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Congratulations to everyone who completed the third month of the 2026 Reading Challenge! Our March winner is Sandy Chi, who wins a pen and notebook set in honor of the month’s theme: a book written in letters or diary entries. Here are a few of the books you read this month. (Reader comments may be edited for length and clarity.)

84, Charing Cross Road, Helen Hanff
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“This book had been on my list for a few years and I’m so glad the epistolary prompt for March finally put it at the top of my list! It’s a calm and very pleasant post-war period correspondence between a New York woman and English booksellers, all of whom are chock full of personality. The people in this book will stay with me. This is a very quick read but it gave me an enormous reading list to follow Helene’s explorations of English literature.” — Alaina

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie
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“I’m a huge Christie fan, so this book hit all the sweet spots for me! One of her most famous endings and deservedly so. Everything about this book is cleverly constructed, and the diary formatting works to structure the mystery in a super interesting way. Plus, lots of great Poirot moments!” — Nobel

“I picked up this book thinking it would be a normal mystery, but Agatha Christie really fooled me in the cleanest way. The story feels simple at first, but every person in that village is acting a little weird, so you keep guessing and second-guessing yourself. And then the ending…bro, I literally closed the book and sat there like WHAT. HOW. HOWWW. I even re-read the last pages because my brain refused to accept it. Honestly, after finishing it, I kept thinking back to early chapters and realizing she hinted so many times and I still missed it.” — Sonali

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
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“The Perks of Being a Wallflower has moments that genuinely hit. Charlie’s loneliness feels real and the tenderness is hard to shake. But somewhere along the way, it started feeling more like a mood than a story, and I never quite fully connected with it the way I wanted to.” — Sandy

“This was another great read. It touches on a lot of sensitive topics in a very natural way that makes me use my brain to put it together.” — Masha

The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
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“What makes it remarkable isn’t just the historical context. It’s the interior life on display. A teenager rigorously interrogating her own identity, relationships, and sense of self under conditions of extreme external constraint. It’s one of the most intimate documents we have of consciousness trying to remain intact when the outside world is systematically trying to erase it.” — Fresnel

“Reading Anne Frank’s diary felt different than any other book I’ve read. It’s so honest and so normal in some parts that you forget she’s writing all this while hiding for her life. And then suddenly it hits you again, and the whole thing becomes heavy in your chest. By the time I finished it, I felt this strange mix of sadness and respect. She writes with so much hope, and knowing what happens to her later makes every line feel heavier. I closed the book feeling quiet, like I needed a minute to just sit with it. It stays with you in a way that’s not dramatic, just painfully real.” — Sonali

What to Read in April

In celebration of National Library Week (April 6-12), we’re challenging you to read a book recommended by a librarian in April. You can find a few recommended reads below, and we’ve assembled a big list of recommendations from the Northeastern Library staff, all of which are available in print, e-book, or audiobook format from the library.

Make sure to stop by the Snell Library lobby on Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, to browse recommended books from the print collection. It’s also your last chance to pick up Reading Challenge swag this semester. Remember: whatever you read, make sure to tell us about it to enter the prize drawing!

Atmosphere: A Love Story, Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Recommended by: Bahare Sanaie-Movahed, Geospatial & GIS Specialist
Bahare says: “A compelling and emotional read that blends personal journeys with broader themes, making it both engaging and thought-provoking.”

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, Trevor Noah
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Recommended by: Karen Merguerian, Head of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
Karen says: “Trevor Noah’s story of growing up in South Africa describes apartheid from a child’s perspective, but at the same time, Noah brings his adult sensibility and his appreciation for humor and absurdity.”

With a Vengeance, Riley Sager
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Recommended by: Tamara Uhaze, First Year Experience Librarian
Tamara says: “This is a quick mystery/thriller set on an antique passenger train in post-WWII America. As Anna, the protagonist, looks for answers about the downfall of her family, she realizes she is trapped on the train with a murderer. You spend time getting to know each of the suspects and their role in Anna’s life, building toward the reveal of a grand conspiracy. This was an enjoyable read without too much time commitment.”

Shuggie Bain, Douglas Stuart
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Recommended by: Irene Gates, Processing Archivist
Irene says: “A beautifully compassionate portrait of alcoholism, queer adolescence, and working class life amidst high unemployment in 1980s Scotland. A deeply moving book that will make your heart ache.”

The Reformatory: A Novel, Tananarive Due
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Recommended by: Kerri Vautour, Marketing and Communications Manager
Kerri says: “In 1950, a 12-year-old Black boy is sent to a segregated reform school after hitting a white boy who was harassing his sister. Robbie experiences the violence of the reformatory himself, but his ability to see ghosts shows him just how horrifying the history of the place is. The true monsters aren’t the ghosts of the dead; it’s the violence and racism perpetrated by the living.”

The Thursday Murder Club: A Novel, Richard Osman
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Recommended by: Amanda Calabrese, Integrated Systems Librarian
Amanda says: “This is the funniest cozy murder mystery I’ve ever read (no surprise — author Richard Osman is a British comedian). A group of true crime fans in a retirement community gets involved in solving actual cases, and the characters are so lovable. Ibrahim is my favorite. If you like this one, there are currently four more in the series. They also made a Netflix movie, but if you didn’t like that, the book is way better.”

Happy reading!

In October, we celebrated Banned Books Week and the freedom to read by asking you to read a book that has been banned or challenged. Our winning reader is Fresnel Fabian, who takes home a Northeastern University Library READ 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.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Reading Challenge this month. Here are a few of the books you read. (Comments may have been edited for length or clarity.)

What You Read in October

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
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“It was so good! As a bio major, this is a must-read because it dives into the person behind so many of the discoveries you will learn about in classes. This book shares the human side of the story of HeLa cells and honestly made me teary-eyed at parts. The book is so eye-opening and it’s definitely going to change the way I think about healthcare for the rest of my life.” — Rhea

Animal Farm, George Orwell
Find it at Snell Library | Find it at F.W. Olin Library

“The way in which the author uses the animals and their characteristics to explain a society that is embracing an idea that promises to liberate that society, which leads to the enslavement of the society, is insightful. It points out the hypocrisy of the leaders who become corrupted as soon as they get a taste of power. The author tells us a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of the revolution.” — Fresnel

The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
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“I thought that the book was extremely intelligently written. I’m glad I picked this up and am very intrigued by a new perspective on the state of racial tension and conflict in 1960s America.” — Nikolas

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
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“I’ve been really into space and science fiction recently and this book is extremely well-written and humorous. My favorite thing about this book is that it’s really unpredictable, especially certain characters that would say out-of-pocket and bizarre comments that seem really silly on the surface level but are actually quite meaningful and deep after you think about it.” — Hannah

1984, George Orwell
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“1984 hit me harder than I expected. It’s eerie how Orwell’s world of control and twisted truth mirrors parts of our reality today. It’s not just a story about surveillance; it’s a reflection on how fragile freedom and individuality really are. The book lingers in your mind, quietly reminding you to stay awake to the world around you.” — Om

The Song of Achilles: A Novel, Madeline Miller
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“The Song of Achilles is a beautifully written retelling of the Trojan War from Patroclus’s perspective, offering a fresh and emotional look at his relationship with Achilles. The characters felt deeply human, and their bond is developed with sincerity and nuance. Overall, it’s a heartfelt and memorable take on a classic myth.” — Alison

Suggested Reads for November

As we get closer to the end of the semester, we’re challenging you to read a book about your major or the field you’re studying. 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, November 12, and Thursday, November 13, to browse print books, get recommendations from librarians, and pick up Reading Challenge swag.

If you’re studying engineering or entrepreneurship…

More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity, Adam Becker
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Tech billionaires have decided that they should determine our futures for us. According to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and more, the only good future for humanity is one powered by technology. In More Everything Forever, science journalist Adam Becker investigates these wildly implausible and often profoundly immoral visions of tomorrow. The giants of Silicon Valley claim that their ideas are based on science, but the reality is darker: they come from a jumbled mix of shallow futurism and racist pseudoscience. More Everything Forever exposes the powerful and sinister ideas that dominate Silicon Valley, challenging us to see how foolish, and dangerous, these visions of the future are.

If you’re studying English literature or writing…

Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life, Maggie Smith
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Drawing from her 20 years of teaching experience and her bestselling Substack newsletter, For Dear Life, Maggie Smith breaks down creativity into 10 essential elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Each element is explored through short, inspiring, and craft-focused essays, followed by generative writing prompts. Dear Writer provides tools that artists of all experience levels can apply to their own creative practices and carry with them into all genres and all areas of life.

If you’re studying health sciences or behavioral neuroscience…

The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains, Pria Anand
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A girl believes she has been struck blind for stealing a kiss. A mother watches helplessly as each of her children is replaced by a changeling. A woman is haunted each month by the same four chords of a single song. In neurology, illness is inextricably linked with narrative, the clues to unraveling these mysteries hidden in both the details of a patient’s story and the tells of their body. In The Mind Electric, neurologist Pria Anand reveals all that the medical establishment has overlooked: the complexity and wonder of brains, and the vast gray area between sanity and insanity, doctor and patient, and illness and wellness, each separated from the next by the thin veneer of a different story.

If you’re studying business administration or computer sciences…

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, Cory Doctorow
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We’re living through the Enshittocene, the Great Enshittening, a time in which the services that matter to us, that we rely on, are turning into giant piles of shit. When Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification,” he was not just finding a funner way tot say “things are getting worse.” He was making a specific diagnosis about the state of the digital world and how it is affecting all of our lives (and not for the better). Here, now, in Enshittification the book, Doctorow moves the conversation beyond the overwhelming sense of our inevitably enshittified fate. He shows us the specific decisions that led us here, who made them, and — most important — how they can be undone.

If you’re studying music or psychology…

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Oliver Sacks
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Neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls “musical misalignments.” Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of 42; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with “amusia,” to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds — for everything but music.

If you’re studying economics, public policy, or women’s, gender, and sexuality studies…

Who Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner? A Story of Women and Economics, Katrin Marçal
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How do you get your dinner? That is the basic question of economics. When economist and philosopher Adam Smith proclaimed that all our actions were motivated by self-interest, he used the example of the baker and the butcher as he laid the foundations for “economic man,” arguing that the baker and butcher didn’t give food out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s an ironic point of view coming from a bachelor who lived with his mother for most of his life — a woman who cooked his dinner every night. Such a viewpoint disregards the unpaid work of mothering, caring, cleaning, and cooking. It insists that if women are paid less, then that’s because their labor is worth less. Who Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner? charts the myth of economic man in a witty and courageous dismantling of one of the biggest myth of our time.

If you’re studying biology, history, or anthropology…

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Women, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer
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As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi consider plans and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as “the younger brothers of creation.” As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world.

If you’re studying sociology, linguistics, or communication studies…

Like: A History of the World’s Most Hated (and, like, Misunderstood) Word, Megan C. Reynolds
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Few words in the English language are as misunderstood as “like.” Indeed, excessive use of this word is a surefire way to make those who pride themselves on propriety, both grammatical and otherwise, feel compelled to issue correctives. But what the detractors of the word fail to understand is its true function and versatility — as an exclamation, a filler of space, a means of subtle emphasis, and more. In this book, culture writer Megan C. Reynolds takes us through the unique etymology and usage of this oft-reviled word, highlighting how it is often used to undermine people who are traditionally seen as having less status in society — women, younger people, people from specific subcultures — and how, if thought about differently, it might open up a new way of communication and validation.

If you’re studying journalism, law, or urban studies…

Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, Paul Pringle
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On a cool, overcast afternoon in April 2016, a salacious tip arrived at the L.A. Times that reporter Paul Pringle thought should have taken, at most, a few weeks to check out: a drug overdose at a fancy hotel involving one of the University of Southern California’s shiniest stars — Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the head of the prestigious medical school. Pringle knew that reporting the story wouldn’t be a walk in the park. USC is the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles, and it casts a long shadow. But what he couldn’t have foreseen was that this tip would lead to the unveiling of not one major scandal at USC but two, wrapped in a web of crimes and cover-ups. The rot rooted out by Pringle and his colleagues at The Times would creep closer to home than they could have imagined — spilling into their own newsroom. This is LA at its darkest and investigative journalism at its brightest.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
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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.

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!