I finished this on the eleventh of June, but wanted to weigh the story...then reality became extra crazy...and remains frightening.
Warning, the following is a long babbling review.
This read was good, yet nothing like I expected.
There's no rhyme or reason to which book I investigate, nor how much I investigate, before reading.
I didn't give this book much research beforehand. I had learned that it had been banned, possibly even burned.
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Thank You @TheSpineView for creating this fun play-card & for the tag 💕🐎📚.
1- I've four books that I'm currently reading. Been focusing on “Bless Me, Ultima,“ by Rudolfo Anaya. While not a favorite, it's an interesting read.
2- I began “The Blast from the Past,“ by Lucy Score & “Terciel & Elinor“ by Garth Nix. Triple excited about both, yet haven't really read too many pages/chapters into these stories because I really want them to last.
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Page 102-103
“Are you afraid?“ she asked in turn. She put her bowl aside and stared into my eyes.
“No,“ I said.
“Why?“
“I don't know,“ I said.
“I will tell you why,“ she smiled. “It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all the powers of evil in the world and it will emerge triumphant...“
#blessmeUltimareviewedbyanncrystal
#ThinkPositiveBePositive
#binspired
Thank you @TheSpineView for creating this fun play-card & for the tag 💕🐎📚.
1- One of my ancestral American Indigenous languages, mainly Oʼodham.
2- American English is my only language. Wasn't interested in learning Spanish (I do know a few words). The tagged has a lot of Spanish dialogue without direct translations.
#blessmeUltimareviewedbyanncrystal
#Two4Tuesday
#litsycommunitylittenanncrystal
My current reads...
I've finished Murtagh, which I will review this weekend.
Just realized the book, To Shape A Dragon's Breath is 511 pages...a BitsyChunkster! It's the first book in its series.
The long awaited (for me to purchase) Bless Me, Ultima. A standalone novel.
The Third Book in the Riley Thorn mysteries.
The Sixth Book in the Old Kingdom series.
That was a mistake.
I had assumed this was a cozy fantasy about a boy and a magical, grandma-like character.
I mean, there's a kid, how bad could the story be?
This story was NOT a cozy. It's complex, and filled with tragedy.
At times, it feels current, from the prospective of a six year old boy...sometimes it feels removed, events being looked back upon.
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I did not like the notion that Ultima's fate was due to her using magic to “help.“
This felt based on the belief that all magic has a price.
Personally, I believe that whatever energies you send out into the world, is the energies that return to you. So be good, be positive, be helpful. The Threefold Law .
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(edited) 1d
That Ultima helping was no different than cops protecting victims from perpetrators, lawyers defending clients, medical doctors saving patients, priests saving souls, or good old-fashioned self-defense, etc.
Personally, I do not believe that magic comes with a price when using for good, only when it is twisted into dark magic.
Ultima hadn't been the one to alter fates.
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1d
I am Catholic, as known, my God is a jealous God.
Long ago, I came to believe that one can't cheat on a God. This belief allows me to acknowledge other Creators without fear of offending my own.
My mom also raised me to ask myself how I believe Jesus may weigh anything and everything I encountered in life, to ask myself this before seeking answers from our church. Right or wrong, only God Himself could judge me.
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I understood Antonio's questions and even his building doubts about the Catholic faith he was born with...
It would've been nice to see a bit more resolve with his Catholic understandings, just a little.
I guess that's unfair. Antonio is only six years old...
Faith is built with time and patience.
My only issue is it seemed strange that this book both penalized magic and critiqued the Catholic faith??
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(edited) 1d
My reflections about the banning and burning of this book...
I always felt that when people take such dramatic actions against books, it is because they are trying to prove something to themselves. Believing if they prove their faith publicly, then maybe it would also prove their faith to God.
Again, this is my personal opinion.
As mentioned, I am Catholic. 1d
I'm not new to my faith
I've grown comfortable in my faith. I believe the only proof my God needs from me is the Love I feel for Him.
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I figure, hey, if my God can give me vengeance, then I can believe that He can also pass a message of gratitude.
Therefore, I took no personal offense from this book as a Catholic.
Although, I would like to highlight that Catholics do believe that there is no true washing of sins without genuine remorse.
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I only know English, but have picked up a few words over the years.
It didn't feel like it hindered the storyline, at least not for me. I felt it added atmosphere.
I love stories with healers, and this is my first read with a Curandera...I absolutely loved Ultima.
The New Mexico setting was fully detailed.
There are book warnings 📚⚠️👇🏼.
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Child threatened.
Drowning death of a child.
Bullying.
(edited) 1d
#blessmeultimareviewedbyanncrystal
#bannedbooks (edited) 1d