you’ve already read Harry Potter for the 50th time, though, give more YA novels with magical characters a chance: Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone  and Rainbow Rowell’s Carry Onis a close second.

Recommended reads: Children of Blood and BoneCarry On, Jim Dale’s audiobook versions of the HP books, and the Great Library series by Rachel Caine.

Virgo Symbol

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Of course you’re the star of your own show, Virgo, but you’re also practical, loyal, and analytical—all qualities that make you a stellar sidekick. Check out Watson in the original Sherlock Holmes stories and an updated version, Mary Russell, in Laurie R. King’s fantastic Russell & Holmes series.

Recommended reads: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is the first book in King’s series. And try more Holmes spin-offs: Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas, A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin, and Moriartyby Anthony Horowitz.

Libra Symbol

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You’re the quintessential diplomat, Libra—social, fair-minded, and gracious. Try some books by a literal diplomat, Pablo Neruda, who was a Chilean leader as well as an insanely accomplished poet.

Recommended reads: The Poetry of Pablo Neruda, plus Jane Mayer’s investigative nonfiction and more of our favorite works of long-form journalism.

Scorpio Symbol

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Your bravery, resourcefulness, and passion remind us of the one and only Elizabeth Bennett—and lesser-known Austen heroines like Lady Susan Vernon and Catherine Morland.

Recommended reads: Northanger Abbey and Lady Susan, a short Austen novel that wasn’t published until half a century after her death

Sagittarius Symbol

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Extroverted, optimistic, funny, generous... that sounds like you, Sagittarius, and also like Shug Avery from Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.

Recommended reads: More novels with unforgettable woman protagonists: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, Beloved or Sula by Toni Morrison, That Kind of Motherby Rumaan Alam.
 

Capricorn Symbol

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

“Literature is strewn with the wreckage of those who have minded beyond reason the opinion of others.” Virginia Woolf’s writing in A Room of One’s Ownprobably resonates with you independent, disciplined, tenacious Capricorns.

Recommended reads: More novels that feature stream-of-consciousness writing by Virginia Woolf, Rachel Cusk, Ali Smith, and Maggie Nelson.

Aquarius Symbol

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Question: Have you ever had the urge to don a high-collared white dress? Then you might be channeling Emily Dickinson, not only in her fashion sense but in her deep, imaginative,creative  thinking. (And don’t worry, the white dress thing is a myth anyway.)

Recommended reads: The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson and The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.

Pisces Symbol

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’re empathetic and wise beyond your years, Pisces—just like Lauren from Octavia Butler’s Parable series. With her “hyperempathy,” Lauren invents a new belief system, leads a radical new movement, and (probably) saves all of humanity... tell that to the next person who accuses you of being too sensitive.

Recommended reads: Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler, Kindred by Octavia Butler (also about empathy!), and maybe just go ahead and read everything by and about Octavia Butler in the entire Library system.

Images are horoscope cigarette cards from the George Arents Collection in NYPL's Digital Collections.

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!