Bless Me, Ultima || a young boy searches for his God...
Written: Sep 26 '09 (Updated Sep 26 '09)
Product Rating:
Pros: Interesting setting and story dynamics that tug in opposite directions.
Cons: The setting and culture may not be familiar to all, but are still accessible.
The Bottom Line: Story of the religious awakening of a young Chicano boy. Not particularly challenging to the status quo/sexual mores of today; challengers of this book need to find a better target.
sleeper54's Full Review: Rudolfo Anaya - Bless Me, Ultima
... The search for the 'meaning of life' is a journey that consumes a lifetime, if done properly. What is right, what is wrong, why are evil deeds done, why do good people suffer bad times..?? These are all questions that weigh heavy on an introspective mind and soul.
Antonio is the youngest son of a man of the llano, a father who once roamed the open plains of the American Southwest. While his mother is rooted in the soil of the river-bottoms and farmland she and her ancestors have tilled for generations. An unlikely couple, they are raising sons and daughters, already sending the oldest three boys off to the "war of the Germans and the Japanese".
The father's dreams of the future are bound up with his oldest sons, hoping they might go with him back to the llanos after the war, perhaps even to California. While the mother wraps her dreams around the young Antonio, knowing he is smart, hoping he is destined to be "a man of the people, and perhaps a priest" as she tells him.
Into the life of Antonio and his family comes Ultima. Aging, needing a place to live out her final days, the curandera—"one who cures with herbs and magic"—is welcomed into the family. She was present at the birth of each of Maria's children and now she will live out her last days with Antonio and the Marez family.
Antonio is soon exposed to the powers of the curandera and learns of Ultima's respect for plants, animals, and the earth. Antonio is also soon exposed to the rigors of school and learning and classmates and working toward making his First Communion. During this time he also learns of a mystical 'god' of the river that only those that believe can see, know, and understand.
During all this he also learns about death, witches, curses and evil. His young, inquisitive mind searches for answers to why bad things happen to good people, why a loving God would seemingly allow harm to fall on those who believe in Him.
The story contains brief descriptions of violence, shooting, witchcraft, and what best might be called 'black magic'. None of it seems to strong for the younger reader targeted for this 'Teen' book/story.
The descriptions of the younger characters are a bit 'thin' and redundant for my older tastes. But I suppose they will be recognized by the younger reader. I hope their own circle of friends is not so shallow and predictable.
The Bottom Line So does it all work..?? Does Bless Me, Ultima share a message worth hearing, and pondering, by a younger reader..??
I suppose. How is that for a firm response..??
The story portrays the Catholic Church and priests and ...essentially, the Christian God as powerless to stop evil from working in the lives of the people. While the 'power' of the curandera always seems effective. Even at the end, as the curandera appears to be defeated, the reader is left with the impression that her power will live on.
So should your teen read it..?? Sure. You will want to share your own thoughts about evil that we see around us everyday, that they see in their own lives. This will give you the opening to discuss your views of how evil is best countered and how religion and god or God fit into that equation.
The write-off is the latest chapter in her ongoing series that challenges readers to examine the topic of 'banned books' and how the issues they present might best be addressed.
Please do check out the other contributions linked at the essay above.
A masterpiece of Hispanic literature from "one of the nation's foremost Chicano literary artists" (Denver Post). This is the involving story of Antoni...More at HotBookSale
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