As much as I enjoy this novel, it was long to read, and often jarring at times. It takes a lot of patience, and me, growing up in a catholic school.. I have that kind of patience. But not everyone might. I absolutely adore this book, and will keep it, for as long as I live. I feel so spiritually connected to this book, and religiously connected. I hope Poma is continued to be taught in schools, and I think it delivers an important message. Constant referral to God, his majesty or the holy catholic faith, it’s very comforting to someone like me. I literally grew up learning this at a very young age. I do hope I get to learn more about Don Antonio de Mendoza, a knight of Santiago, or Don Andres Marquis, King of Peru. As well as the many other names in this book. I really hope to understand the life of Poma, more clear, but for now I’m sure this book will serve me great purpose, but I just love some of the passages in this book, like “prologue to the reader of “his holiness, and his majesty”, that you might see all things that are done, in the service of God, the holy mother church, his holiness, and his majesty.” It is beautiful reading that. The purpose of Good. Page 165. His blessed mother, St. Mary, and all the saints and angels who are in glory. Reading this brings me to tears sometimes, and brings such comfort because I have fears of death, and pain, and just reading biblical oriented paragraphs is like going back in time for me. Reading about the quicksilver mines of Huancavelica where poor Indians are punished kind of reminds me of the mine workers in Jose Maria. There’s so much geographic knowledge in this text, places like Chocllo Cocha, Carabaya, where are these places?? It seems like Poma lived like ten lives, how does he have all this information, and I recall professor talking about how this book is during times where people were illiterate, or texts weren’t believed to be true, etc. So this book refers many times “to the Christian reader”… do good, contribute to the community, the king will thank you. I find certain rules in this book interesting, like six ravenous animals feared by the poor Indians in this kingdom, and then it explains each animal. But still other parts are a bit more complex, like page 231, “the blacks”, sooo he’s talking about colonial Spanish society, and black people??? “All blacks should be married”???? why does he say this??? I know during the 1500’s there was black people but why does he have these rules for them??? I still appreciate Poma’s book, regardless of it’s controversies, I do enjoy when he says “things you should consider deeply, in your heart, and spirit, Consider this Christian, God created heaven and the whole world, and all that exists there, even fish, animals, worms, butterflies, snails, ants, crickets, mosquitos, and everything that exists there. Likewise our father Adam, and mother Eve, they came to an end, punished by God, with the waters of the flood, Noah was left in the ark with six married sons. Page 289.