Customer Reviews

Queer Astrology for Men

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3 star:		(1)
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Being an accredited astrologer myself, I was a bit cynical when I ordered this book. I expected the kind of vapid babble in the style of Joan Quigley or Linda Goodman. WRONG! This lady really impressed me with her knowledge, not to mention her salty wit! I am ordering more copies to have on hand for gifts!

Knowing little about astrology, I found this book an excellent way to find out what all the fuss is about what the stars have in store for us. I received this book as a present from my lover, and together we read it and laughed over the many right-on insights Ms. Dearman had concerning Aries-Taurus relationships. I really liked the way the author used over-the-top humor and pop references to draw me in. She obviously takes astrology very seriously, and is generous in her evaluations and pointers. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who feels out of the loop when it comes to horoscope matters. Well done!

As someone who loves to check out my daily horoscope, it's often frustrating to read predictions that have nothing to do with my life. It's great that Jill Dearman has written this new book, which is not only "out-and-out" hilarious, but also examines issues and matters that are very dear to me and my partner. In a remarkably fun and breezy matter, Jill covers a lot of territory and leaves me wanting more. I can't wait for her sequel!

Finally, an astrology book for gay men that combines serious wit and worldly observations with revealing and unique case studies. No, Dearman isn't mild nor shy in her commentaries which may occasionally raise your blood pressure. But the truth, I quickly realized, is often not an easy pill to swallow. She's right and she knows it. Thankfully, her humorous style eases reading about discoveries between certain sun signs that may appear less than flattering. She's on your side and understands well the honest and human foibles we all make. Also, I appreciated the paragraph after each sign which stresses the importance of one's rising sign and moon. Here she clarifies that sun signs never tell the whole story. The section on the Pisces man offers insight into why I continue making daunting journeys down familiar trails with the wrong guys. Dearman's voice seems to come out of a strangely intuitive place, as if she's karmicly connected with the gay male psyche. She's speaking directly to you as she offers no holds barred sisterly advice to her gay brethren. I'll definitely be referring my friends to this great book as they make their stabs into dating or settling down. Already, I make a point of referencing the compatibility section before going any further than that first cup of coffee.

From a book review in the gay spirit magazine Visionary:

Astrology is, I believe, a true science, and thus truth can be revealed in explication of the science, its method and mysteries. In this book, however, the author, who writes a popular astrology column for New York's trendy HX magazine, comes off as being far less a scientist with a firm grasp on her science as an ego-driven little girl who gets off on telling others the locus of what she perceives as their problems. Part One explores each sun sign: In Life, In Bed, How to Seduce Him, Doing Him and Dating Him, How to Last over the Long Haul, How to Get Rid of Him, and explanation of of each sign's three decanates. In the second half, Dearman interprets sign compatability. Throughout, Dearman speaks in a disconcertingly removed voice Ð in the Aries section, for example, she addresses not Aries men but their (potential) partners. Granted that writing an astrology book is a slippery slope, making generalizations so specific as to make the reader believe that the book is written only for him or her. Yet even the author's broad characterizations are sometimes so off-target as to make myself, as well as several friends reading their pertinent material, feel as if our horoscopes were not written for us at all. Underlying this sort of general misinformation is a tone which the author calls "irreverent," but which I felt was disparaging, often offensive. For example, at various points the author asks pointless trivia questions, then denigrates the reader for not knowing the answer, calling the reader "idiot," "dumb," and other insults. Perhaps I grew up in a different era of astrology (I had my first reading was in 1979), but it's always been my understanding that astrology is a compassionate art, not means for the astrologer to demonstrate her/his presumed intellectual superiority. Far more authoritative is Michael Jay's Gay Love Signs (rev.ed., Penguin, 1990). Although not as witty as Dearman, at least Jay regards his subject and readers with genuine understanding without constant flippancy. Jay's book has none of acrid cattiness of Dearman1s to distract the aspirant from learning about the way of astrology, and from learning how the ways of the Sun and planets is a way of knowing oneself and others.