Lists
by Rachel Marks and Rhianna Walton, January 24, 2020 9:11 AM
2020 is the Year of the Rat (take that how you will), which is also the first sign in the Chinese zodiac. Thought to trace its origins to the mythical Chinese Emperor Huangdi (2711-2599 BC), the Chinese zodiac is an ancient classification system based on the lunar calendar that assigns an animal and its attendant characteristics to each year within a 12-year cycle. Like western astrology, the Chinese zodiac is intricate, based not just on animal signs (which break down into yearly, monthly, daily, and hourly classifications), but characteristics like yin/yang, planetary alignment, and the natural elements water, earth, wood, fire, and metal.
While we can’t offer you an astrology chart, we can predict with certainty that 2020 will be the year you read like an animal. To find out which one, check out our list below.
Rat (1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
Happy birthday, Ratty! Rats are quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, and determined... pretty much the kindest way to describe the political class. Explore your inner pundit with Why We’re Polarized, veteran journalist Ezra Klein’s exploration of how the rise of mainstream identity politics in the 1960s led to the partisanship still preventing us from making meaningful progress toward equality and sustainability. (Too glum for a New Year’s read? Remind yourself that politicians can be governed by a moral compass with fellow rat Jimmy Carter’s eloquent plea for gender parity as a human right, A Call to Action.)
Ox (1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)
Fearless and dedicated, the ox is looking for change in 2020 and determined to get it. To fuel that drive, read The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac. Arguing for confronting the climate crisis head-on, Figueres and Rivett-Carnac tell us what governments, corporations, and each of us can and must do to fend off disaster.
Tiger (1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)
Tigers are confident, brave, adventurous, and outspoken, a good match for New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino’s brilliant tour of American popular culture, Trick Mirror. A major millennial voice (OK, boomer, don’t let that deter you — Tolentino’s earning well-deserved comparisons to Joan Didion and Susan Sontag), her breakdowns of everything from scamming culture to the economy of female optimization are candid, sharp, and very funny.
Rabbit (1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
Gentle and intuitive, the rabbit is consistently moving towards their goal. Despite their quiet personality, rabbits welcome surprises to shake things up. And what shakes things up more than going back to your mother’s home country to figure out her past with her ashes in tow? Meng Jin’s Little Gods is a quiet tour de force that explores the complicated bond between daughters and mothers in a story of migrations literal and emotional.
Dragon (1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
As adventurous and confident as the tiger, but with a soupçon of mystery, the dragon is a coveted sign in Chinese astrology. With their thrill-seeking nature and deep intelligence, dragons will find a lot to love in Liz Moore’s literary mystery, Long Bright River, about two sisters separated by addiction. When police officer Mickey’s homeless sister, Kacey, goes missing during a string of unsolved murders in their Philadelphia neighborhood, Mickey’s obsession with finding the killer threatens to undo her. Rich in character and place, Long Bright River is perfect for fans of Tana French and Dennis Lehane (who also happen to be dragons. If you’re a tiger, forget it).
Snake (1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
Sssympathetic and sophisticated (ssskip this suggestion if you’re a tiger), the snake is able to hold their ground in the midst of chaos. Night Theater by Vikram Paralkar offers them a battle to the eye of the storm, as it follows a surgeon who comes face-to-face with the afterlife. A family killed in a violent robbery confronts the surgeon, telling him they have been offered a second chance at living if he can mend their wounds before sunrise.
Horse (1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)
Outspoken and full of energy, the horse says “nay” to simplicity and routine. This year, saddle up for Anna Weiner’s Uncanny Valley, as she takes you on a wild ride from the publishing world to Silicon Valley’s tech industry. Unsparing and incisive, Uncanny Valley is a cautionary tale, showing that the pasture isn’t always greener on the other side.
Goat (1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
Sure, goats are messy, bleating, bearded yard-eaters, but they have a pleasant side too, with their soft brown eyes, sass, and keen intelligence. For the charming, smart, and gentle folks born in the Year of the Goat, we suggest Gabby Noone’s coming-of-age (while dead) novel, Layoverland, which follows pessimistic, wise-cracking teenager Bea Fox into the weird world of limbo after she dies in a car accident. Charged with soothing the minds of troubled souls (including the hot guy responsible for her accident), Layoverland is a spunky story that uses humor to make important points about tragedy, bullying, class conflict, and understanding.
Monkey (1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
Curiosity may kill the cat, but never the inquisitive monkey, which is why it’s the superior animal (sorry, tigers). Monkeys are smart and charismatic, making them appealing, if somewhat nosy, friends and romantic partners. Navigate your relationships with popular astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo's new book, Astrology for Real Relationships, an approachable yet meticulous guide to using your astrological chart to find and commit to your friends, family, lovers, and self.
Rooster (1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Although complex and charming, the rooster is constantly seeking validation from loved ones — and nothing wins over loved ones more than a home-cooked meal. With five seasons of Queer Eye under his belt, Antoni Porowski is well-versed in taking over people’s kitchens. In Antoni in the Kitchen, Porowski takes the opportunity to instead invite you into his kitchen, and shares excellent, easy dinners for every night of the week. You’ll have your friends and family saying, “Yaass, chef” in no time.
Dog (1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Thoughtfully written true crime that reflects on the American social fabric will appeal to the cooperative and loyal dog, who believes first and foremost in the primacy of justice and logic. Emma Copley Eisenberg’s The Third Rainbow Girl, about an unsolved double murder in Appalachia in 1980, fits the bill. Eisenberg embedded in West Virginia’s Pocahontas County for years to investigate the murders, giving her an unusually nuanced perspective on how the crime has altered the community by introducing new fears and antipathies and intensifying the region’s entrenched distrust of outsiders. An exhaustive examination of both a mystery and a part of America that remains mysterious to most, The Third Rainbow Girl is a riveting way to ring in 2020.
Pig (1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
In 2020, a handful of pigs will be turning either 13 or 25 years old. Whether careening toward puberty or a quarter-life crisis, channel your creativity and curiosity into redefining your goals. Familiar with reassessing goals and mid-20s angst, Emira Tucker in Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age is a 25-year-old black babysitter who cares for Alix Chamberlain’s child. When a stranger accuses Emira of kidnapping Alix’s child, a series of events are set off that force the characters to reckon with their biases.
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