The Great American Read discussion

This is the spoiler thread for our May book, Bless Me, Ultima.

Warning, don't read this until you've finished the book. It may contain details about key plot points and the ending.

Wow, I thought this was going to be a simple coming of age or family story, but there is a lot more to this book! Right from the first chapter things get moving. I'm almost finished, so more tomorrow.

I finished this last night. Overall I loved it. It brought tears to my eyes more than once. Some of the sections with the boys were irritating (a la veca!), and the narrator used a loud obnoxious teenager voice then. But those scenes served to remind us how young they were, and to see Tony in a normal context. There were some really great quotes at the end. When I get a kindle of this, I'll look for them, because I might want to save them.

I had so many questions as I was reading this. I didn't understand most of the Spanish, but the voice inflections helped in the audio.

Overall, what did you think?

I have a few questions, and favorite sections.

Going back to the first few chapters. When Tony's uncles asked for Ultima's help to cure their cursed brother, did you believe that he had been cursed? Do you think Ultima healed him with magic, or did she just know something that the doctors didn't think of? (Maybe there is a regional equivalent to Lyme's disease in Connecticut, caused by a tick, which many doctors still fail to diagnose.)

Before she cured the uncle, Ultima talked about not interfering in a man's fate, or there would be consequences. I thought she was saying that the witch sisters were interfering and she just gave the uncle his normal fate. I anticipated consequences for the witches. But at the end I wondered (view spoiler)[ that maybe Ultima feared that SHE was guilty of interfering with the uncle's fate, and all the terrible things that came later were the "consequences." (hide spoiler)]

Do you think Ultima did anything to cause the witch to die? (view spoiler)[ I remember that Tony saw three dolls that looked vaguely familiar, and one looked really bad (sick?). It made me think maybe she did cause the sister to die. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve finished and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this that masterfully balances faith/religion with magical realism.

I loved the scenes were the Uncle was cured by Ultima. They were gross, but powerful.

I was concerned about how young Tony and his friends were throughout. They had experience md so much at such a young age! And then the drowning at the end! Too much, and oh so heartbreaking.

I found the storyline and use of imagery (the owl, the witches, the llano) to be so very compelling. I plan to watch the movie soon, and can’t wait to see how this translates to screen.

I agree, the mix of beliefs was fascinating. Tony seemed to have a strong grasp on his beliefs, even when they conflicted. It makes me curious to know what he will eventually do with his life.

I'd better watch the film soon too before it's due back to the library.

The descriptions of Ultima's work were very interesting. I was a little confused about Tony's role in that process. It's as if the curse or the cure had to go through him, because he was innocent?

I was heartbroken by Narciso (sp?). I couldn't understand why Tony never called out to him as he was following him, but it saved his life that he wasn't with him. Tony couldn't take his confession, and it was very confusing to him.

The priest scared the kids so much by the discussion of hell. Even the smallest sins could damn them to hell. Tony was so worried about Florence's soul because he wasn't a believer. Florence was remarkably strong to be able to say that he didn't believe, but he was at the Catholic school because he wanted to be with his friends. He took the priest's punishments without complaint or bitterness.

I'd love to hear how kids would discuss this book.

I spent the entire time reading this remembering my childhood, which was extremely immersed in the catholic church. When they played Priest - did that. I used to give communion and say mass ALL the time. I also fantasized about being a martyr (so I could become a saint.) I wonder if anyone has a clue how freaking terrifying that is for kids? He did a great job of showing how truly upsetting and unsettling it is for kids to believe they'll rot in hell or whatever. When I found out that Jesus was coming back to earth, all I could pray for years was "don't pick me - nobody will believe me and I'll get in trouble." Oy vey. Anyway, more thoughts after I get some sleep, but I did want to finish this one tonight before the weekend takes me back to the Count.

Bless me Ella, for I have sinned. Oy Vey. 😄

I finished this book yesterday. . .and did a review on goodreads. . .I liked it but suspected I was missing something. Still, I clicked the link that sent it back to the library shelves. I got home from work about 9:30, wanted to finish the night with a short show and turned on Prime. . . .I had thought about Ultima all the way home. I was stunned when on the new movies included with Prime was Bless Me, Ultima. Clearly, the universe agreed. I was missing something and needed a redo. I snuggled up and turned it on. Carumba!! Afterwards I pulled up Libby and I checked out BMU again and reread it . . .much better. . . .it sank deeper into my bones. I guess I just needed some conditioning. . .

Moonkiszt wrote: "I finished this book yesterday. . .and did a review on goodreads. . .I liked it but suspected I was missing something. Still, I clicked the link that sent it back to the library shelves. I got home..."

Wow, that's great timing! I have yet to watch anything on Prime. I think now is the time to figure out how to get it on my tv!

I always forget Prime. I've bookmarked Bless Me Ultima to watch though. I do think it would work pretty well with a good cast, and the cast looks spectacular - how did we not know this was a movie?

Back to the book.

I've been wrestling with whether or not Tony will grow up to be a farmer or a priest - or is he the writer?

I don't think he's going to be a priest, but that may be my (col)lapsed Catholicism showing.

And is Ultima really magic, or is it more that she truly just is a very evolved person that seems almost mytstical? She certainly knows the land very well. I loved that part of this book - the massive respect this very young child had for the land .

What do y'all think?

This book really moved me. It's not really my kind of book, but I have a lot of respect for the author. I like how she structured the book with a balance of really meaningful themes, and the day to day life of a young boy. She dealt with important issues about culture, family, faith and maybe even the core of a person's substance (wind or earth?). The mystical and catholic sections dealt with some similar themes (good vs evil, consequences, sacrifice, redemption, etc.)

I'm not catholic but I grew up with a lot of catholic kids, and when they went to catechism they talked about a lot of the same issues that the kids did in the book. The fear of hell was #1. Also - how is it that small sins could send you to hell, but big sins could be forgiven just by confessing? How is this wafer the body the Christ?

The golden carp story was vivid, but I wasn't sure how it fit in with the other beliefs. (The carp god was compassionate not vengeful?) I lost track of what was happening at the end, it was all chaotic. (Did one kid kill the golden carp?)

I kept thinking Antonio was much older than he was. He was doing some deep thinking for a kid that young. I would really like to know how kids (of different ages, cultures, and religions) relate to this book.

NancyJ wrote: "I kept thinking Antonio was much older than he was. He was doing some deep thinking for a kid that young. I would really like to know how kids (of different ages, cultures, and religions) relate to this book. "

It usually bothers me when kids think/talk/act like adults in books, but it didn't so much in this one for me. I think that's b/c the whole book has an air of magic about it (I mean, the owl...) so if I was going to buy into the story, I had to buy into everything that came along.

I had the very distinct feeling that my sister's kids wouldn't like this one. I don't know why, but perhaps it's too quiet or the issues are way too heavy (and I don't want to have to talk them through those issues.) My sister is not raising her kids Catholic (or anything) which makes my mother VERY upset and makes for some hilarious moments - like when her youngest came running up to me around Easter to tell me "the bad news" (Jesus died) "but don't worry, Ella! Want to know the good news???" He is alive!

It still cracks me up. It was like he was telling a joke rather than a religious miracle. Oh well.

I think the author was making the point that Tony was a very old soul in a child's body. Ultima saw him as such and realised that he was perfectly suited to be her protege.

Parker wrote: "I think the author was making the point that Tony was a very old soul in a child's body. Ultima saw him as such and realised that he was perfectly suited to be her protege."

Thank you! That makes perfect sense.

I saw the movie and it was nicely done. They simplified the story (they took out the carp story) and it was easy to follow.

In the book, I got the impression that Ultima caused the witches to die by using voodoo dolls, but I wanted her to be blameless. In the movie, it still wasn't clear. Tony observed that one of the dolls was shriveling up, and soon after a witch died. If it was her revenge, then it also led to Narciso's death, and her own.