Jared Lemus’s debut short story collection, Guatemalan Rhapsody, introduces readers to the complex daily lives of men and boys living in Guatemala and its diaspora. Diverse and emotionally-rich, the characters in these stories face not only an array of socio-economic challenges but also their own generational machismo. Immersive, compassionate, honest. Lemus’s empathy and love of the Guatemalan people shines through and through. Highly recommend.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but this was incredibly underwhelming. While there were bits and pieces throughout the stories that were fascinating or informative, the rest just seemed like words on a page.

In a Nutshell: A literary short story collection about ordinary life in Guatemala. Character-driven tales, multi-faceted writing, varied circumstances and characters. The endings and some of the plot inclusions were not my cup of tea. This is a stunning debut, even if it wasn’t exactly my kind of book.

This collection of twelve stories is the first time I have explored an OwnVoices work from Guatemala. (That was the prime reason for grabbing this book!) The result has been rich and complex.
My copy doesn’t come with an author’s note offering a clue about the theme of this collection. However, the blurb states that the book “explores how we journey from the circumstances that we are forged by, and whether the ability to change our fortunes lies in our own hands or in those of another.” I find this an accurate estimation of each story’s core intent.
The writing is impeccable. At no point did I feel like I was reading a debut work. The author has created an eclectic array of characters coming from varied age and work profiles. However, none of the characters are from wealthy backgrounds or professionals. They are mostly from poor or middle-class upbringing, striving to go beyond their circumstances, but often stumbling on this journey.
Despite this seemingly repetitive concept of characters desperate to get out of their current mire, the plots are distinct. None of the stories created a déjà vu kind of feel. Plus, the characters’ attitudes also vary even when their goals are similar. Some are cocky, some disheartened, some courageous, and some just plod along the path life takes them on.
As the focus is mainly on the characters, we don’t get to see much of the locale of Guatemala. However, there are many stories with references to the social situation, the cultural beliefs and the traditions of this Central American country. These don’t always offer a pretty picture, but considering that this is an OwnVoices work, the tone is genuine without being degrading. The underlying feel is always of hope even when the circumstances are of despair.
There is a good mix of first-person and third-person POVs across the stories, but one story comes from the second-person POV. While this narrative voice is usually my favourite, this particular story didn’t impress me much as the identity of the “you” was too fuzzy.
While most of the above usually works in my favour, I didn’t enjoy this collection as much as I had hoped to. For one, every single story is from the male perspective. Female characters, if present, are in limited roles. Further, many of the males resort to alcohol and drug usage and also use obscenities – this might be realistic but it is not in my comfort zone of reading. All of this, I would still have taken in my stride as the result of a genuine male writing voice, but what I couldn’t overlook was the endings. A majority of the stories have abrupt ends. Again, open endings are fine for me as long as they offer some clue about what might happen next or if they pause on a ray of hope. But many of the stories herein stopped with no warning about the fate of the character. I’d have preferred to have closure, especially considering the poignancy and inherent danger of some of the stories.
As always, I rated the stories individually. My ratings went all the way from 2.5 stars to 5 stars, mostly dependent on the endings. Had the endings offered me satisfaction, my ratings would easily have been higher. These were my top favourite stories with 4+ stars:
🤩 Ofrendas: What kind of offering is enough to save a soul? Begins ordinary, ends chilling. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤩 Whistle While You Work: A group of custodians try to retain their jobs by any means possible. Would have rated this higher if it had a better ending. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤩 Saint Dismas: A well-written story about how needs dominate wants. Loved the grittiness of this one. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🤩 Caídas: An excellent story about an old man living with the shadows of his past. Would have been a 5 star for me had the ending offered me more. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🤩 Fight Sounds: A man who doesn't realise what he has until he loses it. Liked the mix of humour and seriousness. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤩 Scrimmages: A group of teenagers gets an international football player as their team coach. But things aren't as they appear. My favourite story of the book, with its excellent portrayal of life and its vicissitudes. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All in all, this would be a great option for short story lovers who are fond of literary fiction and are okay with male-dominated narratives. The character-driven storytelling, the OwnVoices factor, and the realism of the tales ought to override the issue with the endings.
3.5 stars, based on the average of my rating for each story. (Rounding up because I know the lower rating is partly due to my reading preferences regarding adult content.)

My thanks to Ecco for providing the DRC of “Guatemalan Rhapsody” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This book of short stories is written very well. The majority of the stories are engaging, and give us characters that range from "i don't like them at all" to "I love them." Themes of loyalty to family and community are highlighted, as well as coming of age and tragic, desperate stories. My favorite was the one of the four orphaned brothers because of the full characterizations of the brothers and the woman in the story. The author is excellent with imagery and the short story form.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this writer.

Guatemalan Rhapsody clearly demonstrates how talented Jared Lemus is as a writer. The stories are engaging and reflect examples of the diaspora that most Latin populations experience. Though a variety of stories, he allows us to immerse ourselves several socioeconomic experiences. Unfortunately, these experiences sometimes do not ring true or authentic because of the language they are expressed in.

Given some of the character's experiences and explanations of social circumstances, the characters felt too educated for their life experiences. For example, the dialogue for some of the characters, felt a little highbrow. In my experience, even those of the lower socioeconomic classes, like those in my family, will code switch when talking to their peers even when they speak proper English or Spanish and are educated.

Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions are my own.

• Ofrendas- 4.5
• So Long to the Rearview- 2.5
• Whistle While You Work- 3.5
• Saint Dismas- 2.5
• Heart Sleeves- 2
• Caidas- 4
• Bus Stop Baby- 3
• Fight Sounds- 1
• Scrimmages- 4
• Hotel of the Gods- 3
• Dark Road with Diesel Stains- 3.5
• A Cleansing- 4

This book was meant for my Guatemalan heart. The way the pages were filled with Guatemala and Guatemalan culture, a backdrop to the struggles of these everyday men. Although this book is fiction it is stories that can easily be of true people and not fiction. There is such a realness/rawness to be unapologetically flawed. These short stories don't aim to gain sympathy but to show the true struggles, love, emotions, violence etc. It was such a joy to read something so beautifully different. I enjoyed every story from beginning to end.

This book was very well written and enjoyable overall. Most of the stories included this book were pretty sad but some ended on a hopeful note, like the last story. However, some of these stories are pretty dark.

The main characters and setting of each story is really diverse. I think the author should have included at least one story in this collection in which the main character was a woman or girl. Even so, each main character was different from the last. Most are poor (but a few are comfortable), some are old, some are young, etc. The setting also varied from story to story and a few stories take place in the US, not Guatemala.

I learned a little bit more about the country of Guatemala and its culture from this collection of short stories. It was especially interesting to learn about Mayan mythology and the various gods that the Mayas worshipped from the Hotel of the Gods short story. I was also fascinated by the belief system featured in the Ofrendas short story.

I’m looking forward to reading this author’s full-length novel. I hope I won’t have to wait too long to read it.

A compelling collection of short stories about Guatemalans surviving corruption, gangs, low-paying jobs, and family trauma.

I love short story collections, but this one left me feeling cold. The writing was nothing special, and there wasn't much variety in the stories. A lot of the themes were similar and some of the scenes were downright confusing. Too bad because this was one of my highly anticipated reads for next year. The only positive is the cover art. It's absolutely adorable.

I was so impressed with this debut. I love a good anthology, and there was not a single story in this bewitching anthology that I felt like skipping. Memorable characters, compelling emotions, and delightful storytelling.

Such a great collection of stories! I loved this so much! I can't wait to read what Jared writes next!

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.