Why this book?
In addition to inspiring dialogue among all Brown County residents through shared reading experiences, One Book One Community seeks to address topics that engage conversation about diversity within our own community. Likewise, it sought to support the Art and the Animal Exhibit at the Neville Public Museum this year (http://www.nevillepublicmuseum.org/art-animal/ ).
We were looking for a good page turner that many would enjoy, with a diversity theme AND animal influences that spoke to this theme. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya fit this list of criteria wonderfully; we are proud to present it to our community.
This classic piece of Chicano literature, with Ultima’s guardian owl, the myth of the golden carp, Anaya’s treatment of domesticated animals and even his characterization of people by way of animal traits develops a rich texture for the reader to explore culture. Likewise, through the eyes of Antonio Marez, a young boy caught between the folk / cowboy culture of his father and the agrarian / Catholic culture of his mother, the reader sees each side with love and respect. As Antonio witness the struggles between these two cultures in his own community, he comes to his own understanding of who he is and how he will join the seeming divide within himself.
At its heart, Bless Me, Ultima captures the conversation One Book One Community hopes to engage. Further, Antonio offers a light to guide our way.
What ideas does Antonio offer as guidance as we seek to unify our own community? Do the images of animals cross culture lines in the book? For the various cultural groups in Brown County? What does it mean to serve one’s community, whether it is in our every day lives or in an activity assigned specifically for that purpose? Let’s talk about it!