Bless Me, Ultima

A blessing in book form

I've intended to read Anaya since I read an excerpt of his work a couple of years back in a high level course about Spanish literature. We were discussing the genre of "magical realism."

Bless Me, Ultima is an intriguing story told by a very interesting narrator, young Antonio Luna-Marez. The narrative style is smooth and clean. The story itself is compelling and thought provoking.

My biggest "problem" with the book was that the 6-8 year old narrator felt a bit too old. I acknowledge that this is a case of a retrospective narrator looking back with a more mature eye. But still, its not distinguishable where the "mature" future narrator is superimposing his thoughts over those of his younger self. While I have met pensive and thoughtful 6 year olds who ask deep questions, I haven't met one that runs so deeply in such an intense and thorough thought process for a period of multiple years of self-discovery and exploration of life's heavier themes. Even then, Anaya's writing still is fresh and honest and I only found myself jarred a couple of times at the thought of Antonio's young age juxtaposed with his mature thoughts.

The themes and plot of the story were well constructed and resulted in a well driven flow of the ~2 years of Antonio's life that we're exploring. The closely knit themes of family, religion, identity and purpose are presented to the reader as highly pressing themes that are bearing down on our narrator but without any imminent resolution.

In fact, as time goes on, Antonio uncovers more questions and problems rather than finding new answers. Torn between his father's wild "wanderlust"-filled rancher family and his mother's grounded, earth-bound farming family, Antonio struggles to figure out how he can please each of his parents. This struggle is amplified by his mother's intense Catholicism and his father's free-spirit and Ultima's mysticism. Later in the book, yet another religious influence appears, closely related to Ultima's views, and yet still different.

Antonio wants to honor his parents, to honor God, and to fulfill his destiny. Unfortunately, he is constantly conflicted when trying to honor one parent without disappointing the other and he is filled with more and more doubts the closer he gets to a possible understanding of God. His destiny seems to be constantly sliding away from him as he tries to unravel it.

The ending of this book further exemplifies its genre of magical realism and while I can accept it for what it is, it left me a little unsettled. That's probably part of the purpose. This isn't a book that wants to answer life's deep questions for you. Rather, it wants to help you understand how to approach those questions and seek the answers on your own. This is a compelling and interesting look at one life caught between many alternating influences.

Even if you don't live in a small farming/ranching pueblo in New Mexico, there is a good chance you can take some of the themes and questions from this book and apply them to your own life in some way. Everybody, in some form or another, has some sort of opposite influences pulling them in different directions each for good reasons and with great arguments. How we deal with those confusing moral conundrums is the core definition of our identity.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

good book!

i liked the book. it was challenging to read if you do not understand spanish. overall i recomend the book to everyone.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Bless Me, Ultima: A Student's Perspective

'Bless Me, Ultima', written by Rudolfo Anaya is a Spanish coming of age tale. It tells the story of a boy's fascinating experiences throughout a year and how he grows and develops so much. This book takes place outside of a town in New Mexico called Guadalupe. A Curandera named Ultima comes and stays as a houseguest with the Marez family. A Curandera is a person who heals with magic herbs and remedies. Antonio, the youngest in the family, becomes fascinated with Ultima's healing powers. They spend much time with each other and become friends. Antonio picks herbs and spices every day with Ultima. However, early in the novel, a war veteran by the name of Lupito kills the sheriff of the town. A group of men, including Antonios father go looking for Lupito. Being his curious self, Antonio follows his father and witnesses the shooting of Lupito. Lupito asks Antonio to bless him when he is dying. Antonio runs home crying. All night he thinks about what will happen to the veteran's soul. That fall it is time for Antonio to go to school. The children make fun of him for his Spanish culture. He starts to eat lunch with other kids who are like him. Later that year, Lucas, Antonio's uncle becomes sick and needs help from Ultima. Three daughters of a man named Tenorio casted spell on Lucas one night. Ultima and Antonio confront Tenorio. Ultima begins a violent ritual on Tenorio and puts Antonio in a sleeping state. When Antonio wakes up, he throws up and the ritual is completed, Lucas is healed. Sometime later, one of Tenorio's daughter mysteriously dies and a man named Narcisco tells Ultima that Tenorio is coming with a mob to kill her. They come and to see if Ultima is witch they see if she can walk under a cross. She does and the mob goes away but Tenorio still wants to kill her. That Fall Antonio returns to school. On the first day of school a boy named Ernie picks a fight with Antonio by insulting Ultima. They get into a fight but it is broken up. No one gets punished and everyone laughs about it because it is the first day. One day after school, Antonio sees Narcisco and Tenorio fighting. He then hears a gun-shot and screams. Tenorio had shot Narcisco. He runs home and becomes very sick. He has a dream that the sisters kill him and his entire family. He recovers after a week and is getting ready to make his first confession and first communion. He is eager for communion because he thinks that when god is inside of him, all his religious questions will be answered. This does not happen. One day a boy named Cico and Antonio go to the river where swimming is not allowed and see a group of boys signaling to them. Florence had gone swimming and drowned. When the rescuers arrive, they tell them that they told Florence not to swim. After this, Antonio decides to spend the summer with the Lunas, his mother's side of the family. If you want to figure out the ending, you are just going to have to read 'BLESS ME, ULTIMA'

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

The story takes place in the 1940's in Guadalupe, New Mexico where a young boy named Antonio Marez is raised. He has a mental maturity far beyond his age and is always longing for truth. His family takes in a local elderly miracle worker named Ultima, and she builds a strong bond with Antonio as he takes on the many challenges of his life. He witnesses many injustices, murders, and the death of innocent people. He is also confused by conflicting beliefs such as his household Catholicism and witchcraft, and his parents both want different things for his future. As he encounters these dramatic situations, Ultima continually mentors him and encourages him to think for himself. This theme of individualistic thinking and beliefs is constantly being preached to Antonio as he struggles with the opposing beliefs. Antonio and Ultima continue to bond through various experiences together. One day they go to dispel ghosts from a house they believe were placed there by a man named Tenorio. After Ultima dispels the ghosts Tenorio¿s daughter becomes sick and Tenorio blames Ultima. Ultima sends Antonio to his uncle¿s farm to keep him safe where one day he is chased down by Tenorio. Antonio barely escapes alive, but Tenorio shoots Ultima¿s owl. The owl is a sole part of Ultima¿s being and Ultima soon dies. Through all his hardships Antonio is reminded by Ultima that he needs to take all of them into account and use them to form his beliefs.
Personally, I enjoyed the way the book was written, and the theme of individualistic thinking, and it is hard to come up with criticism. If anything there was unnecessary detail Anaya could have left out. Overall, the book helped me see the big picture in my beliefs and that criticism should never keep me from sharing them. If you are looking for something inspirational in the spiritual sense, nothing beats Bless Me, Ultima.

A book that challenges it readers to look outside the box.

Bless Me Ultima is a book that inspires the reader to view the world through the eyes of a different culture, creed, and belief. It combines the views of a small town Chicano boy, Antonio, and mixes them with the world around him. He struggles to find truth and meaning while attempting to live up to his families expectations.

one of the BEST books i've ever read

this book is ABSOLUTELY amazing. im a very picky person when it comes to books, so im skeptical when i see awards on a novel's cover. i don't know how to even describe it. it is captivating, thrilling, and has an amazing story line. the characters seem real. i have read books by many acclaimed authors--James Baldwin, Chuck Palahnuick, Maya Angelou, and many more. this book's greatness is unnoticed. i suggest this book to anyone who liked 'to kill a mockingbird' by harper lee, or anybody who wants to read a rather short but touching book.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

An original story.

I liked the aspect of mystery and how it is told from the perspective of an innocent young boy who is forced to grow up as he witnesses and experiences life. Great symbolism and writing style.

THE BEST BOOK ONE CAN READ

this book touched my heart from start to finish. i love the way rudolfo anaya talks about the main character losing his innocence even though he is barely six. the deaths in this book keep you closely attached to the book. i mean you just have to read it to find out how powerful this book can help relate to your life.

Fight for what you believe in

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is about a young boy named Antonio who is conflicted with internal and external problems. The story turns on his connection to a healer named Ultima. After the old woman comes to live with him and his family in New Mexico, many doubts rise within him. Doubts about God, religion, good and evil torment Antonio on a daily basis. He is also faced with the struggle between his mother wanting him to be like a Luna 'her family', not like a Marez, 'his father¿s family'. The pressure is great from his parents. Maria Marez, Antonio¿s mother is a devout catholic who dreams of her last son becoming a priest. On the other hand Gabriel Marez, Antonio¿s father, who is a dreamer, a vaquero, a man of freedom, wishes for his son to follow in his footsteps and maybe someday decide to move to California with him. Ultima plays a strong role in Antonio¿s life. Since she helped at the birth of Antonio, she knows what lies in Antonio¿s future. As soon as Antonio meets Ultima, he feels a strong bond towards her, a connection unlike any other. That fall Antonio begins school where he learns many different things from all of his new friends. Antonio witnesses many things during Ultima¿s stay with the family. Events that haunt him and scar him. Within a year Antonio grows from a child into a young man. Antonio is a young boy with immense knowledge and courage. He is very smart and is very mature for his age. I like Antonio because he is not much like the other boys from his school. He is very courageous because he stands up for what he believes in and protects Ultima at all cost. Although the town sees Ultima as a witch, Antonio knows who she really is. Ultima is a woman of sincere nobility and with her magic powers she helps anyone she can. She even helps Antonio¿s uncle. Ultima teaches Antonio about the beauty that is in nature and the powers nature has to heal. Since Ultima has helped so many, he cherishes her and wants her to be safe. She is like a second mother to him. Many symbols and themes are in the story. From religious images, magical items, trying to find identity, the importance of moral independence and dreams, the importance of family, learning and education. Antonio takes all of this into consideration and wants to discover who he really is. Ultima considers Antonio to be ¿a man of learning.¿ I admire Antonio because he likes to learn and that is something valuable. I relate a lot to Bless Me, Ultima, because I am familiar with the religious things in the story. I come from a Catholic background such as Antonio, and like Antonio at times I am confused about my religion. I do not understand why God allows certain things to happen. Like Antonio I am on a quest to find what is right for me. I understand how Antonio feels and I know where he comes from. I know what it¿s like to feel pressure from my parents and others who want me to be a certain way. I don¿t like how Antonio¿s mom tries to make him want to be a priest. Antonio is trapped between his mother¿s wishes, his father¿s goals, and his own dreams. I recommend this book to everyone, especially young adults. I think young adults can identify with Antonio and learn from him that it¿s alright to stand up for their dreams. Everyone who reads Bless Me, Ultima will become inspired by this young boy and will definitely learn something positive.

if you get bord...

this book was dissapointing, not that into it. the story line was a little funky, and i wouldn't want to read it again.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

anaya rules!

This book is an easy read with many interesting characters in a small New Mexico town.A young boy and his friends growing up around brujos (witches), a curandero (some what like a medicine man),and the influence that the curandero had on many people's lives.Five stars!

A reviewer

Bless Me, Ultima takes place in New Mexico in the 1940s. Antonio Márez is a young boy of six when Ultima, a curandera comes to live with his family. Antonio¿s family is split into to sides his father¿s Márez side and his mother¿s Lunes side. His father¿s people are adventurous and wild while his mother¿s people are quiet, religious farmers. Antonio¿s mother wants him to become a Catholic priest, but Antonio is not sure who he wants to be or what he even believes in. In the beginning of the story, Antonio witnesses the murder of Lupito, a mentally ill war veteran. From that point forward, Antonio begins to question the Catholic faith and tries to figure out whom God really is and if there is more than only one God. I found Anaya¿s book to be a beautiful story about coming of age. This book brings up many good themes to think about such as Christianity, paganism, loss of one¿s innocence, growing up, death, and good versus evil. I found myself looking at the main character of the story, Antonio, and being able to relate to him in so many ways. I feel that this book had a good message. There are so many wonderful parts that teach valuable lessons. Here is one part that really stuck out to me while reading: ¿Are you afraid?¿ she asked in turn. She put her bowl aside and stared into my eyes. ¿No,¿ I said. ¿Why?¿ ¿I don¿t know,¿ I said. ¿I will tell you why,¿ she smiled. ¿It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all powers of evil in the world and it will emerge triumphant. There is no need to fear men like Tenorio¿ 'Anaya 98'. I think that the perfect audience for this magical realism genre book would be high school seniors. However, even with the maturity level of 17 or 18 year-olds there are many issues that should be discussed with the students. This book would be great for readers who are trying to find out who they are and what they want to become in life. I think the students would find it easy to relate to a character in the book. I think students would find this book very interesting and moving. This book provides an opportunity to look into Hispanic culture and be able to find similarities within themselves and their own lives.

A reviewer

This book inspired me to stand up for what I believe in and not to let people tell you what to choose as your religion. YOU have the power to choose what you believe in. Don't let anyone tell you differently. You decide your future, READ THIS BOOK. I BEG you to.

great book!!!

I Ithink that this was a great book. It was written really well and everyone should give it a chance. I have recomended it to everyone.

GREAT BOOK!

Awesome book. The themes in this book are something we can all relate too. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to discover more about culture and fokelore. Two thumbs up !

Read this! If you like chicano literature, you'll love this one!

This book I strongly recommend to all the hispanics out there. This book has everything people would want to read about most hiapanic families and it has so much detail that you can actually see and feel what the main character Antonio is experiencing. It's absolutely amazing and everyone should read it! Its the only book I've read that has made me think about what people go through and the problems they confront when they are learning about evil spirits and the good deeds of men, there are meny conflicts when it comes to growing up to be a man for this seven year-old boy.

A reviewer

The characters in this book were increadibly unbelievable, particularily the protaginiat Antonio, six year olds' do not go around questioning wither or not they're worshiping the right deity, or worring about wither they are or are not going to be a priest when they grow-up. Please, give me a break.

Beware Reviewers - A School Required Read

Keep in mind most of the one-star reviews are from 'typical high school kids,' so please give the book a chance for yourself.

AMAZING!

I read this book when i was in 8th grade. It's almost been fifteen years since i read it yet its still embedded in my brain. This book has impacted my soul and mind so much that i am looking to read it all over again. I hope that my son will love this book as much as i did...its superb!

best of the best

its the best book ive read in years