Paul and Carol Go to Guatemala

by Catherine Gigante-Brown

Set in 1993, Paul and Carol Go to Guatemala is part travelogue, part social commentary and part romance. The novel chronicles a couple's budding relationship as they explore a wild and wonderful third-world country in the final throes of a civil war. Through Carol's journal entries, it weaves the compelling story of two wayward travelers who learn to appreciate the raw beauty of a ravaged land...and fall in love along the way-with Guatemala and each other. But will they survive lost luggage, chicken busses, active volcanoes, Mayan ruins, food poisoning and a fateful game of "Hearts?" Time will tell.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2021

About the author

Catherine Gigante-Brown has been a freelance writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry for more than 30 years, since the ripe young age of fifteen. Her works have appeared in a variety of publications, including Time Out New York, Essence, Seventeen and The Italian Journal of Wine and Food. Along with Robert “The Harrad Experiment” Rimmer, she co-wrote two biographies for Prometheus Books (Mistress Jacqueline’s Whips & Kisses and Jerry Butler’s Raw Talent).

Her short stories appear in several fiction anthologies and her essay, “When I was Young,” was included in Penguin Books’ Vietnam Voices. A number of her screenplays have been produced by small, independent companies. Her essay “Autumn of 9/11” was awarded first prize in The Brooklyn Public Library’s 2004 “My Brooklyn” contest. Her work, Weekender, was included in the Rosendale Theatre Collective’s first annual Short Play Festival.

Gigante-Brown’s novels, “The El Trilogy” (“The El,” “The Bells of Brooklyn” and “Brooklyn Roses”), “Different Drummer” and “Better than Sisters” (which includes her poetry) are published by Volossal.

Born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, Gigante-Brown, her husband and son make their home there and upstate in Rosendale.

Reviews

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author took her own experiences traveling to Guatemala and turned her journals into a wonderful novel. It was a fun read that transported me to a place that I have never been and made me want to visit a place I'd never considered visiting. The people on the pages were so real, and I felt like I had met them alongside the characters. This is a fun book.

[Barbara J Wicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip to "another world"

I got to go to a Guatemala from a not so distant past. It makes me wonder how much it has changed and if I will meet the same people on the streets or at the food stalls.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I really felt like I was on the trip with them in my thoughts sight,sound and smell. Things in Guatemala have not changed much.