The Guilty

June 1, 2015
The first collection of Villoro's short stories to be translated into English depicts the complexity of contemporary Mexico in sharp, compelling prose. In tales with fascinating protagonists and tightly crafted action, Villoro eschews stereotypes and flips common perceptions of his homeland. In Mariachi, a famous musician departs from his familiar routine with a scandalous foray into full-frontal nudity on film. In The Whistle, a washed-up soccer player confronts the trio of obese Chinese businessmen who own his team, the Mexicali Toucans. In the title story, an aspiring screenwriter consults his brother, a recovering alcoholic with a history of trafficking border-crossers, hoping to draw on his expertise. A journalist by trade, Villoro expertly places the personal dramas of his characters within a recent context of unprecedented cartel violence and government corruption without sacrificing his keen sense of humor. Like his Mexican compatriots Valeria Luiselli and Enrique Vila-Matas as well as such U.S. writers as Kirstin Valdez Quade and Luis Alberto Urrea, Villoro rewards readers with refreshing, unforgettable stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)