shanviolinlove's review against another edition
4.0
Anaya knows how to craft a narrative. His descriptions of the natural world are beautiful. He gets his reader invested in his characters deeply. This book especially shows the "before" and, if not "after," then evolution-in-transit of Albuquerque being repossessed and commercialized by modern-day colonial forces. We also see certain characters return to their ancestral roots, or, in some cases, appropriated roots (colonialism factors into fictionalized ties to Spanish nobility versus Mexican/indigenous/Jewish roots). Like some other reviewers, I wasn't as sure what to make of the placement of the female characters, as they all oriented around Abran's life (but then again, it's mainly his and his antagonist's story). It wasn't a dealbreaker for me, as the novel's many narrative strengths signified why Alburquerque, like Bless Me, Ultima, bears the same resonance of an American classic.
cloudjp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brunonadamas's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.0
Anaya is one of my favorites, and exception writer. Great read
alwayslol's review against another edition
5.0
As I'm soon moving out of Albuquerque, I'm finishing up all of the books I meant to read when I arrived. This one is a classic and especially if you are familiar with Albuquerque, you can understand why. Not only a good, well-written story, but all the color and culture of Albuquerque thrown in. It's an excellent read whether you have ever been to Albuquerque or not.
98onboxing's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mokey81's review against another edition
5.0
This was my second book written by Rudolfo Anaya and it was just as gripping as the first. His word-weaving is beautiful. So talented. Anaya has the ability to make the milti-cultural setting of New Mexico come alive in such a way that I wish I could see it the way he does. New Mexico is alive in his words. And I've never felt that way before - being from there. This is the story of a young man who finds out he was adopted and goes on a journey to discover who his father is when his biological mother dies with the secret. Parts of the story were predictible, but that didn't take away from the beauty of this novel. Please read this book. If you haven't been to New Mexico, you will ache to go. If you are from New Mexico, you will long to know it the way Anaya does.
kidcolorado's review against another edition
4.0
Frankly, the book is a little bit messy, but it's so evocative of New Mexico that I don't even care. The prose more than makes up for some sloppy plotting.
dairine's review against another edition
3.0
*autographed* & then I bumped my coffee cup and got a wee-bit if coffee on a bit of the edges. Meh.
I have context with Anaya. As a semi-native of Nuevo Mexico, I have read Bless Me, Ultimata exactly once. It remember it’s being good, but I don’t remember
much of its “craft.”
I also have met Anaya at a dramaturge production of his first? play. My minute interaction with him was less than pleasant. I was left with a terrible feeling.
So, now you understand why I’ve lugged this ridiculous autographed trade copy around and haven’t yet read it.
So I read it. and I think it’s sloppy. It bandies about ABQ references smugly, features little continuity of tone, is loose with POV, had at least one plot flaw that need a proper edit and generally just annoyed me.
So I don’t like Anaya? Sue me.
I have context with Anaya. As a semi-native of Nuevo Mexico, I have read Bless Me, Ultimata exactly once. It remember it’s being good, but I don’t remember
much of its “craft.”
I also have met Anaya at a dramaturge production of his first? play. My minute interaction with him was less than pleasant. I was left with a terrible feeling.
So, now you understand why I’ve lugged this ridiculous autographed trade copy around and haven’t yet read it.
So I read it. and I think it’s sloppy. It bandies about ABQ references smugly, features little continuity of tone, is loose with POV, had at least one plot flaw that need a proper edit and generally just annoyed me.
So I don’t like Anaya? Sue me.
lvrock's review against another edition
3.0
Anaya's writing astounds. the language sweeps across the page like a wave, and you as a reader are brought in and out like a tide. Leaving this book is hard, not because I felt connected to the characters or the plot, but because I never wanted to step out from his ocean.
Yet, I did. This is my second Anaya novel I have finished. Undeniably talented, this novel weaves personal growth, identity, and politics into a narrative about a boy discovering he is adopted. Anaya paints a beautiful picture of New Mexico here, depicting the mesh of Mexican, Spanish, and Pueblo Native American history that make up the city. It made me miss New Mexico all the more.
That being said, the plot felt flat and I did not feel connected to the characters. So, upon leaving this book I was sad to leave but it's not a story that will take permanent residence in my memory. Life will go on and this book will leave my mind too.
Yet, I did. This is my second Anaya novel I have finished. Undeniably talented, this novel weaves personal growth, identity, and politics into a narrative about a boy discovering he is adopted. Anaya paints a beautiful picture of New Mexico here, depicting the mesh of Mexican, Spanish, and Pueblo Native American history that make up the city. It made me miss New Mexico all the more.
That being said, the plot felt flat and I did not feel connected to the characters. So, upon leaving this book I was sad to leave but it's not a story that will take permanent residence in my memory. Life will go on and this book will leave my mind too.
marhill31's review against another edition
4.0
One of the great joys of reading fiction is when you get a novel that makes want to read on after you finished it. There are a lot of novels I have enjoyed reading, but once I close the book or eBook (these days) then I'm done with it. Well, Alburquerque by Rudolfo Anaya is one of those few novels I wanted to continue reading on after completing the last page.
It is the story of Abran Gonzalez, a young boxer from Alburquerque who is brought to the hospital to see his biological mother, Cynthia Johnson, for the first time. Johnson is a wealthy Anglo artist and reveals on her deathbed to Abran that she is his mother. Abran learns his mother had a relationship with an unknown Mexican man that his grandfather wanted to be kept a secret. Abran is determined to find out who is his biological father and his actual identity.
His journey takes him into the world of city politics, big business, and puts his love to the test with a young woman whom he believes she is soulmate. Anaya writes a love letter to his hometown of Alburquerque (this is the original spelling of the city's name before the first "R" was dropped) and brings the city's tri-cultural heritage of Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo to light.
I lived in Albuquerque for five years from March 1998 to September 2003 and reading Anaya's novel brought back a lot of memories and why I will always have a special place for the Duke City. Also, I knew about the desire from businessman and politicians to make Albuquerque a great city of the Southwestern United States and on the same stage as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Denver. Anaya does a superb job highlighting Albuquerque's place as the big city in New Mexico, and its rivalry with Santa Fe (I lived there for 4 years).
Rudolfo Anaya is known for his modern classic, [b:Bless Me, Ultima|14362|Bless Me, Ultima|Rudolfo Anaya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474056548l/14362._SY75_.jpg|1828689], and rightly so. I would add that Alburquerque is his other influential novel and deserves to be widely read. We are in the midst of Latinx Heritage Month and I would highly recommend Albuquerque as a must read.
It is the story of Abran Gonzalez, a young boxer from Alburquerque who is brought to the hospital to see his biological mother, Cynthia Johnson, for the first time. Johnson is a wealthy Anglo artist and reveals on her deathbed to Abran that she is his mother. Abran learns his mother had a relationship with an unknown Mexican man that his grandfather wanted to be kept a secret. Abran is determined to find out who is his biological father and his actual identity.
His journey takes him into the world of city politics, big business, and puts his love to the test with a young woman whom he believes she is soulmate. Anaya writes a love letter to his hometown of Alburquerque (this is the original spelling of the city's name before the first "R" was dropped) and brings the city's tri-cultural heritage of Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo to light.
I lived in Albuquerque for five years from March 1998 to September 2003 and reading Anaya's novel brought back a lot of memories and why I will always have a special place for the Duke City. Also, I knew about the desire from businessman and politicians to make Albuquerque a great city of the Southwestern United States and on the same stage as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Denver. Anaya does a superb job highlighting Albuquerque's place as the big city in New Mexico, and its rivalry with Santa Fe (I lived there for 4 years).
Rudolfo Anaya is known for his modern classic, [b:Bless Me, Ultima|14362|Bless Me, Ultima|Rudolfo Anaya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1474056548l/14362._SY75_.jpg|1828689], and rightly so. I would add that Alburquerque is his other influential novel and deserves to be widely read. We are in the midst of Latinx Heritage Month and I would highly recommend Albuquerque as a must read.