AstroLit: A Bibliophile's Guide to the Stars

by McCormick Templeman, Rachel Feder

A unique, illustrated introduction to astrology that explores the zodiac through a literary lens, drawing lessons from celebrated authors including Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, W.E.B. Du Bois, Nella Larsen, Oscar Wilde, and dozens more.

AstroLit is a cosmic, illustrated voyage through the lives and works of literary giants from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. Renowned literary history scholars Rachel Feder and McCormick Templeman bring the twelve signs of the zodiac to glimmering life by analyzing the influence of over fifty illustrious writers' sun signs on the shape and depth of their most iconic works.

Each of the twelve sections focuses on a particular zodiac sign, featuring profiles of three celebrated authors, analyzing their works and lives through the prism of their astrological sign. You'll uncover connections between writers' signs and their realms of creative influence, including the Capricornian ambition of Edgar Allan Poe and Zora Neale Hurston, the Sagittarian influence on William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, and the Taurean gothiness evident in Mary Wollstonecraft's work. Each chapter also includes writing advice and reading recommendations for readers, no matter your sign.

A delight for both astrology and book lovers, AstroLit is a gratifying exploration of classic literature and a playful way for readers and astrology lovers to learn something new about their favorite authors.

Genres: Astrology

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Joe Sacksteder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is as beautiful an object as it is an insightful and inspiring guide through literary history and the zodiac. Even readers unfamiliar (or even uninterested) in astrology, the angle that this book takes gives way to new groupings of literary luminaries, new associations, new revelations. If, so far, my review seems particularly erudite, that might be because "Virgos are absolutely brilliant at communication."

Through this book I was exposed to the unique lives of authors I—to my shame—had never really come across before: Henry Derozio, Monk Lewis, John William Polidori, E. Pauline Johnson, and Zitkála-Šá. I've added Jean Toomer's "Cane" to my reading list, along with Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan," Wilkie Collins's "The Moonstone," and Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." I've discovered my inner Leo (Mars in Leo), and more fully understood my animosity toward books by Pisces writers: "Infinite Jest," "One Hundred Years of Solitude," maybe even Mallarmé. (But not you, Dennis J. Sweeney and Susannah Nevison—I'm over my Pisces moon for you.)

To be clear, I don't know what I'm talking about, or, rather, I enjoy knowing what I'm talking about just slightly more after spending some pleasant hours with AstroLit, considering what the stars have in store for us all. I appreciate how the "Notes for Writers" sections are written in such an encouraging tone, and the "Try this!" prompts for each sign have given me a wealth of ideas I can draw from as a writer and as a teacher of creative writing—vocations I turn to with renewed energy, assured as I am that Virgos "have carried a torch through literary history, lighting the way." I mean, sounds accurate.

My one criticism is that the Pisces Moon description can't be right. "You see the good in everyone and are not shy about expressing your affection." (No, and there is no affection.) "You are driven by a beautiful kind of idealism that will make your writing shine." (The world is a nightmare.) "As a very sensitive person, make sure you give yourself a writing space that makes you feel safe and focused." (Getting warmer, except that sensitivity part.) "Because your emotions are ruled by a mutable sign, that writing space may need to change frequently." Well, it would take a big change for me to resonate with my moon, but maybe that's what the future holds.

All joking aside, I resonated big time with this book, and me and my fellow Virgos—Alexander Chee, Alison Bechdel, Leonard Cohen, Mary Shelley, Stephen King, Leo Tolstoy, Goethe, and birthday buddy Jorge Luis Borges think you will to!

[Hero Society · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing. I loved reading about all of the different authors under zodiac signs. The way they described how they fit into their zodiac signs with the books they wrote really intrigued me. I finished the book in 3 days and loved every second of it!

[Stargazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. It had a wealth of information in it with great examples including 3 authors for each sign, writers' prompts and info on personal planets in the signs in terms of their own writing (Mine were bang on.) - even suggestions of each sign's type of book (both a classic and a modern example) for every sunsign. Although I was unaware of many authors cited I enjoyed the summary of their works, and as a lover of both reading and astrology I was very impressed. Great job! I'd love this to be part of a series - maybe movies next?

[Faith Tydings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. I enjoy diving into new and different aspects of my astrological self. Not just my sun sign by my moon, rising, and ruling planets. There is always so much to learn. Additionally, this book also talked about writers who share your sun sign. This part was just okay. I’d love to see an updated version of this book with newer writers, poets, and artists of all mediums, not just classical writers.

[Kelly Sedinger]

No rating. I thought this was going to be about astronomy and literature, but the focus here is astrology. Believe as you will, but I personally don't have a use for astrology.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read the section relevant to me. Fun look at our reading astrology and writers who shared it.