Read, Listen, Watch

Staff Picks and Suggestions

Box By Box: Inventorying the Boston Globe Big Dig Records

The Big Dig, a major infrastructure project that aimed to improve traffic flow, dominated the Boston area throughout its construction for 15 years and led to countless articles and columns in the Boston Globe. Former Globe reporters and editors Tom Palmer and Sean Murphy, who both worked at the newspaper for over 30 years, donated their extensive records to the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections, providing a glimpse into the planning and construction of the Big Dig project. (NUASC holds multiple other collections relating to the Big Dig, as well.)

The initial planning of the Big Dig, officially named the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, began in 1982 and actual construction occurred from 1991-2006. The donated records contained articles by both Palmer and Murphy, as well as a third reporter, Charles Sennott.

I find this collection interesting because it is not just a compilation of articles published in the Boston Globe; it consists of the research and reference materials amassed for use in reporting on the issues surrounding the Big Dig. The records reveal the vast context and information a journalist would need to know in order to write cohesive articles, including contracts, technical reports, financial statements, photographs, maps, articles from other news sources, and more.

Below are some selected items to highlight the extent of the collection.

Big Dig Contract Map

Map of Boston with different colored lines representing streets and highways. Various area are labeled with contract numbers


The contracts in progress map is a snapshot of the various contracts happening at one time in downtown Boston and serves as a great visualization of the contracts’ physical locations. It also helps associate the technical contract number with the more publicly known name of any given section of the project, such as the Ted Williams Tunnel identified as contract number C07A1.

The Big Dig Blame Game

Illustrated graphic of a man standing behind a podium, with the neck and tongue of a snake. He is holding a megaphone and is surrounded by a red curtain and creepy clowns driving bumper cars, one of which is holding a shovel. A yellow banner at the top reads "The BIG Dig"


As Massachusetts Governor from 1997-2001, Paul Cellucci was the subject of countless voiced opinions about his tenure and leadership during the Big Dig project. This image of Cellucci as a snake accompanied an article published in a 2000 issue of Boston Magazine that suggested cost overruns were caused by a collective failure of key players, including Cellucci, for not properly managing the project.

A Fifth-Grader’s Opinion on the Big Dig

A piece of notebook paper with a letter written in a child's handwriting: "9/15/97 Dear Globe, I've never seen the big dig but I think it should help Boston. It is horrible traffic in Boston. If the big dig dosn't help it will seem like a wast of 10 billion dollars. Joey LeBlanc Medfield Ma. Dale St. School Grade 5"


Often stuck in traffic with their parents or simply by living in nearby neighborhoods, local students were also affected by the Big Dig project. The Student Newsline section in the Boston Globe presented an opportunity for students to send in their own opinions about the project. Many students offered their own ideas to quickly finish and reduce the costs of the project.

2006 Ceiling Collapse

A gloved hand holds a tape measure to a concrete ceiling, measuring the length of screws sticking down.
A worker stands in a crawlspace above the ceiling of a tunnel, surrounded by concrete and bars.












Reporting on the construction of the Big Dig included documenting tragedies. In 2006, a ceiling panel fell on a car in the Fort Point Channel Tunnel, killing a passenger and injuring the driver. Their family and the public wanted answers as to how the incident could have occurred. As a result, the Boston Globe undertook an in-depth investigation to report and provide answers. These photographs may have been taken to document the other ceiling panels in the rest of the tunnel after the accident occurred.

To learn more about accessing the Boston Globe Big Dig records, email the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections at archives@northeastern.edu.

Aries Peralta (he/him) recently graduated from Simmons University with an MS in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archives management. He received his BA in history from the University of Connecticut.

Reading Challenge Update: June Winner and July Preview

The June Reading Challenge winner is Sam Nussbaum at Northeastern’s Seattle campus! Congratulations to Sam, who won a gift card to the Elliott Bay Book Company, a historic independent bookstore based in Seattle’s Capitol Hill district.

And a huge congratulations to everyone who read a Reading Challenge book in June! To be eligible for the prize drawing, make sure to read a book that fits the month’s theme and then tell us about it. In June, we asked you to read a story of resistance. Here are some of the books you read this month! (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in June

Cover of The Lilac People

The Lilac People: A Novel, Milo Todd
Listen to the audiobook

“A good read. Heart wrenching for sure. I would have liked an author’s note at the end about which (if any) aspects of the story are real, as with other historical fiction. A story of resistance, for sure, and a reminder to stand up early and often.” — Jodi

Cover of Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

“I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner! American society is rapidly collapsing and the narrator is trying to find a better way to live than just surviving. She fights against the collapse by attempting to build a religion and a new kind of community. It’s engaging and harrowing, and somehow incredibly relevant, even now, 30 years after it was originally published.” — Sarah

Cover of Mistborn

Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
Read the e-book

“Incredible world building, interesting characters, fascinating magic system. It’s easy to see why Sanderson is so acclaimed.” — Arjun


Cover of The Dream Hotel

The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami
Listen to the audiobook

“Set in a near-future world where dreams are monitored by the government, The Dream House follows Sara Hussein, whose private thoughts suddenly make her a national threat. The writing is clear, gripping, and emotionally resonant, weaving together themes of surveillance, identity, and freedom in a way that feels all to real. It’s both a page-turner and a wake-up call — chilling, thought-provoking, and beautifully written.” — Sandy

Cover of Most Ardently

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix, Gabe Cole Novoa
Find it at Snell Library

“This is part of the Remixed Classics series, which reframes classic works of literature to center marginalized identities. Here, the main character is a trans boy named Oliver, who struggles to find ways to live as his true self in a world where he is relentlessly misgendered and pressured to become a wife. This version stays true to the original’s happy ending, and it’s so heartwarming to see Oliver and Darcy find each other.” — Amanda

Suggested Reads for July

This July, we challenge you to read a book of essays, poetry, or short stories. Check out our recommended e-book and audiobook titles in Libby, or stop by the Snell Library lobby from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July 17, to browse print books and pick up Reading Challenge swag!

Cover of You Like it Darker

You Like it Darker: Stories, Stephen King
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this collection of 12 stories. King is a master of the form, and these stories are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like it Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

Cover of Waiting for the Long Night Moon

Waiting for the Long Night Moon, Amanda Peters
Listen to the audiobook

In this intimate collection, Amanda Peters melds traditional storytelling with beautiful, spare prose to describe the dignity of the traditional way of life, the humiliations of systemic racism, and the resilient power to endure. At times sad, sometimes disturbing, but always redemptive, the stories in Waiting for the Long Night Moon will remind you that where there is grief, there is also joy; where there is trauma, there is resilience, and most importantly, there is power.

Cover of Knife

Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, Salman Rushdie
Listen to the audiobook

On the morning of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was standing onstage at the Chautauqua Institution when a man in black rushed down the aisle toward him, wielding a knife. His first thought: So it’s you. Here you are. What followed was a horrific act of violence that shook the literary world and beyond. Now, for the first time, Rushdie relives the traumatic events of that day and its aftermath. Knife is Rushdie at the peak of his powers, writing with urgency, gravity, and unflinching honesty. It is also a deeply moving reminder of literature’s capacity to make sense of the unthinkable, an intimate and life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art — and finding the strength to stand up again.

Cover of How to Communicate

How to Communicate: Poems, John Lee Clark
Read the e-book

Deafblind poet John Lee Clark pivots from inventive forms inspired by the Braille slate to sensuous prose poems to incisive erasures that find new narratives in 19th-century poetry. Calling out the limitations of the literary canon, Clark includes path-breaking translations from American Sign Language and Protactile, a language built on touch. How to Communicate embraces new linguistic possibilities that emanate from Clark’s unique perspective and his connection to an expanding, inclusive activist community. Counteracting the assumptions of the sighted and hearing world with humor and grace, Clark finds beauty in the revelations of communicating through touch: “All things living and dead cry out to me / when I touch them.”

Cover of Never Whistle at Night

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., eds
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Listen to the audiobook

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms, but what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear — and even follow you home. These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. These stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.

Whatever you read, make sure to tell us about it to enter the July prize drawing. Good luck, and happy reading!


Deep-Diving Personal Passions at the Library

Poster of Hamilton the musical

I’ve always believed that libraries are not just repositories of books, but also vibrant spaces for discovery, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re collaborating on group projects, diving into specialized research, or simply looking for your next favorite read, as a Library Ambassador, I hope to help you make the most of our library’s extensive resources.

Outside of my academic life, I am a fan of musicals. Over the years, I’ve immersed myself in shows ranging from the classic Phantom of the Opera to the modern MJ. However, one of the most noteworthy Broadway blockbusters in recent years is Hamilton (available to stream through the library). After watching this spectacular musical — a show that fuses hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway flair — I found myself captivated by the real historical figure of Alexander Hamilton. The musical beautifully highlights his ambition, intellect, and relentless drive.

Yet, it left me wanting to know more about the man beyond the stage. This curiosity led me to delve into Alexander Hamilton, a comprehensive biography by Ron Chernow, that I’m excited to recommend to you today.

Book Recommendation: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Cover of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton meticulously chronicles Hamilton’s life story, from his humble origins in the Caribbean to his meteoric rise as an influential Founding Father of the United States. Spanning his time as George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War, his role in shaping America’s financial system as the first Secretary of the Treasury, and his complex personal relationships, Chernow lays out Hamilton’s life with both impressive detail and narrative flair.

One of the most striking aspects is the breadth of historical context provided: Chernow not only profiles Hamilton, but also brings key figures like Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison into sharp focus. This broader look at the era helps readers appreciate the magnitude of Hamilton’s achievements and the nuanced political environment in which he operated.

If you’ve seen the musical, you likely already know some of the highlights: Hamilton’s fearless spirit; his tumultuous personal life; and his electrifying duel with Aaron Burr. However, Chernow’s work goes well beyond the theatrical adaptation. The biography delves deeper into Hamilton’s early life on St. Croix, his self-taught brilliance, and the full scope of his writing — elements that are difficult to capture fully in a stage production. While the musical portrays Hamilton as impulsive yet visionary, Chernow’s account provides ample evidence of his calculated strategies, his sharp legal mind, and his extensive contributions to The Federalist Papers.

You’ll also discover complexities in his relationships that a two-and-a-half-hour show can only hint at. This includes the intricate dynamics with his wife, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, and the lasting emotional toll of his son’s death. Furthermore, the book sheds light on Hamilton’s lengthy political disputes, such as his clash with Jeffersonian Republicans, painting a multifaceted portrait of a man whose passion for country both uplifted and, at times, undercut his influence.

Chernow’s approach to storytelling ensures that you’re not only informed about Hamilton’s achievements but also engaged with the era’s cultural and political nuances. By the time you finish, you’ll grasp just how influential Hamilton was in shaping America’s governance — and how the threads of his life are woven into the national tapestry. The musical may have brought Alexander Hamilton into the cultural spotlight, but this biography cements him as a fascinating, if sometimes controversial, historical figure whose legacy deserves our ongoing attention.

Where to Find the Book

If you’re intrigued and ready to dive deeper into the life of this remarkable statesman, head over to the library’s website and use Scholar OneSearch to find the title, which Huskies can read electronically (or, if you’re on the Oakland campus, physically through the F.W. Olin Library).

In the spirit of Hamilton’s famous line, “I’m not throwing away my shot,” I encourage you not to miss out on either the musical or this immersive biography.

Reading Challenge Update: May Winner and June Preview

The May Reading Challenge winner is Bianca Gallagher! Congratulations to Bianca and to everyone else who read a Reading Challenge book in May.

To be eligible for a prize drawing, make sure to read a book that fits the month’s theme and then tell us about it. In May, we asked you to read a book about your hometown or local area. Here are some of the books you read this month! (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in May

Cover of Dark Tide

Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, Stephen Puleo
Find it at Snell Library

“Since there are no books about my tiny hometown in Central Mass., I read one about Boston. I have always been fascinated by the Boston molasses flood but didn’t know much about it. This book provided a thoroughly researched account of what led up to the event, the flood itself, and the aftermath as they tried to figure out who was at fault. In a city teeming with history, the flood is often overlooked or joked about but it was tragedy that took place at a pivotal moment of time in Boston and the country.” — Kerri

Cover of American Pastoral

American Pastoral, Philip Roth
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“The New Jersey town name dropping was delightful, and the book was thought-provoking for sure. Wish I’d read an American lit seminar, then maybe I’d understand exactly what he was trying to say about the life and death of the American ideal.” — Jodi


Cover of Exciting Times

Exciting Times: A Novel, Naoise Dolan
Buy it at Bookshop.org

“Set in Hong Kong, which is my hometown! It’s the first book I ever read set there and it was a lot of fun seeing my childhood spaces represented on the page!” — Nobel



Cover of North Woods

North Woods: A Novel, Daniel Mason
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

“LOVED LOVED LOVED. Reminded me of The Overstory. Made me happy and I wanted to read it. Helped me appreciate and connect with nature. A little technical at times (I had to Google words a lot) but 10/10 recommend.” — Geneva


Suggested Reads for June

In celebration of Pride Month, your June challenge is to read a book that tells a story of resistance. Check out our recommended e-book and audiobook titles in Libby or stop by the Snell Library lobby from 1 – 3 p.m. on June 11 and 12 to browse print books and pick up Reading Challenge swag.

Cover of The Other Olympians

The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports, Michael Waters
Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Listen to the audiobook

In December 1935, Zdeněk Koubek, one of the most famous sprinters in European women’s sports, declared he was now living as a man. Around the same time, the celebrated British field athlete Mark Weston, also assigned female at birth, announced that he, too, was a man. Periodicals and radio programs across the world carried the news; both became global celebrities. A few decades later, they were all but forgotten. In The Other Olympians, Michael Waters uncovers, for the first time, the gripping true stories of pioneering trans and intersex athletes. “This riveting audiobook brings all the facts and showcases why we need to acknowledge try history in today’s social climate.” — Book Riot

Cover of Book and Dagger

Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II, Elyse Graham
Listen to the audiobook

At the start of WWII, the U.S. found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was quickly formed—and in an effort to fill its ranks with experts, the OSS turned to academia for recruits. Suddenly, literature professors, librarians, and historians were training to perform undercover operations and investigative work—and these surprising spies would go on to profoundly shape both the course of the war and our cultural institutions. Book and Dagger is an inspiring and gripping true story about a group of academics who helped beat the Nazis—a tale that reveals the incredible power of the humanities to change the world.

Cover of By the Fire We Carry

By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, Rebecca Nagle
Listen to the audiobook

Before 2020, American Indian reservations made up roughly 55 million acres of land in the United States. In the 1830s, Muscogee people were rounded up by the U.S. military at gunpoint and forced to exile halfway across the continent. At the time, they were promised this new land would be theirs for as long as the grass grew and the waters ran. But that promise was not kept. Rebecca Nagle recounts the generations-long fight for tribal land and sovereignty in eastern Oklahoma. By chronicling both the contemporary legal battle and historic acts of Indigenous resistance, By the Fire We Carry stands as a landmark work of American history.

Cover of Marsha

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson, Tourmaline
Listen to the audiobook

Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and the struggle of the early gay rights movement. She performed with RuPaul and with the internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists, from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today. Marsha didn’t want to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up.

Cover of Chain-Gang All-Stars

Chain-Gang All-Stars: A Novel, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Listen to the audiobook

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of the Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly popular, highly controversial profit-raising program in America’s increasingly dominant private prison industry. It’s the return of the gladiators, and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. But CAPE’s corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system’s unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration.

Whatever you read, make sure to tell us about it to enter the June prize drawing. Good luck, and happy reading!

Reading Challenge Update: April Winner and May Preview

Paws, the Northeastern husky mascot, sits on a yellow couch in Snell Library holding a copy of Ready Player One and giving a thumb's up

Happy May! Spring has sprung in Boston, and students are gearing up to leave campus for the summer. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 as they celebrate commencement, and congratulations to everyone who participated in the April Reading Challenge! Our winner this month is Kayla Bolling, who takes home a custom Northeastern University Library poster.

To be eligible for the prize drawing, make sure to read a book that fits the month’s theme and then tell us about it. In April, we asked you to read a book recommended by a librarian. Here are some of the librarian-approved titles readers enjoyed this month! (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in April

Cover of Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Read the e-book

“This was recommended to me by a librarian at Seattle Public Library in the ‘healing fiction’ category, a genre that first emerged in Korea and Japan. It’s set in a tiny Tokyo café where people sit in a chair that can travel back in time, but only for the time it takes for a cup of coffee to turn cold. This book is a deeply immersive journey into the desire to hold on to the past.” — Jyoti

Cover of Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

“Really interesting and topical. It’s amazing how much prescience Butler had. Lauren’s religion of Earthseed has a lot of great values I think people should internalize nowadays. Essential read in a lot of ways, particularly in a climate-challenged world.” — Nobel

Cover of Legendborn

Legendborn, Tracy Deonn
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“I was blown away by how this book handles complex topics like America’s history with slavery, intergenerational trauma, and the erasure of Black people’s stories all while exploring its supernatural elements. I recommend this book to anyone who loves modern takes on old legends. I’m currently reading through the sequel, Bloodmarked, and I’m excited to finish the trilogy!” — Nina

Cover of Gwen & Art are Not in Love

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, Lex Croucher
Find it at Snell Library | Listen to the audiobook

“Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher is a charming tale that artfully combines queer romance, the warmth of found family, political intrigue, and a healthy dose of humor. Overall, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is about accepting yourself, fighting for happiness, and discovering that real love is worth pursuing. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys medieval settings, found family stories, or queer romance. And last but not least, anyone who believes that self-love is truly worth it will find this book rewarding.” — Ankita

Suggested Reads for April

In honor of those readers who may be heading home for the summer break, your May challenge is to read a book about your hometown or local area. This can be your actual hometown, an adopted hometown, or wherever you’re spending your summer!

We’ve put together a selection of titles in Libby focused on some of the (many!) geographic regions represented at Northeastern. You can also stop by the Snell Library lobby from 1 – 3 p.m. on May 14 and May 15 to browse print books and pick up Reading Challenge swag.

If you’re from the Boston area…

Cover of Rough Sleepers

Rough Sleepers, Tracy Kidder
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

Harvard Medical School graduate and Massachusetts General Hospital resident Jim O’Connell is asked to spend a year developing a program to provide free healthcare to homeless Bostonians. The work changes the course of Jim’s life.


Cover of Wild Swans

If you’re from mainland China…

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang
Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book

Jung Chang traces her life, her mother’s life, and her grandmother’s life in this true family epic spanning a century in China.

Cover of Mutual Interest

If you’re from New York City…

Mutual Interest, Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

In the early 20th century, desperate to escape their stifling hometown and live as authentically as their time period allows, a lesbian and a gay man form a marriage of convenience. In New York City, Oscar and Vivian find love and success — but their secrets may not be as safe as they hope.

Cover of Palo Alto

If you’re from Northern California…

Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World, Malcolm Harris
Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book

Malcolm Harris dives into the history and mythology of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, dating from the first white settlers to the outsize — and disastrous — grip of Silicon Valley and its corporate denizens on global industry, economy, and politics.

Cover of The Museum of Failures

If you’re from Mumbai, India…

The Museum of Failures, Thrity Umrigar
Listen to the audiobook

Successful mid-30s executive Remy Wadia has returned to India, specifically Bombay, for the first time since he left to attend college in the United States. He’s there to adopt a baby, but he’s also reunited with the mother he’s resented for years, who is now gravely ill. Remy’s homecoming will dig up long-buried family secrets.

Cover of Mad Honey

If you’re from New Hampshire…

Mad Honey, Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Read the e-book

Olivia thought she had escaped her small New Hampshire hometown forever, but a rift in her marriage sends her and her teenage son back to her childhood home. When a local teen, who was new to town, is found dead, and Olivia’s son Asher is the prime suspect, Olivia is forced to realize that she may not know her own child as well as she thought.

Cover of Bad City

If you’re from Los Angeles…

Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, Paul Pringle
Listen to the audiobook

In 2016, Los Angeles Times reporter Paul Pringle receives a tip about a drug overdose at a posh hotel and expects it to be a quick investigation. Instead he uncovers a deep web of secrets, conspiracies, and cover-ups implicating not just the University of Southern California, but the newsroom of the Los Angeles Times itself.

Whatever you read, make sure to tell us about it to enter the May prize drawing. Good luck, and happy reading!