September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the month we will be featuring resources available from the SMCM Library. For more info check out hispanicheritagemonth.gov

For the final post in our National Hispanic Heritage Month series, we’re featuring a few great books and films available from the SMCM Library. You can always find more excellent books and films by Hispanic writers and filmmakers by searching the SMCM Library Catalog.

Books

This Is How You Lose Her, Dominican-American writer Junot Díaz’s collection of short stories focusing on love in it’s myriad forms was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award. This Is How You Lose Her comes preloaded on library Kindles, available for 2 week check-outs at the circulation desk.

If you enjoy Díaz’s short stories, check out his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, available in a glorious, physical print copy in the SMCM Library Popular Reading section.

Films

Looking for an interesting look at the lives of everyday people? Americano As Apple Pie is a two-part documentary series looking at Latino culture in the United States, from big cities to small towns. The series looks at the Latino influence on American culture from entertainment to politics.

If you prefer fantasy, check out Pan’s Labyrinth, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 dark Spanish-language fairy tale. Set in Spain after the Spanish Civil War, Pan’s Labyrinth uses stunning visual effects to tell a story of loss, rebellion, and empowerment that blurs the lines between what is real and what is imagined.

Both Americano As Apple Pie and Pan’s Labyrinth are available in the SMCM Library DVD collection for three-day check outs.