Author: Sarah

Reading for pleasure really is a gift! I spoke with my library helpers and they put together a list of historical fiction recommendations for you to enjoy:

-Artifice by Sharon Cameron
-Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
-The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
-Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore
-The Women by Kristin Hannah
-The Huntress, by Kate Quinn (Partially set in Boston!)
-The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
-A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
-The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
-Babel by R.F. Kuang
-The Binding by Bridget Collins
-The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
-The Pretender by Jo Harkin
-Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
-Since I lived in Chicago for a while, I am partial to “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson. Also, I enjoy the writing of David Grann. They are both journalists, so it is very easy reading–perfect for summer.
-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
-Playworld by Adam Ross
-The Bull From The Sea by Mary Renault
-Nuestra Señora De La Noche/ Our Lady of the Night by Mayra Santos-Febres
-Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
-Bernard Cornwell’s series of Richard Sharpe novels is fantastic if action and adventure in the Napoleonic wars appeals to you
-Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe
-Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles Series (Romance + Victorian Era)
-The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian
-The Parisian by Isabella Hammad
-You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue
-Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
-Anything by Bernard Cornwell

I don’t know of a list, but the University Archives are held by Burns Library — I bet they could help you find some names! You might also what to check with the Office of University Commencement to see if they have records of past speakers: https://bit.ly/bc-commencement

Sorry, I can’t do political or commercial endorsements here. Part of my contract.

BC highly regards Tip O’Neill because he was a graduate who had a very distinguished career in state and national politics, including US Representative for Cambridge and Boston for sixteen terms and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. There are numerous anecdotes of people who called his office and were surprised to hear him answer. He is also remembered as someone who listened and addressed his constituents’ problems as best as he could. BC has honored him many times, and he attended the opening of this library in 1981. I recommend visiting the Burns Library Reading Room to see an exhibit of items from his life and career.

At the very least you’d run into problems with the computability of real numbers.

Taking a class is a great idea if you want to learn more about something. I also agree that machines can’t solve every problem (yet).

If you are a graduating, it might be helpful to remember how Boston College personally impacted you: maybe it was a friend, a club, a professor, or an event; it can be anything that has shaped the person you’ve become and what you are going out into the world to do.

One of my Gen X helpers got so excited about this question that they offered more than one to binge–check out: The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, Cheers, The Wonder Years, Silver Spoons, Moonlighting, Night Court, A Different World, Growing Pains, Murphy Brown, and St. Elsewhere. Happy Nesting!

I recommend box breathing! It helps lower blood pressure and increase mindfullness so you can be less stressed and make good choices.

Breathe in 4 seconds. Hold it 4 seconds. Breathe out 4 seconds. Hold it 4 seconds. Repeat this pattern until you feel under control and calm.