bless me, ultima

Without a doubt my favorite thing we read this semester was Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima.  We read a lot of interesting pieces these past few months but when I began reading Bless Me, Ultima I was immediately sucked in; for me that's a significant statement.  I've never been much of a reader, in fact I've been nothing of a reader and that's kind of sad.  I love the idea of reading, I love book stores and new books but it has always been a challenge for me to get into the story, focus and read a whole book.  With Bless Me, Ultima I was nothing less than captivated.

There was a few elements about this novel that combined in just the right way and made me love it.  I spent all of my mission in El Paso and around the Mexico-New Mexico-Texas boards.  I was surrounded by Chicanos one hundred percent of the time and I loved it.  I think my love for those people and my love for that land had a big impact on my attitude towards this book.  So much of Bless Me, Ultima has to do with the land and our relationship with it.  Every time I read about the earth and the scenery I could see it perfectly because I had been there.

The story of Antonio, his family and Ultima is amazing; it's not only mysterious and magical but meaningful.  Through these characters you learn a great deal about origins, balance, family, faith, loyalty and sacrifice.  I think these principles and ideas are Latin America.  The lessons taught through these people and their experiences embody what we've studied this whole semester.  The history and culture of Latin America is deep and rich and can't be understood in fifteen weeks; I would venture to say it can't be fully understood in a life time.  But I feel, Bless Me, Ultima reveals the roots of Latin America and what it means to be Latin American.