The first in the "Books of a Lifetime" series, Pomada Queimadura by Luiz Gerald Deleon is the tale of a young woman from the streets of Brazil's Ibirapuera community. When Joana, a dancer in the streets, witnesses the execution of a local gangster, she never forgets the names of the two men involved: Augusto and Ronaldo. Joana is determined to get the men for what they did to her family, so she joins a group of vigilantes that confront them on foot. In doing so, Joana discovers the full power of her ability to protect herself and put an end to things once and for all. With her new friends, Joana realizes she has a chance at making a difference in her community and even standing up to the corrupt politicians who have taken over the political arena.
The story begins in the rural reaches of Amazonas state in Brazil - a place where one can feel like they've truly left behind the modern world, even though it still exists. With the opening pages of the book, you'll be immediately greeted with a captivating, enticing story line. You'll immediately feel the passion and determination of the Brazilian people as they struggle each day to maintain their freedom. It's clear from the very start that writer Luiz Gerald Deleon has a passion for writing and that he wants readers to experience this world through his words - that's why the language is so easy to understand and his story is told in such a way that will bring you right into the story.
From the first chapter you'll get a good idea of where Pomada queimadura is going, as you'll see the characters and the situations unfold with breathtaking quickness. With the setting set in the pre-colonization period, you'll find yourself immersed in the tale of how Brazilians saved themselves from extermination and formed a community in the Amazonian rainforest called the Amazons. This book is not just about saving the world, but also preserving the Brazilian way of life.
Once you've started reading, you'll soon start to discover some of the beautiful parts of Brazil and its people. The author does an amazing job of describing each locale he comes across, so you get to know the culture and history of each region as you read about them. There are plenty of interesting details about the geography, too - such as the differences between Rio de la Plata and Bahia de Guincho, or the existence of the Girdoge waterfalls among the Amazons. These small details add up to make a fantastic read and the overall theme of the book is one of preservation - preserving the Brazilian way of life while at the same time offering a glimpse into the past of their culture and their environment.
This book is full of beautiful descriptions and pictures. The combination of all these will make you feel like you're really on a tropical paradise. In fact, you'll need several books to really absorb everything you'll learn from this book. I found that the layout of the book was very easy to read and the colors used were very vivid and lively.
Overall, this is an excellent choice for anyone who already knows a little about Brazilian literature. It will entice you even more as you continue to read, because it's full of interesting facts and colorful detail about Brazil and the people who live in it. It's not just a love story between a man and a woman - it's also about Brazil itself, the landscape and the Brazilians that live there. That's what makes this book a definite must-read for everyone!
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