Pomada Por Queimada Com Bolha - Book Review

 

Have you heard of Pomada para queimadura com bolha? Have you ever read the story about how this native village in Brazil became a sacred place for local tribes and even the national government as well? This extraordinary novel is based on reality. You can feel the spirit of the characters in this magnificent novel as they struggle with life and death. The burning desire of these characters to survive is the main thrust of this fantastic adventure.

Maria and Joana are young cousins who have barely managed to survive during their brief time as orphans. Maria's brother, Paco, is presumed dead after a plane crash near their hometown. As a result of this tragedy, Maria's love for her family and love of her younger sister grows and she decides to leave them both to live with Paco's father in Brazil. Joana on the other hand is not so sure and is apprehensive about leaving her husband behind.

Joana's mother, Betida, a warm and friendly woman, tries to convince her not to leave, but Joana knows that she has to go because her uncle was killed in the plane crash. Betida lives a charmed life while caring for Joana and teaching her the art of tapa. Joana is fascinated by the rituals and uses them as an opportunity to reconnect with her own childhood memories. One such memory leads Joana to visit the Pomada Indians who lives in the area where the crash happened. Although the Indians try to prevent Joana from visiting, she is eventually allowed to enter. Here in these people's home she meets the beautiful Maria, who becomes Joana's new lodger and best friend.

While living with Maria, Joana also discovers that the natives are not really evil and do not hunt people for being demon possessed. On the contrary, these people are very generous people who genuinely want to make the earth a better place. Their burning desire to free their homeland forces Joana to kill her Uncle and live with her cousin, Ignacio. But when Ignacio is killed during a drug deal, Joana vows never to take another purse from anyone.

Although Joana's burning desire is fulfilled, the Indians capture her and force her to work in their mines. This causes Joana to have more nightmares and drive her crazy. She even attacks Ignacio's son, Pedro, whom she intends to kill at any cost. Meanwhile, Ignacio, who has become suspicious of Joana's real motives, is told by his Uncle Mario that Joana has a deeper burning desire to learn the ways of the gods.

When Joana finally finds the answers she seeks, she is returned to Peru by her cousin. Here in Peru, Joana meets the man who can fulfill her burning desire and save her life, Ignacio. Will this relationship end happily or tragically? Is there a way to avoid the pitfalls that await those who try to use the powers of magic for evil?