Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Guatemalan Rhapsody” by Jared Lemus is a vibrant and poignant debut collection that masterfully captures the essence of Guatemala through a series of interconnected stories. Lemus’s writing is both unflinching and tender, offering readers a kaleidoscopic view of a country rich in culture, history, and complexity.

The collection features a diverse array of characters, each navigating their own unique challenges and moments of revelation.  In “Saint Dismas,” four orphaned brothers pose as part of a construction crew, stopping cars along the highway and robbing anyone foolish enough to hit the brakes. “Heart Sleeves” follows two wannabe tattoo artists in a contest, where one hopes to win not only first place but also the heart of his best friend’s girlfriend. 

Lemus excels in creating fully realized characters that leap off the page from their first introductions. Each character is portrayed with depth and nuance, reflecting the beauty, desperation, love, violence, and hope that coexist in their lives. The protagonists in these stories are often marginalized individuals, whose struggles and resilience add a profound emotional weight to the narrative. 

Lemus’s prose is both sharp and lyrical, moving seamlessly between wit and profound tenderness. His ability to evoke the sensory details of Guatemalan life immerses readers in the setting, making the stories feel both intimate and expansive. The narrative voice is confident and distinctive, capturing the rhythms and cadences of the characters’ speech and thoughts. Lemus’s storytelling is marked by a keen observational eye and a deep empathy for his characters, making each story resonate with authenticity and emotional truth.

“Guatemalan Rhapsody” explores themes of identity, belonging, and the human capacity for change. Lemus delves into the ways in which individuals are shaped by their circumstances and the extent to which they can alter their destinies. The stories also examine the intersections of beauty and violence, love and desperation, highlighting the complexities of life in Guatemala. Through his characters’ journeys, Lemus offers a meditation on the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope

Evocative and immersive “Guatemalan Rhapsody” is a stunning debut that establishes Jared Lemus as a major new voice in contemporary fiction. His ability to capture the multifaceted nature of Guatemalan life with such depth and sensitivity is truly remarkable.

This collection is a must-read for fans of literary fiction and short stories, offering a powerful and immersive experience that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

I have spent a lot of time in Guatemala and was anxious to pick up this story collection. Just like the country and the title - the stories are bold, bright, and emotional. Lemus does a spectacular job of capturing the country, from it's very dangerous mountain roads to it's criminal component.
I have seen the San Simon near Lago Atilán, and that story got me right in the gut.

Each tale has a double layer of showcasing Guatemalan culture and depicting important stories and truths of our times. #ecco #guatemalanrhapsody #jaredlemus

Thank you to Ecco via NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! Admittedly since I am 1/2 Guatemalan I feel like this short story collection holds a special place in my heart for the representation it provides. The imagery was so vivid and the characters all felt so real and complex. I feel like this is a collection I will want to return to and read again later, as I feel like I may get something new with every reread.

A stellar short story collection, all hits, no skips. These stories follow Guatemalan characters grappling with what they owe to themselves, their neighbors, and their country. Jared Lemus's writing sparkles with wit and originality, and his characters are so fully realized that they pop off the page immediately from their first introductions. I can't wait to read his first novel!

I have been to many places around the world through the books that I’ve read - but never before to Guatemala. Never before until now, at least! That new literary experience alone was honestly a genuine treat by itself, but that ended up being just the topping on the cake thanks to the excellent writing. Each individual story was an engaging read in their own way thanks to Lemus’s distinct voice, one that I look forward to hearing more of in the future.

My son was adopted from Guatemala and I've been to the country a handful of times. I love to read anything having to do with the culture and people of the special spot. It was a pleasure to discover this book that had a gorgeous cover and a curious title. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed Jared's storytelling and the variety of characters portrayed in this book. I will tell a lot of our Guatemalan Families Thru Adoption friends about it.