Your Take
What’s the most memorable book you’ve ever read?
Amy Cardosa G’17
All Souls: A Family Story from Southie by Michael Patrick MacDonald
“This gripping story about poverty, addiction, family, the pressures of Irish Catholicism, working for Whitey Bulger, forced busing, and general life in South Boston from the 1960s to 1980s is eye-opening and raw! I have met the author twice and enjoyed sharing with him that I teach his book to my high school seniors in Woburn.”
Reshmeen Chowdhury ’22
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
“A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of the most powerful books I have ever read and has had a lasting impact on me. It is an incredible story about the lives of two women in Afghanistan—Mariam and Laila—and how their paths in life eventually converge. The lives of these two literary characters leave you with a sense of hope because of their resilience during a time of such unbearable hardship. The author does an amazing job of capturing the strength of these two women and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I think everyone should read this book at least once in their lives.”
Judith Goldberger ’07
Treating the Poor: A Personal Sojourn Through the Rise and Fall of Community Mental Health
by Matthew P. Dumont
“Dr. Dumont’s powerful stories of individual clients, combined with sharp analysis of the impact of policy decisions on their health and well-being, continue to prompt me to look for the social forces shaping the lives of patients in my care, and for opportunities to advocate at the community and policy level.”
Andrew Harte ’21
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
“This book validated my own experiences in health care and sparked a passion that has led me down a career path helping patients plan for and face the end of their lives with comfort, dignity, and support. Bonus that the bestselling author is in Boston!”
Jean McGinty ’08
The Cannibal Owl by Aaron Gwyn
“A story about coming of age, identity, acceptance, and survival, this story takes place in the American Texas frontier of the 1800s. The prose is wrought with a depth that made me read slowly, holding this slim book with care and reverence, both in my hands and in my heart.”
Q: What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
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Submissions are edited for length and clarity.