To the Virgos Who Read
A book for each Virgo personality trait
I’m not someone who believes in horoscopes and zodiac signs, but as a Virgo, I researched the personality types of each sign for fun. I have seen people read books suggested to them based on their zodiac, so I wanted to participate by recommending books to other Virgos.
Get to know a Virgo
This earth sign is born between August 23rd and September 22nd. Virgos have high standards and try their hardest to seem perfect, but underneath the facade, they are freaking out. They are detail-oriented and love to organize their lives. If you plan to become friends with them, give them a random fact you learned or a juicy piece of gossip.
The detail devotee
I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end. — Drew Barrymore
There are many possibilities for detail-oriented stories, but I chose by Alix E. Harrow. It’s a beloved portal fantasy published in 2019. The story follows January Scaller, who lives in a mansion filled with treasures, and one day she discovers a book about secret doors and other worlds. She soon notices that the story is entwined with her own.
I read this book in 2020 because it was recommended to me by a friend, and the beginning had me in a trance. The writing is whimsical, beautiful, and incredibly detailed. I didn’t particularly enjoy the whole book, but many do.
The gentle souls
In a gentle way, you can shake the world. — Mahatma Gandhi
My goal is to be a Virgo with a gentle soul. To trick myself, I pick up a gentle read every once in a while. I recommend by Helene Hanff for this personality trait. It’s a memoir written in letter format from Hanff to a used-book dealer in London. The friendship formed between the two is warm and welcoming. The letters are witty and charming, and the story makes you want to get cozy on the couch.
The loyal friend
I’ll take fifty percent efficiency to get one hundred percent loyalty. — Samuel Goldwyn
I often find loyalty in books hard to come by. I thought long and hard about this choice, and I could only think of by S.A. Cosby. It’s a novel about a black father and a white father who come together to seek vengeance for the murder of their sons. They, unfortunately, accept who their sons are after they’re gone, but they prove their loyalty and love by the end of the book.
If you pick this book up, please read the triggers and content warnings, as it does contain a heavy amount of violence.
The analytical mind
Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on it it unhindered and let it defend itself. — Leo Tolstoy
by Clint Smith is perfect for the Virgos who love organization and new information. It’s a nonfiction book revealing America as a slave owning nation. It’s formatted in a way that scratches an itch in your brain. You can tell that Smith took his time researching and writing this book, and I know that Virgos will appreciate it.
The well-rounded Virgo
Fiction allows you to embody certain ideas and give them an emotional reality. The characters allow you to get close viscerally to an idea. — Anne Michaels
Let’s start with the book that embodies the earth sign. I chose by Claire Keegan, a novella shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2022. The setting is a small Irish town where a coal merchant delivers coal to local businesses, but the book concentrates on a local convent and its secrets. It checks all the boxes previously mentioned, but the characters handle the resources that earth provides us.
An ode to television lovers
If you’re looking for a show to watch with a Virgo-esque character, is a perfect example. Toph is an earth-bender in this television show, and not only does she represent the blind community, but she’s a strong-willed yet lovable character. If you don’t typically read books, then try this!
Virgos are well-rounded earth signs that give one hundred percent at all times. They’re flawed, but that only makes them stronger. They will do anything for the people they love without hesitation. So, next time you interact with a Virgo who reads, think back to this list.
