Darkside Zodiac

Rating:
Summary: Bitingly True
Review: I Loved Darkside Zodiac. If you want to know why you do all of the "bad" things you do this is the book for you. The books format could be annoying for some readers with its brightly colored pages. Just don't expect the author to say anything nice about your sign because they won't. Also having your birthchart handy will be helpful. A number of websites will produce one for free.

Rating:
Summary: Bitingly True
Review: I Loved Darkside Zodiac. If you want to know why you do all of the "bad" things you do this is the book for you. The books format could be annoying for some readers with its brightly colored pages. Just don't expect the author to say anything nice about your sign because they won't. Also having your birthchart handy will be helpful. A number of websites will produce one for free.

Rating:
Summary: Cynical and Repetitive
Review: I thought that this would be a book with something new and clever to add to the Astrology world.

It doesn't.

Despite its heft (from the heavy, glossy pages) and slick, colorful presentation, a lot of the information found within is repetitive. There are a few hidden jewels within, but I couldn't get past how nastily the author treats each of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac. Shedding light on shadow patterns is one thing; brittle and biting cynicism is quite another.

This would be a great gift book for those who are cynical, but I don't see much value for anything else.

Rating:
Summary: hilariously cynical
Review: I'm pretty sure this is the only book that has ever made me laugh so hard that I cried. Most days the glossed over brightside astrology can be really annoying and this book is a wonderfully refreshing book to laugh at yourself...and others. I enjoyed it because I know at least one person for every sign. Some people may not like it, like my mother, who said "why are you reading that? it's says horrible things about you!", but at least I didn't mind. Some of the negative traits are a little exaggerated (like all pisces being drug addicts), but it still makes it funny. You will get the most enjoyment out of the book if you, like me, actually beleive in astrology and the basic character traits do apply to you. I think I laughed the hardest when she wrote about the pisces room/house and about my collection of random string that may be useful at some point....and then looking over at my shelf with my random string that may be useful at some point. Even if the things don't apply to you, it's still funny to read for any of the signs because it is so cynical and clever.

Rating:
Summary: This book is hilarious!
Review: Shockingly accurate, scathingly true. WOW! My family and I had a great time with this book. We had a huge laugh-fest while reading this book together....laughing at each other because almost everything the book said about each of our signs was TRUE. Loved all the graphics and tactile sensations on the pages, too.
WELL worth the cheap price.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, in a dark, cynical way
Review: The author warns you before reading the book that it is cynical. However, with a sense of humor, it can be a funny, interesting look at yourself. Sometimes it does go a little too far, but I feel that it's all in fun.

If you read the book straight through, it gets a little repetitive. It's better if you skip around to the sections that interest you most.

As far as the colors go, I found the sections for Scorpio (black/orange), Leo (black/yellow), and Taurus (black/hot pink) the most difficult to read, with Taurus being near excruciating. I enjoyed the glossy pages, but some readers might find the glare annoying.

Otherwise, it is a good book, best tempered with a positive astrology book shortly after.


Rating:
Summary: A nasty sort of fun
Review: The formatting is a little off, the colors are wack at times, and it leans to crudeness. If you're looking to find meaningful insights into astrology, you will be disappointed in this. The summaries dig jokes at the the more unpleasant aspects of Zodiac personalities, often in extremes. If you can't handle that, it's not for you. At all.

But if you can laugh at yourself and your friends, it's a hilarious read.

Rating:
Summary: Humblingly accurate
Review: When you've read everything about how cool your Sun sign is, and are ready to move on the dark stuff you knew was there, but just hadn't admitted yet, get this book. I've studied astrology for years now, and even Linda Goodman (whose works I truly love) always manages to "spin" the negative characteristics I know I have into something positive. In the spirit of honesty though, I've always believed knowing your darkside can lead to being able to temper it a little.

The reviewer who was critical of the colored pages and text DOES have a point - the ones I found most difficult to read were the dark blue pages with lighter typeface. But I resolved that by getting directly under my overhead light to read (the reading lamp just seemed to cast a glare on the page, making it more difficult to read). I mention this for any readers who have visual impairments, particularly with contrast.

Overall, though, great read, and definitely a book I will keep in my library.