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Gems: |
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Gems: |
Paul Lerch – a gravedigger and bon vivant with an inquiring mind – says, "Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a wonderful coming of age story about a young rural Chicano boy trying to find his place in the world. The use of magical realism is beautiful as Antonio finds his strength to be in the world from the roots of his pagan ancestry. Strength and lyricism run throughout this book. I recommend it." |
An excerpt from Uno, the first chapter of Bless Me, Ultima, Ultima came to stay with us the summer I was almost seven. When she came the beauty of the llano unfolded before my eyes, and the gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth. The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed its mystery into my living blood. She took my hand, and the silent, magic powers she possessed made beauty from the raw, sun-baked llano, the green river valley, and the blue bowl which was the white sun’s home. My bare feet felt the throbbing earth and my body trembled with excitement. Time stood still, and it shared with me all that had been, and all that was to come. Let me begin at the beginning. I do not mean the beginning that was in my dreams and the stories they whispered to me about my birth, and the people of my father and mother, and my three brothers – but at the beginning that came with Ultima. |