I was pleasantly surprised and moved by this little collection. They’re interconnected tales all set in the Guatemalan countryside, depicting the often brutal day to day life there. My favourite by far was Whisky, a poignant tale of a father struggling with alcoholism who finds it easier to get on the right path when with his daughter and dog. But he is tested when the dog goes missing one night. The translation her by Ellen Jones is amazing, the story is so full of life and for that life to shine through so strongly in translation - chef’s kiss. I also liked Dive and Out of the Blue, Perla - both quite intense and again showing off Fuentes’ storytelling ability. Some of the other shorter stories were more forgettable, and I wasn’t completely enamoured with the novella at the start, hence why I can’t rate it higher.