Bless Me, Ultima is a novel that follows the character Antonio Marez and how his life changes when the healer Ultima moves into his family’s home in New Mexico. The novel is semi-autobiographical, as many of the author’s past experiences are shown as Antonio’s. Themes of growing up, learning, and the importance of culture are abundant throughout the book. Antonio’s future has already been chosen by his parents, but both Ultima and his experiences growing up allow him to think for himself. He struggles with his thoughts of religion, and how his culture has affected how he lives life. The story shows clearly how Antonio evolves and matures.
As I read, I could tell that the story was very much inspired and based on the author’s life. This made reading it feel more memorable and personal, connecting with the characters was easier because they felt more realistic. The novel showed the positives and negatives of all of the themes and situations presented, allowing both Antonio and readers to have their own opinions. The way the author writes the coming of age of Antonio reminds me of Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Both books follow young protagonists coming to terms with their loss of innocence. I enjoy the way both authors explore the theme of growing up by using young characters that don’t know much about life. With the relatable way Bless Me, Ultima is written it is easy to see the way the characters see life, making me actually care about what they go through.
The novel is an interesting read with intelligent and relatable takes on the experience of gaining maturity. The way the author uses his own experiences in life helps the book get its messages across, while also making the characters’ stories more relatable. This novel, while well written and enjoyable, can be opinionated at times. The times it is most opinionated would be regarding religion, as it is an important part of both the author and Antonio’s culture. It is easy to see myself in Antonio, as I too once felt the way he feels about growing up, and I think many could say the same.
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