Rating: 
Summary: Bless me, Ultima
Review: I thought it was a pretty interesting book. It had many descriptive words that really paints the picture in my mind. Antonio Marez is six years old when a curandera named, Ultima comes to live with his family. The fight for religion is crucial in the little town of El Puerto, and some men say that ultima is really a witch who kills people. The book goes on about how antonio views his life in his perspective. I recommend it to people who are in antonio's state but beware it has some profanity and it can be boring at times.
Rating: 
Summary: Bless Me, Ultima
Review: I chose to read "Bless Me, Ultima." I really enjoyed this book by Rudolf A. Anaya. This book has two main characters; they are Antonio and Ultima. The character in the book is also called Ultima, Grande for respect. Ultima is growing old and has been a good friend of Antonio's family for many years. In tradition they decide to ask Ultima to stay with them in the town of Guadalupe. To their appreciation she agrees to come live with them. When she comes to stay with them Antonio knows that he and Ultima will become good friends. Ultima teaches Antonio many new things. They also grow very attached to each other. Ultima has a magic touch. She is able to help sick people or people who are in need. Some people believe that she is a witch, others think that she is evil and try to avoid her. Some people think that she just has a special gift to help people in need. She will help anyone who wants or needs her help. Everywhere she goes her owl always goes with her. Ultima collects many herbs. For every herb she collects she pinches off a tiny piece and puts it in a leather pouch that she wears around her neck. Do you think that this pouch that she wears is a good luck charm? She teaches Antonio many of her ways. Many times when Ultima was removing a curse or helping someone she would say, "Have Antonio help, he understands the power." Antonio wonders what he should become when he becomes an adult. His mom wants him to be a priest and farm the land. While his dad does not think that is what he should do with his life. One summer he meets a friend from school named Cico. Cico shows him what his God is, his God is the Golden Carp. They go and see the Golden Carp. Antonio begins to think about what he really believes. He is not sure if he really wants to be a priest or what he wants to do. When he meets the Golden Carp his mind wonders even more. Thoughout the story Antonio sees many deaths for his young age. Out of the four deaths that he had seen, he had blessed two of the people. Do you think that Antonio will become a Priest? Even before his Conformation class the children would pretend he was the Priest and have him bless each one of them. I really enjoyed this book called, "Bless Me, Ultima." I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys a little suspense and to anyone who enjoys reading. I believe that his book is a great book by Rudolf A. Anaya. Also, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about different cultures. If a person wants to know the answers to these two questions, Do you think that the pouch that Ultima wears around her neck is a gook luck charm? and Do you think that Antonio will become a Priest?," I suggest that you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Bless Me Ultima
Review: "Bless Me Ultima" is written by the father of Chicano literature, Rudolph Anaya. "Bless Me Ultima" is a story of a young boy who is torn between family, friends, and religion. This story also gives insight into the Chicano culture. "Bless Me Ultima" is set in the llano, or plains of New Mexico. Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima and elderly curandera comes to live with the family. Ultima's coming symbolizes the maturing process of Antonio. Antonio's parents argue over his future life and education. Antonio's mother wants him to follow her family tradition and become a farmer. His father wants him to follow his family tradition and become a cowboy. Antonio's parents argue about the disposal of his afterbirth. Ultima decides that she will dispose of the afterbirth so she will be the only one to know his destiny. Antonio faces many challenges throughout the story. He faces conflicts of religion. His friends Cico and Samuel along with his mother are catholics. His other friend Florence is an athesist. This conflict increases Antonio's confustion about the world. Antion tries to understand the nature of good and evil. Antonio faces many new challenges when he starts school. He is faced with peer pressure. People tease him because they think Ultima is a witch and because his friend Florence is an athesist. Antonio witness three deaths in the story: Lupito's, Narciso's, and Florence. The deaths bring up the issue of good and evil. The central theme of the book is the struggle between good and evil. "Bless Me Ultima" gives excellent insight into the Spanish culture. I personally learned many new aspects of the Chicano life. Such as the curandera or healer comes to live with the family and religion playes a vital role in Chicano life. "Bless Me Ultima" would be and extrodinary book for a teenager or adult. The book explains the struggles of a teenager. Intern you people could relate to Antonio's problems.
Rating:
Summary: Bless Me, Ultima
Review: When I first started to read Bless Me, Ultima, I didn't really know what to think about it. It was strange, interesting, but at the same time boring. When Antonio is six, a curandera, or Ultima comes to live with his family. Ultima could heal through herbs and magic. I didn't really understand the book from that point. I wanted the story to be more realistic for me, and I wanted to relate with some of the characters. To me, the whole healing with magic didn't work. Probably because I am not of the hispanic culture that I didn't understand or believe what was going on. One thing I did understand and relate to is that Antonio was pressured to become something when he wasn't ready to. His mother was pushing him to become a religious leader. On a scale of one to five stars, I would have to rate this book a 2.5 or 3. It told a great story of a boy growing up with many adversities and how he overcomes them. But at the same time, we need to be awake to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Bless Me, Ultima
Review: Beautifully written, Anaya brings the culture of the southwest Chicano alive. Antonio grows up before our eyes, nurtured and taught by wise and magical Ultima. He is struggling with faith: Catholism, local legends/myths and the magic he witnesses that heals and transforms. He asks the age old questions concerning life and death, god's purpose and meaning in the world and the life force of the earth, the plants and animals and the curandera. I was particularly struck with a conversation between father and son, "You mean God doesn't give understanding?" asks Antonio. His father replies, "Understanding comes with life, as a man grows he sees life and death, he is happy and sad, he works, he plays, meets people--sometimes it takes a lifetime to acquire understanding, because in the end understanding simply means having a sympathy for people. Ultima has sympathy for people, and it is so complete that with it she can touch their souls and cure them--"" Bless Me, Ultima was Anaya's first novel, and the first book of his I've read. I very much look forward to reading all the works of Mr. Anaya!
Rating:
Summary: very deep
Review: Bless me, Ultima is the story of a young boy who grows up in new Mexico and his experiences as told by him in first person. Antonio is the product of two contrasting families, the Lunas and the Marez. Through out the book both families want him to follow in their ways: The Lunas want him to be a priest and the Maraz a Vaquero. The tale chronicles his experiances through school church and some difficult subjects that can be only taught by life. On the surface the book is has a great plot and array of characters, but this book is so much more than that. It conveys many ideas through hinting and Antonio's experiences. It touches on war, religion, westward expansion and many others. Get this book if you just wnat a good read or if you would like to probe a little deeper, either way you will be satisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Un desastre
Review: Considero que la novela es un verdadero desastre, la trama es lenta y el ritmo de la novela no te anima a que la sigas leyendo. Y pensar que en algunas partes es lectura obligatoria; en realidad pienso que deberían dar a los estudiantes algo mas entretenido para no matarles el animo de lectura, ya que después de perdido es difícil de recuperar. La novela trata de una familia de chicanos y sus condiciones de vida. Aun sigo sosteniendo que en el área de la sociología y en los estudios chicanos se aprecia mejor esta cultura que en su novelística, ya que si esto es un clásico, no me gustaría leer la popular.... Luis Méndez
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Summary: Magical. Mystical, Symbolic...Wonderful!
Review: Although this novel brought out great controversy in our community, the students responded so positively concerning the battle between good and evil where good must always triumph, along with the battle for a young boy to gain wisdom through conflicts, tragedy, and life choices, it proved the worth of the novel. The book also enlightened many of us readers to the difficulties of one culture and the conflicts we have in common concerning faith and religion. It continues to be an enriching book in its layers of symbolism, magic, and faith.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding....magic!
Review: I had to read this book for my eighth grade English class years ago. It had such meaning because my family is from Eastern New Mexico. Puerto de Luna, or PDL as we call it, is along the Pecos River not in Northern New Mexico as some might think. Rudolfo Anaya is from Eastern New Mexico as well. Look at a map! Just sitting on a mesa on our ranch is enough for anyone to believe that God is alive and well and watching us at all times. Tony has that magic thought pattern that helps us all to look beyond the obvious and concentrate on the mystic. This book brings New Mexico alive.
Rating:
Summary: Characters you feel like you know.
Review: "Bless Me Ultima," by Rudalfo Anaya, explains what it is like to be a young Chicano growing up in northern New Mexico. He explains all of the hardships that must be faced by minority people trying to fit into the world. The main character, Antonio, is faced with many difficult situations, and turns to Ultima, the old healer, for help. Ultima knows that Antonio has a gift and it is her job to help him learn to use it. Anaya does a wonderful job in writing this book. His work is art. Anaya knows how to keep his readers interested in the book until the very end. He goes into great detail when describing the landscape, as well as the characters. Readers get the feeling that they have known the characters for a lifetime. Anaya put a lot of work into this novel and it truly shows. Anaya is said to be the father of Chicano literature and truly shows it in Bless Me Ultima.
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