Read, Listen, Watch

Staff Picks and Suggestions

Reading Challenge Update: August Winner and September Preview

Happy fall semester, and congratulations to everyone who participated in the August Reading Challenge! Our August winner is Yeeun Han, who won a Northeastern water bottle. To be eligible for the prize drawing, make sure to read a book that fits that month’s theme and then tell us about it.

In August, we challenged you to read a book translated from another language. Here are a few of the books you read. (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in August

Cover of Heart Lamp

Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq (translated by Deepa Bhasthi)
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“Heart Lamp is a soulful collection of short stories shining light on the lives, struggles, and quiet resilience of Muslim women in southern India. Translated beautifully by Deepa Bhasthi, it blends humor, emotion, and cultural depth, making everyday moments feel both intimate and powerful.” — Abighna

Cover of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Olga Tokarczuk (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book

“This book, first published in Polish, is the book I selected for my book club to read this month. I was drawn to the book because of the description of the eccentric recluse who is our narrator. It is set during the dark winter days in a remote location in Poland near the border of the Czech Republic. The characters are interesting, and it hooked me right away. It is unlike any book I’ve ever read. I’m not sure what my book club will say, but I enjoyed reading it.” — Meegan

Cover of Strange Beasts of China

Strange Beasts of China, Yan Ge (translated by Jeremy Tiang)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“Honestly, I picked this book because the cover looked cool, but it turned out to be way better than I expected. I thought it would just be a fun story about mythical creatures, but it’s actually about people, emotions, and the blurry line between what’s real and what’s not. Each chapter pulled me in more. The writing felt simple, but also really deep, and even though it left me with a lot of questions, that’s what made it so memorable.” — Harshith

Cover of The Hour of the Star

The Hour of the Star, Clarice Lispector (translated by Giovanni Pontiero and Benjamin Moser)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“Hour of the Star is a brief yet powerful exploration of poverty, invisibility, and the act of storytelling itself, framed through the self-conscious narrator Rodrigo S.M. The story of Macabéa, an unremarkable typist in Rio, becomes a moving reflection on the value of overlooked lives and the uncomfortable dynamics between narrator, subject, and reader.” — Sandy

Suggested Reads for September

Your September challenge is to read a book about somewhere you’d like to travel. 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, September 17, and Thursday, September 18, to browse print books and pick up Reading Challenge swag!

Cover of The House of Last Resort

The House of Last Resort, Christopher Golden
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In rural Italy, the beautiful, crumbling hilltop town of Becchina is half empty, nearly abandoned by those who migrate to the coast or to cities. To rebuild, its mayor sells abandoned homes to anyone in the world for a single Euro, as long as the buyer promises to live there for at least five years. For American couple Tommy and Kate Puglisi, it feels like a romantic adventure. But from the moment they move in, they both feel a shadow has fallen. The place makes strange noises at night, locked doors are suddenly open, and Kate and Tommy are certain people are whispering about their house, which one neighbor refers to as The House of Last Resort. Meanwhile, down in the catacombs beneath Becchina…something stirs.

Cover of The Paris Novel

The Paris Novel, Ruth Reichl
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When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading “Go to Paris.” Alone in a foreign city, Stella stumbles across a vintage store, where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that the dress was meant for Stella and for the first time in her life, Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress—and embarks on an adventure. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.

Cover of The Sun Sets in Singapore

The Sun Sets in Singapore, Kehinde Fadipe
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For Dara, a workaholic lawyer from the U.K., Singapore is an opportunity. For Amaka, a sharp-tongued banker from Nigeria, Singapore is extravagance. And for Lillian, a former pianist turned “trailing spouse” from the U.S., Singapore is reinvention. But complications are looming for the women’s glamorous expat lifestyle, in the form of an enigmatic stranger whose presence exposes cracks in Singapore’s beguiling façade. In The Sun Sets in Singapore, Kehinde Fadipe captures the richness of this metropolis through the eyes of three tenacious women, who are about to learn that unfinished history can follow you anywhere, no matter how far you run from home.

Cover of Migrations

Migrations, Charlotte McConaghy
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Leaving behind everything but her research gear, Franny Stone arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica. Franny talks her way onto a fishing boat, and she and the crew set sail, traveling ever further from shore and safety. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool, it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds. When Franny’s dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?

Cover of A City on Mars

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

EARTH IS NOT WELL. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of research, they aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. A City on Mars answers every question about space you’ve ever wondered, and many you’ve never considered: Can you make babies in space? Should corporations govern space settlements? What about space war? Are we headed for a housing crisis on the Moon’s Peaks of Eternal Light—and what happens if you’re left in the Craters of Eternal Darkness? Why do astronauts love taco sauce? Speaking of meals, what’s the legal status of cannibalism? Get in, we’re going to Mars.

Cover of Death in the Air

Death in the Air, Ram Murali
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Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, wealthy and erudite, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. But a person—or several—could also die there. As it turns out, the colorful cast of characters at Samsara harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one. As the death toll rises, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems…including Ro himself.

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

Reading Challenge Update: July Winner and August Preview

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the July Reading Challenge! Our July winner is Abhigna Police, who won a Paws READ poster. 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.

This month, we challenged you to read a book of short stories, essays, or poetry. Here are a few of the books you read! (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in July

Cover of The Hill We Climb

The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country, Amanda Gorman
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

“This poem reminds me that even in the darkest times, there’s always a spark of light. Gorman’s voice is powerful but gentle, commanding attention without shouting.” — Aanshi


Cover of Bad Feminist

Bad Feminist: Essays, Roxanne Gay
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“Some of the essays felt a little contradictory. I did like the book, as it gave me a new perspective, but I was hoping for more data than opinion.” — Brooke


Cover of The Serviceberry

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Robin Wall Kimmerer
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Read the e-book | Listen to the audiobook

“This is the newest of Dr. Kimmerer’s books, and I really needed the message of reciprocity, mutual flourishing, and abundance right now. Dr. Kimmerer’s writing is absolute artistry. She clearly notices and appreciates the connectedness of life. I read this right after reading Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s Abundance, and I really needed something that was less policy-minded and more dedicated to beauty. This was the perfect companion!” — Sam

Cover of I, Robot

I, Robot, Isaac Asimov
Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“I had a really fun time reading I, Robot. It explores technology and ethics through fun little machine stories. One of my favorites was about a robot named Cutie, who decides that humans couldn’t have built him, and instead creates his own belief system centered around a greater power. As someone in tech and engineering, these stories really made me think about robots and how they can reflect human nature.” — Shree

Cover of Unaccustomed Earth

Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri
Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“I typically don’t enjoy short stories, but I will read anything by Jhumpa Lahiri, and this book made me consider reading more short stories. Lahiri is a master storyteller and keeps culture at the forefront of it all.” — Rachel


Suggested Reads for August

Your August challenge is to read a book translated from another language. 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, August 20, and Thursday, August 21, to browse print books and pick up Reading Challenge swag!

Cover of Butter

Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder, Asako Yukuzi (translated by Polly Barton)
Find it at Snell Library | Read the e-book

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen. The case has captured the nation’s imagination, but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew, and Kajii can’t resist writing back. As visits unfold between Rika and the steely Kajii, Rika begins to wonder: do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?

Cover of The Café with No Name

The Café with No Name, Robert Seethaler (translated by Katy Derbyshire)
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Summer 1966. Raised in a home for war orphans, Robert Simon has grown into a warm-hearted, hard-working, and determined man. When the former owners of the corner café in Vienna’s Carmelite market square shutter the business, Robert sees that the chance to realize his dream has arrived. The place, dark and dilapidated, is in a poor neighborhood of the Austrian capital, but the air is filled with a desire for renewal. Robert refurbishes the café and customers arrive. Some are in search of company, others long for love, and some seek a place where they can feel understood. As the city is transformed, Robert’s café becomes at once a place of refuge and one from which to observe, mourn, and rejoice.

Cover of The Empusium

The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story, Olga Tokarczuk (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones)
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library | Listen to the audiobook

September 1913. A young Pole suffering from tuberculosis arrives at Wilhelm Opitz’s Guesthouse for Gentlemen in the village of Görbersdorf, a health resort in the Silesian mountains. Every evening, the residents gather in imbibe the hallucinogenic local liqueur and debate the great issues of the day. Meanwhile, disturbing things are happening in the guesthouse and the surrounding hills. Someone—or something— seems to be watching, attempting to infiltrate this cloistered world. Little does the newcomer realize, as he tries to unravel both the truths within himself and the mystery of the sinister forces beyond, that they have already chosen their next target.

Cover of My Name is Emilia del Valle

My Name is Emilia del Valle, Isabel Allende (translated by Frances Riddle)
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In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman. As an adult, Emilia becomes a journalist, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. When an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile, she seizes it, and as the war escalates, Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.

Cover of The Morning Star

The Morning Star, Karl Ove Knausgaard (translated by Martin Aitkin)
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One long night in August, Arne and Tove are staying with their children in their summer house in southern Norway. Their friend Egil has his own place nearby. Kathrine, a priest, is flying home from a Bible seminar, questioning her marriage. Journalist Jostein is out drinking for the night, while his wife Turid, a nurse at a psychiatric care unit, is on a night shift when one of her patients escapes. Above them all, a huge star suddenly appears blazing in the sky. It brings with it a mysterious sense of foreboding. Strange things start to happen as nine lives come together under the star.

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

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.)

Aries Peralta, wearing a black jacket, gray baseball cap, and glasses, pulls a box off a shelf in the archives
Aries Peralta works in the Archives and Special Collections. Photo courtesy of Molly Brown

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.

Issue and Inquiry and Urban Confrontation: Two Radio Programs Covering Urban Issues in Uncertain Times

Two radio program collections available in the Digital Repository Service (DRS) — Issue and Inquiry and Urban Confrontation — document social progress and unrelenting difficulties within American cities in 1970-71. Airing on Northeastern University’s radio station WRBB, the programs were produced the university’s now-defunct Division of Instructional Communication. (Urban Confrontation noted that it ended in 1971 for financial reasons.)

Black and white image of two students sitting in a recording studio. They are wearing headphones and sitting at a table while surrounded by 1960s-era recording equipment
Students working in the WRBB (then WNEU) radio station in 1969. Photo courtesy of Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections.

Episodes were primarily hosted by Joseph R. Baylor and feature interviewees from across the United States discussing wide-ranging topics. From the threat of nuclear warfare to the farm labor rights movement, from the “longhair” youth subculture to de-facto school segregation, these episodes present a sweeping view of both common anxieties and optimistic ideas about the future of city life.

As a metadata assistant in Digital Production Services, I performed a survey of the episodes and their associated metadata records. This helped me understand how descriptive information should appear in the DRS. For example, I investigated how titles, creators, subjects, and abstracts should be recorded for each episode. Next, I created an editing plan, performed batch edits, and carefully listened to each episode. As I listened, I recorded accurate information about the episodes so it could be updated in the DRS.

I selected two interesting episodes to highlight here, but be sure to check out the full collection for more episodes.

Oil in Santa Barbara: The Pollution Tragedy (Issue and Inquiry, Episode 10)

In this episode from 1970, Al Weingand, Bob Solan, and Dick Smith discuss a Union Oil offshore drilling well explosion that occurred on January 28, 1969, expelling two million gallons of uncontrolled oil into Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California. Topics include the oil’s effect on tourism, local economy, wildlife, fishing, and environmental safety concerns.

Weingand, a Santa Barbara resident and former California legislative member, explains that no other disasters can compare to the devastation of the oil pollution. Smith, a reporter for the Santa Barbara News Press, calls for greater investment in tourist value of beaches, saying that offshore oil well spills are dangerous both environmentally and economically. Solan, another reporter for the News Press, covers the psychological benefits of beautiful surroundings for Santa Barbara residents.

This episode was produced in a time of evolving standards for environmental safety and presents an intimate view of lives affected by oil pollution.

Afro-American Culture: The Black Artist Unchained (Urban Confrontation, Episode 11)
Elma Lewis, a Black woman with dark hair in a bun, stands in front of flowers with a huge smile on her face. Her hands are clasped over her chest.
Elma Lewis candid. Courtesy of the National Center of Afro-American Artists records (M42) at Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections.

“The business that I am about is resurrecting that dormant conscious pride that Black people have had and should have.” — Elma Lewis (4:57)

In this episode, airing in 1970, arts educator and activist Elma Lewis discusses the intertwined histories of Black labor and Black cultural impact in America. She speaks critically of modern art because she says it lacks a basis in life experience. This, Lewis explains, is why Black contributions to American culture transcend art and extend to labor and life experience, which has formed the basis of American society. Throughout the program, Baylor asks Lewis to respond to common racist comments about Black culture. Despite Baylor’s insistence that Lewis speak to his white audience, she intentionally denies this request. Laughing, she replies, “I don’t answer nonsense. I’m not in the business of answering nonsense.”

For more information on Elma Lewis, explore the DRS. More materials from the Elma Lewis collections (Elma Ina Lewis papers, Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts records) are expected to be available in the DRS in 2026.

I wanted to highlight these two episodes because they made me think deeply about both everyday problems and large socio-political injustices which continue to affect us today. “Oil in Santa Barbara” presents opinions from concerned community members in California. It focuses on their reaction to environmental pollution, showing common anxieties about business success, health, and the beauty of their local natural environment. By contrast, “Afro-American Culture” features distinguished Black arts educator Elma Lewis. She discusses fine arts movements, while also celebrating Black joy and artistry in the face of wide-scale systemic racism.

I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to help make these shows available in the DRS. Both Issue and Inquiry and Urban Confrontation hold potential research value for those interested in viewing snapshots of American life in the early 1970s.

Chelsea McNeil served as a part-time metadata assistant in Digital Production Services.

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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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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
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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
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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!