It is a coming of age tale for a young boy named Antonio and takes place during the 194os in northern New Mexico.
Antonio is a young boy trying to become a young man. Tragedy and mystery surround him, form him and shape him with the strongest influence coming from a woman named Ultima, the local curandera [witch/healer] who shows Antonio about life and nature.
The supernatural element is creepy as Ultima takes on three local witches and Antonio's uncle becomes possessed.
It's a great summer read and is available at the big name bookstores or online.
I mention this again now, because 40 years after its publication, Hollywood is going to turn it in to a movie directed by Carl Franklin [One False Move, Devil in a Blue Dress, Out of Time].
Northern New Mexico had been on film before in the movie Milagro Beanfield War made back in the 1980s and it did a fair job of capturing the amazing beautiful landscapes, people, history and Latin culture.
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Bless Me Ultima if filled with the same elements. The book captures northern New Mexico culture well.
That is going to be a hard job to do on film. There are many mystical and spiritual elements in the book that I know will probably be left out of the film. My fear is that it will be turned into a 'horror' movie which it isn't.
I do have faith in Carl Franklin, although I do not know how well he knows the subject area and its people.
Fingers crossed.
If you are looking for a late summer read, check it out before it hits the big screen.
I'm out.
www.kob.com/article/stories/S1729313.shtml?cat=504
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