January is National Hobby Month! Are you thinking of picking up a new hobby, or maybe returning to an old one? Well, no offense intended, but you might consider picking up a "For Dummies" book. Despite the mildly offensive name, this is a long-running and generally trusted series of introductions to many topics, including several popular hobbies. You might also be interested in checking out one of the Hobbies & Leisure databases MHL offers access to, such as Birds of the World, Creativebug, The Great Courses, or Mango Languages.
January Is National Soup Month
Did you know that January is National Soup Month? Isn't that just souper? If you're looking for new soups to try, check out one of these soup-focused cookbooks!
Steamy Sports Romances
The weather's getting colder, so why not warm up with a steamy romance novel featuring sports players? Right now the show Heated Rivalry (based on the novel of the same title!) is inspiring some extra interest in hockey romance specifically, but this list features some favorite titles for other sports too. (And if you're interested in checking out Heated Rivalry the show but don't have HBO at home, you can request MHL's Roku with HBO Max access!)
Happy Birthday, Jane Austen!
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. She looks great for a 250-year-old! Her novels have inspired readers for generations. And while her original works still hold up today, if you're looking for more Austen-like reads, here are some YA and adult novels that are retellings of or inspired by Jane Austen's novels. You can also celebrate with fellow Jane-ites tonight at 6pm in the Hall with a screening of the 2006 Pride and Prejudice film and some Regency crafts!
Books For Fans of Stranger Things
Are you a fan of Stranger Things? While you wait for part 2 of Season 5, here are some books you might like. These titles are a mix of YA and adult reads that capture the nerdy D&D energy, 80s nostalgia, and scary thrills of Stranger Things.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20th is observed as the Transgender Day of Remembrance. To quote GLAAD: "Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance." In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, here are some recent memoirs written by living trans and nonbinary authors.
New Fiction by Native American Authors
November is National Native American Heritage Month! In celebration, here are some new works of fiction from Native American authors. This list should have something for everyone--mystery, horror, romance, historical fiction, and more.
Entertaining for Everyone
Are you planning to host Thanksgiving or another gathering? These cookbooks will help you put together your best dinner party yet!
Moony-Eyed Romance
Love can really a change person. In the case of these werewolf/shifter romance novels, sometimes literally.
Heist Society
Are you intrigued by the recent jewel heist at the Louvre? If so, here are some true stories of other heists and robberies.