Featured titles to help fulfill your gift needs

A thoughtfully selected book can add meaning to your gifts, take it to the next level and turn it into a keepsake by personalizing it with a short note, the finishing touch--a bookmark of course.

Below is our list of recommended titles that we know make ideal gifts, and which can all be found on our bookshelves:


Bless Me Ultima is our current bookclub selection, its a coming-of-age story appropriate for adults and young readers:

Ask A Mexican will draw in even the most hesitant reader on your list. We still have autographed copies available.

The Alchemist Chances are people who read this books got it as a gift and there is a high probability rate that they go on to share the gift with others.

More suggestions:

from l to r: Once Upon a Quinceanera by Julia Alvarez
Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask,
a bilingual cuento by Xavier Garza

I will never forget you: Frida Kahlo and Nickolas Murray
by Salomon Grimberg

from l to r: Nahui Olin by Adriana Malvido;
Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution by Elena Poniatowska

from l to r: Revolucion!: Cuban Poster Art by Lincoln Cushing
Mexican Calendar Girls by Angela Villalba

submission call:new anthology focus on Mexican/Chicanos in Chicago and Midwest

Call for submissions for new anthology focusing on Mexicans/ Chicanos in Chicago and the Midwest.

Edited by: María A. Beltrán-Vocal, Paul Martínez Pompa,
and Irasema González

• Abstract: This anthology explores the experience of Mexicans/Chicanos in Chicago and the Midwest through their writing. By telling the stories of Chicano lives’, we create history and provide a foundation for those attempting to understand the needs and experiences of Chicanos. We also provide direction for self-empowerment.

• The purpose of this book is to record the social, cultural, political, literary experience of Chicanos/Mexicans from their own voice and perspective. This anthology will provide writers and scholars with first hand experience and perspective of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest. This anthology will provide Mexicans/Chicanos with the opportunity to explore the presence of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest from the end of the XIXth century to today. The writings will allow the reader to view the experience of workers in the railroads, the mills, and the activism of Mexicans in the sixties and seventies to the immigration marches in the XX1st centuries. These writings will give a new perspective of the presence and contributions of Mexicans in Chicago and the Midwest. It will examine the hardships, the struggles and triumphs of Chicanos/Mexicans and how their struggle has changed their perspective of life, politics, activism, education, and gender roles. We are accepting submissions in the forms of essay, poetry, short story, oral histories/testimonies, and autobiographies.

• Postmarked deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 22^nd, 2008.

• Two hard copies of the article, including endnotes and bibliography

§ Submissions should be double spaced, follow MLA format and must not exceed 20 pages.

§ Poets may submit up to five poems

§ Writers may submit up to two short stories no longer than 20 pages

§ Autobiography/testimony, creative, non-fiction/memoir no longer than 20 pages

§ All contributors must submit a brief biography and professional affiliation.

Please send submissions to:

María A. Beltrán-Vocal
Department of Modern Languages
DePaul University
802 West Belden Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)325-7000 ext. 51866

Presenting El Literati

Welcome to El Literati the blog for our brick and mortar store, Tianguis, which resides in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. El Literati is meant to help us push forward with our mission, and also serve as a place to document ideas, events, chisme, and a platform for a dialogue about Latino books, literature, writing and culture.

Tianguis marked its first year in business this December. But its a concept I was already thinking and talking about back in 2000--perhaps even earlier. There's a sweet article that appears in La Raza this week about us. So, if your just discovering us, its a good way to understand what we're all about. Its in Spanish and there are a few logistical errors: my mother- in-law is in fact from Oaxaca but did in fact live in el DF for some time, hence the confusion and error in the article. And yes, I did break my foot while I was walking...and reading. A habit I first developed when I couldn't put down Love in the Time of Cholera, by none other than Mr. Garcia Marquez. These days I practice more self-control and am guarded against such hazardous multi-tasking.

We hope you will come along for the ride and join us in 2007 and beyond. We're excited about adding El Literati, we will also be featuring written work by other contributors. I'm currently tapping into my circle of contacts but I know the world is big and Latino writers are abundant. If you are interested in submitting a written contribution for El Literati drop me a line at info at tianguis dot biz. Remember to bookmark us or add us to your blogroll if you wanna keep up with the updates on this blog.

We wish you a lot of love, peace, health and prosperity in 2007.

Happy New Year!
Irasema Gonzalez