"Bless Me Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

Anaya, Rudolfo (1972, 1999). Bless Me Ultima. New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing.

Challenged Book

Antonio Marez is a young boy caught between two worlds in more ways than one. His father (wild and anxious) and mother (proper and reserved) are complete opposites of each other and have such opposing views that Antonio at times wonders how they have stayed together. His mother's Catholicism and his ancestors' paganism are also two worlds that do not reconcile with each other. And finally, good and evil seem to merge at times and blurs the clarity that Antonio was once sure of.

When the town's curandera, or healer, comes to live with his family out of necessity, Antonio seems to find a guide he can look up to in his confusion. Ultima, la curandera, is as wise as she is old, and she shows many things to Antonio in a way that he can best understand them. All seems well until all three of his brothers are called to arms for the Second World War and the town's most evil resident, Tenorio Trementina, has made sure he has hidden the fact that his three daughters are evil witches practicing black, satanic magic. It is not until Antonio's uncle Lucas has been severely bewitched by the three witches that Ultima must counter the evil and set Tenorio in to a rage which does not end well!

There are still signs of hope for Antonio and the entire town of Guadalupe, New Mexico despite the awful tragedies that ensue caused by hate, rage, and disillusionment.

Rudolfo Anaya's tale is a story I can relate to because of my Hispanic ranching background. I know Antonio is part American Indian, but all the traditions mentioned in the book were not foreign to me! And the magical elements weaved into the story are not as fictional as one might suppose. (My own people's view, however, is that if any supernatural event is not directly from God, then one must make all efforts to avoid such things.)

Anaya writes his prose like musical poetry and vividly illustrates all the scenes with beautiful words that make rich images! He guides the reader to actually experience the rich traditions of the Hispanic/American Indian people and get to know persons that have so much depth. I truly enjoyed his talent for writing and really learned from his character's point of view.