|
Books > House of Miracles
House of Miracles takes place in Brazil in the 1960s. It tells the story of one man's quest to create a new life in the rawness of the Brazilian backlands. There, Steve falls in love with a beautiful and mysterious black woman named Malaika -- a mulata descended from the blending of African slaves with the Portuguese colonists. He learns the true nature of love and the sacrifices it entails. Rich with the mystique of Brazil and its blend of African, indigenous Indian, and Portuguese cultures, the story takes the reader through exotic jungles and wastelands and into the seamy side of Brazilian violence and vigilante justice. Meanwhile, Steve's religious beliefs are challenged by Macumba, a black religious cult characterized by ritual dancing and sorcery. Assisting Steve are some unforgettable characters, not the least of which are several slightly lecherous but lovable old men who will charm the reader.
Published by Dockside Sailing Press
Craig B. Smith, 2010
|
In the backlands of Brazil, there is a small town called Juazeiro do Norte, home of Padre Cicero. He was a backwoods priest who in life was thought to have performed miraculous healings, and who in death is considered a saint by the local population. His home -- A Casa das Milagres -- "The House of Miracles" contains gruesome wooden carvings, portraying every manner of wound, cancer tumor, or injury. There are carvings of breasts with tumors, carvings of maimed hands missing fingers, photographs of the sick, hand-written pleas for healing, and stacks of crutches left by the lame. These artifacts are placed there in hopes of a miraculous healing.
In contrast to the devout Catholics of the region, others believe in the dark gods of Macumba. When slaves were forbidden to practice their religion, they adapted the expedient of identifying their gods with catholic saints to avoid persecution. Iemanj, goddess of the sea, is one such deity, known for the powerful protection she extends to true believers. The priestesses of this cult are known for their ability to foresee future events. Certain ceremonies and fetishes are believed to yield magical powers. Spiritualism and superstition exert a strong influence on the every day lives of many Brazilians.
Steve's story begins in Juazeiro do Norte, where he experiences Northeast Brazil's rich history of farmers, cattlemen, artisans, religious fanatics, and bandits who gradually tamed the dry, thorny desert region of Northeast Brazil and survived its devastating droughts. He wants to start a new business, one that will create jobs and improve the lives of the Nordestinos, while at the same time fulfilling his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. His adventures take him north to the Amazon and then south to the spectacular beauty of Rio de Janeiro, where he is unwittingly caught up in a web of intrigue that almost costs him his life as he strives to save the woman he loves.
The novel takes place against the tapestry of this powerful and fascinating country, and is an adventure story, a love story, and a coming of age for a young American who finds himself caught up by the country and fundamentally changed by it. For Steve and Malaika, their hope is to establish their own "House of Miracles" in Northeast Brazil and realize their dream of a new life together.
|
