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.
👇🏼
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
Thank you @TheSpineView for creating this fun play-card 💕🐎📚.
1- I usually only read at bedtime, so at an incline 😂. My favorite is sitting in the garden or inside beside seasonal decorations or a fountain.
2- I expected a Grandma-like character, and a cozy-kind of story. This is a very serious, deeply meaningful story.
#Two4Tuesday
#litsycommunitylittenanncrystal
pickA hauntingly beautiful book in the setting of the Mexican pre WWII New Mexico. A coming of age story of a boy walking in the two worlds of Spanish Catholics and his indigenous god mother who knew different powers. The book left you thinking strongly of the essence of what our walk in life is about. In the end what does it mean? Love this book!
So...apparently, I haven't read many of the books listed, but here are my top 3:
1. Bless Me, Ultima
2. The Bluest Eye
3. The Color Purple
#TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe
I took AP English during the time covered by the survey! Don‘t ask me what we read, because I don‘t remember. It wasn‘t any of these books, though. Still, I think of it as one of the best classes I took in high school. All 12/100 books are ones I read as an adult. Highlights:
1. Anna Karenina
2. Bless Me, Ultima
3. The Cider House Rules
Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/litsy-ap-literature-free-response-titles-list-1
#TLT
Fortunately, yes. Many in fact. The ones that really stand out to me were: Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, Sylvia Day, Lisa See, Victor Villaseñor, Gary Soto, and Sandra Cisneros.
#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern
pickAfter reading an article with the author about banned books, I read Lawn Boy to see what all the fuss was about. Without giving much away, there's themes of sexual identity & sex, but the book is much more about poverty & how difficult it is to overcome than anything else. I see no reason for this book to be banned. The honest reflection of class in our society could make some uncomfortable, but as the saying goes, “The truth sometimes hurts“.
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.
18h
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 .
👇🏼
(edited) 18h
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.
👇🏼
18h
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.
👇🏼
18h
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??
👇🏼
(edited) 18h
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. 18h
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.
👇🏼
18h
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.
👇🏼 18h
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 📚⚠️👇🏼.
18h
Child threatened.
Drowning death of a child.
Bullying.
(edited) 18h
#blessmeultimareviewedbyanncrystal
#bannedbooks (edited) 17h