contratiempo presents a reading and dramatization of original Spanish language poetry and short stories inspired by Rudolfo Anaya´s seminal work of Chicano literature, Bless me Ultima, the book chosen this year for The Big Read. contratiempo authors have created original work for this performance that looks upon the characters and themes of the book to reflect on myth, religion, the land, traditions, and identity.    

This is the second year in which contratiempo, Boundless Readers, and National Louis University co-present The Big Read in Chicago. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  The initiative is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature to more people. The purpose of The Big Read is to encourage literary reading especially among lapsed and/or reluctant readers and to counter the downward trend facing literary reading.  The Boundless Readers program targets the Latino community especially Chicago public school middle and high school students, their parents, and teachers.