Jagua

Bold, moving, entertaining and controversial, this is the great novel of 1960s Lagos life - with one of the most unforgettable heroines in literature. Jagua Nana, no longer young but still irresistible, lives a life of hedonism in Lagos: men, parties, fights, wild nights in the Tropicana with her handsome young boyfriend Freddie. Rushing from one experience to the next in search of something she can't quite grasp, Jagua finds herself embroiled in shady politics, caught up in village feuds and a source of drama wherever she goes. In this vivid depiction of 1960s Nigeria, everyone is hustling and everyone is on the make - and a woman like Jagua must find her own unconventional path to fulfilment.

In search of the jagua fruit, author Carine Fabius takes readers on a journey into the deepest realms of the Amazon jungle, where a prized tattoo ink weaves magical tales into the heart and culture of the region's indigenous people. Written in a breezy, engaging style, the book includes: - 40 pages of gorgeous color photographs, including contributions by noted documentary photographer and travel writer Cristina Mittermeier - Over 25 black & white photographs and illustrations - The author's personal account of her and her artist/explorer husband's journey into the world of temporary body art, beginning with henna and culminating with the discovery of the jagua fruit's promise to deliver a beautiful tattoo that looks real -- yet fades after two weeks - Excerpts from her husband Pascal Giacomini's diary as he travels on a motorized dugout canoe into the deepest reaches of the jungle, where he spends weeks with an indigenous group called the Matses - Brief histories of various indigenous groups associated with jagua - Personal and insightful essays by veteran explorers and lovers of the Amazon - Information on the medicinal and mystical properties of the jagua fruit - Magical tales and beliefs surrounding this extraordinary fruit - A short history of tattoos - A short history of ink - Frequently asked questions (and answers, of course!) about jagua tattoos - Overview of the Amazon, the Indians that populate the area, and issues that currently dominate throughout the region - Traditional tales from the Amazon