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5 Books for Aquarius Readers (That Aren’t by White Men)

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Ashley Holstrom

Staff Writer

Ashley Holstrom helps make books at Sourcebooks. She lives near Chicago with her cat named after Hemingway and her bookshelves organized by color. Newsletter: Crooked Reads. Twitter: @alholstrom.

Happy Aquarius season! Goodreads put up a list of 5 books for Aquarius readers and SURPRISE OF ALL SURPRISES, every single book is by a white male. I’m a proud water-bearer, and yeah, 1984 is cool and Aquarius-friendly. But there are better books that people maybe haven’t heard of and/or weren’t forced to read in high school.

Typical personality traits for Aquarians include intelligence, unpredictability, independence, and stubbornness. We’re starting rebellions and starting revolutions. We’re humanitarians. We’re artists.

That all adds up to a good story, if you ask me. Here are some books for Aquarius readers that I have love, love, loved and that embody the cool, ethereal vibe of a water-bearer.

Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive & Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi

Water-bearers need more time to be creative. It’s a fact. Bored and Brilliant is the perfect guide to using your phone less, with challenges along the way. You’ll become more aware of when and how you’re using your phone, and begin to ponder why. And then make changes as you see fit. It’s the perfect book for Aquarius readers who just want to detach from the world once in a while.

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Nadia is a rebellious gal—she rides a motorcycle and only wears the hijab so she looks compliant. Saeed is infatuated with her. Their story begins during a war in the Middle East and we follow them from refugee camp to refugee camp, which they arrive at from magical doors. With each move, their relationship suffers more, and we watch them grow together and grow apart.

 

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez

Malu is the coolest girl I’ve ever read about. She makes zines about her life in middle school and starts a band covering a Spanish pop song. She rules. This is a wonderful book for a creative Aquarius reader—with mini zines included!

 

 

 

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

This may be the most Aquarius book. Mia is an artist and hippie of sorts, and when she arrives in Shaker Heights she sends its perfect image down the drain. It’s a complex story about family and community, weaving tales from different generations and points of view. It’s beautiful.

 

 

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Dimple is a Type A gal going to a summer tech program. Rishi is a happy-go-lucky guy who also attends this summer program. Their parents think Rishi will be the Ideal Indian Husband to Dimple. Cuteness ensues.

If you find yourself hankering for more horoscope-related material, Rioter Susie Dumond puts together monthly horoscopes and book recommendations. February’s is great—and she recommends The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton for Aquarius readers!