The Famous Author You Need To Be Reading, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

Born April 4, 1928, Maya Angelou is a fierce, unstoppable Aries of an author. When people told her that an autobiography couldn't have as much lyricism and beauty as a piece of fiction, she turned right around and re-invented the genre of the personal memoir forever. Her work is passionate and bold, and she never holds back the truth just because it's uncomfortable.

Bonus authors: Flannery O’Connor and Beverly Cleary (because only an Aries could have given us Ramona Quimby)

Romantic, tenacious Charlotte Brontë was born on April 21, 1816, making her a Taurus. Brontë caused a huge uproar by daring to write while female back in the day, but, like a true Taurus, she held her ground. Her books are full of stubborn, practical heroines who still yearn for the love of dark and brooding strangers, which is pretty much all the best and worst of Taurans rolled into one.

Bonus authors: Harper Lee and William Shakespeare (you know, no big deal)

Is there anything more on brand for a Gemini than writing a book so controversial that they have to flee the country? Rushdie was born June 19, 1947, making him an innovative Gemini author. Rushdie is known for his inventive, dexterous prose, his sharp wit, and his strong opinions. Any Gemini will find a kindred spirit in Rushdie's linguistic gymnastics and his wide-ranging novels.

Bonus authors: Jamaica Kincaid and George Orwell (it's safe to say that Geminis are not afraid of talking trash about the government)

Trust a Cancer to come up with a character who has the superpower of "hyper-empathy." Famed sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler was born on June 22, 1947, making her a sensitive, beauty-seeking Cancer. Butler uses aliens and apocalypses to explore the complications of human identity and empathy. As a true Cancerian, her words hit you right in the gut every time. It's hard to finish a Butler book without feeling immediately called to go and make the world a kinder place.

Bonus authors: Alice Munro and Franz Kafka (why does waking up as a giant cockroach just feel like such a Cancer thing to do?)

It should come as no surprise that J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, sharing her birthday with her titular boy wizard. Sure, most of you Leos out there have probably already read Harry Potter, but why not try one of Rowling's other books on for size? As a true Leo author, Rowling goes for big, bold, courageous stories. She finds the fun in sweeping epics, and doesn't stop until she achieves artistic success (to put it mildly).

Bonus Authors: Dorothy Parker and James Baldwin (it seems like Leos have a real knack for incredibly impactful authors)

Born August 24, 1899, Jorge Luis Borges is an ingenious Virgo. While they might have a reputation for being order-obsessed and nit-picky, Virgos are really just attentive to details, which makes them masterful mystery authors. Borges' is known for his mind-bending fantasy and his carefully plotted short stories. Only a Virgo could navigate a labyrinth as well as Borges.

Bonus authors: Agatha Christie and Stephen King (I wasn't kidding about the mystery thing)

Fitzgerald was born September 24, 1896, making him a charismatic Libra through and through. As a Libra author, Fitzgerald is pithy and fun, but with an undercurrent of philosophy. He likes to experiment here and there with his wordplay but, as a Libra, he balances out all that 1920's-style partying with a cutting critique of capitalism and the American Dream. Plus, he would have been a ton of fun to go out drinking with.

Bonus authors: Oscar Wilde and Shel Silverstein (no one is pithier than a Libra)

Scorpios are, in a word, intense. Atwood was born on November 18, 1939, and her work doesn't pull any punches. As a Scorpio, she's excellent at maintaining an aura of mystery while she pushes her characters past the brink of human endurance. Scorpio authors are highly adept when it comes to turning an ugly, real world hardship into transcendent pieces of fiction, and Atwood is no exception.

Bonus authors: Sylvia Plath and Chinua Achebe

Born on December 16, 1775, Jane Austen is the consummate Sagittarius. Both romantic and wonderfully satirical, Austen has the Sagittarian knack for finding humor all around her. Each of her novels is an impeccable comedy of manners, full of life and love and social faux pas. Any Sagittarian will appreciate her wit and her subversion of societal norms long before women writers were a "thing."

Bonus authors: Emily Dickinson and Shirley Jackson (because nothing subverts societal norms like straight up horror stories)

Hurston was born on January 7, 1891, making her a thoughtful, ambitious Capricorn. As a Capricorn author, Hurston's books combine her anthropological research with her knowledge of folklore and her personal experiences, because a true Capricorn does their research before diving into anything. Her work is also shot through with her own philosophy of self-reliance and resilience, which is about as Capricorn as it gets.

Bonus authors: David Sedaris and J.D. Salinger (because Capricorns can't stand phonies)

People might call them eccentric or strange, but Aquarians know that they're just literary pioneers. Toni Morrison was born on February 18, 1931, making her a forward thinking Aquarian. Her characters are deeply human, even if their circumstances are sometimes a tad surreal, and her plots explore themes of justice, or lack thereof. Any Aquarian will find themselves drawn in by her varied cast of characters and her exploration of right, wrong, and every shade in between.

Bonus authors: Langston Hughes and James Joyce (you'll find an Aquarian at the head of almost every major literary movement in the 20th century)

Is he problematic? Sure, but he also has a lot of feelings. Jack Kerouac was born on March 12, 1922, making him a poetic, deep-feeling Pisces. Like a true Pisces, he's able to travel all across North America and still mostly just talk about his own feelings. But for all of his philosophizing, Kerouac's prose is exuberantly beautiful, and certainly enough to ignite any Pisces' wanderlust.

Bonus authors: Victor Hugo and Dr. Seuss (because you don't have to be all that serious to be poetic)