The Bullet Swallower is described as a magical realism western with prose in the vein of Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, and Gabriel García Márquez. Though the breadth of those comparisons seems unfathomable, The Bullet Swallower is a unique novel, a truly quirky western, written across two different time lines, the 1960s and the 1890s. The novel is both humorous and heart-breaking. Having read the westerns of Louis LaAmour and Zane Gray as a teenager, I love books that blast the typical western out of the saddle.

In the 1890s timeline, Antonio Sonoro is the newest incarnation of his wealthy family, descended from Spaniards who have terrorized the indigenous population in search of ever more wealth. However, the ill-gotten wealth of his family has disappeared. He leaves the family hacienda, marries, and moves into a tiny jacal with his wife. A drought descends on his hometown of Dorado, Mexico, and it’s harder and hard to make a living. He runs out of money and potential. When he hears of a train carrying Mexican goods to Houston, Texas, he decides to hijack those goods. His younger brother, Hugo, a good, educated man, decides to accompany him. In the attempt, Hugo is killed and Antonio wounded, becoming the legendary bandido El Tragabalas (the Bullet Swallower).

In the 1960s timeline, Jaime Sonoro (Antonio’s grandson) becomes wealthy again, as Mexico’s most famous actor/singer. When an antiquarian book dealer brings a book to him, he’s both fascinated and repelled by the purported history of his family, a 5000 year old lineage of evil men, dating from the time of Cain.

The magical realism aspect is a character named Remedio, who might be an angel, might be the devil, but his job is to ensure that someone pays for the crimes the Sonoro family has committed.

This is a sweeping family saga that tackles multiple issues simultaneously: prejudice, border politics, the ethics, trauma, and colonialism. There are also underlying hints of epigenetics, the long-term effect of trauma on the genes of the descendants of those who suffered the original trauma, and a few religious overtones. The book looks at good, evil, family, friendship, loss, grief, and abandonment. Though Antonio Sonoro is a bad guy, he is an engaging protagonist who undergoes a dramatic character arc and ultimately brings about redemption through sacrifice. The author’s note is good reading in itself as James relates how The Bullet Swallower both is and isn’t her personal family history.

"The Bullet Swallower" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a mesmerizing and magical tale that weaves together elements of historical fiction, magical realism, and family saga to create an epic narrative.

The story follows Antonio Sonoro, a Mexican bandido in 1895 who is drawn into a life of crime out of desperation due to a devastating drought in his hometown. With his younger brother Hugo, Antonio plans a heist on a train loaded with gold and treasures bound for Houston. However, the heist goes horribly wrong, resulting in Hugo's death and Antonio's pursuit of revenge that spans generations.

In 1964, Jaime Sonoro, Antonio's descendant and Mexico's most renowned actor and singer, stumbles upon a mysterious book that chronicles his family's dark and violent history, starting with Cain and Abel. As Jaime delves into this ancient tome, he discovers the horrific crimes committed by his ancestors and the debts that must be paid. When a figure from Antonio's timeline appears in Mexico City, Jaime realizes that he may be the one tasked with settling these ancestral scores, unless he can uncover the true story of his grandfather, Antonio, also known as El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James skillfully blends elements of the Western genre with magical realism reminiscent of Gabriel García Márquez and the complex family narratives found in works like "One Hundred Years of Solitude." The result is a richly layered story that explores themes of intergenerational trauma, colonialism, and the consequences of our ancestors' actions.

The novel's lush prose and vivid descriptions bring to life the landscapes of both Mexico and Texas, creating a sense of time and place that envelops the reader. The characters are multifaceted and well-developed, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys.

"The Bullet Swallower" is an ambitious and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to consider the legacies of their own families and the broader impact of history. It's a tale of revenge, redemption, and the enduring power of storytelling. If you enjoy epic family sagas with a touch of the supernatural and a strong dose of historical reflection, this novel is a must-read. Elizabeth Gonzalez James has crafted a narrative that is both captivating and contemplative, making it a standout addition to the realm of literary fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 4 stars - this was such a unique read for me! im new to magical realism but im a fan - so when this magical realism met western aspects, i knew i had to read this one. this is actually my first western read which is surprising, considering i grew up watching them! (cue john wayne🫶🏻)

🐴i loved that this is told from two different timelines - one in the 1890s and the other in 1960s. it was a very fun read to follow as we learn about a Mexican bandido’s history tied together with the more present family looking back on said ancestors.

🐴it was a slower read for me (at first) but it was so exciting to travel through texas and meet texas rangers 😍✨🤠

🌵id recommend if youre looking for a unique read thats quick (253 pages)!

The story had a good pace but did not have much character development. It shared a rich history that complimented the story.

The Bullet Swallower vividly brings to life the vibrant and rich history of the Mexican and Texas border, immersing readers in a three-dimensional experience. Overflowing with heartfelt moments and witty humor, this book's enchantment lies not in its inventions, but in its authenticity.

Loved this book! Thrilling and magical. Our patrons will love it too! Definitely ordering it for my library!

I absolutely loved this story!
Read if you like... a story intertwining the past and present, magical realism, family curses,

I just reviewed The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. #NetGalley

This is a quirky western about a Mexican bandido, Antonio Sonoro, soon to become The Bullet Swallower. He’s the son of a cruel and evil man. He shares some of his father’s traits, but he also has a kinder side. When Antonio says goodbye to his wife Jesusa and his children to head off to rob a train,, he doesn’t realize just how big of an adventure he’s setting off on, or how much that adventure will change him and the way he lives his life. The story follows him to Texas and shows him being chased across as a section of that state. Against his better judgment, he’s accompanied by his brother, Hugo, and later by a new friend, Peter. One thing that is above doubt, Antonio is usually getting himself into trouble.

While this is supposed to be a western fantasy tale, the fantasy portion is very small. It revolves around one character, Remedio, who may, or may not, be the angel of death. All we know for sure is that he has some power when it comes to life and death. There’s also Cielita, who’s referred to as a witch, but she’s really more of a healer. She takes Antonio in and tends to him after her nephew finds him shot and near death.

Sixty-nine years after we first meet Antonio, Jaime Sonoro, a movie star, and his father Juan Antonio, Antonio’s son, come into view. Jaimie is a major celebrity in Mexican ranchera comedies and theater. When he’s given a mysterious book about his family history, Jaimie can’t distance himself from it as his father suggests. He delves into its pages, learning things about his family that he’d never think possible. The more he reads, the more he begins to believe that his family is cursed, and that the curse is passed down through their DNA.

This is a story about family, friendship, loss, grief, train robbery, revenge, epigenetics,, abandonment, cruelty, and evil. The characters are interesting. The writing is good, but the book moves along at a slow pace given that so much of it is told through narrative rather than dialogue. I’d have preferred more dialogue.

In the end, this is a book about atonement and redemption brought about by sacrifice and helping others. While it’s not a religious book, there are religious undertones. It’s interesting and informative. Some of the characters and what happens reflects the author’s family history. It’s a slower read, but an arresting tale.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

A western/horror/time travel/mix of finding one's identity. It's such a blend that to review it is difficult. It's powerful with its messages and tells a good story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Not super heavy on the magical realism, which I prefer. I don't think that one can really rate this to the likes of CM, despite how good it was. Loosely based on the authors own family, this is a sweeping family saga that will keep you engaged.
Thanks to NetGallley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC.

This book has echoes of Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian." I was not surprised to see in the acknowledgments that the author cites the books as one of the research tools used in writing this one. It carries similar references to blood-thirsty desperadoes and seemingly maniacal characters on both sides of the story. There is a rather strong element of magical realism thrown in for those fans of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

So I was rather surprised to read in the notes that elements of this novel were grounded in truth and stem from tales from the authors own family. Some of the characters and settings seem so fantastic that you would expect them to be totally fictional. While the author acknowledges taking liberties with the basics of her ancestral accounts it still is remarkable that truth can hew so closely to fiction as it appears to here.

The book immerses you in a West that you won't see in John Wayne movies and presents a sobering view of the border life and conflicts that still echo. The characters are richly drawn, including some of the animals, and the reader truly cares about them.

Loved it! It was a bit light on the magical realism (the description and marketing made it sound like it would be a little weirder than it was) but I loved that aspect regardless and it was a very compelling story overall. Very easy to picture the action scenes, which made them feel much more exciting. Lovely prose throughout.

Loosely based on the author’s own family history and tied to the famous folktale about a Tejano-Mexicano resistance fighter named Traga-Balas who, pistol in hand, shoots it out with the Texas Rangers and forgoes his South Texas privilege to be a smuggler amongst the lower social socioeconomic classes. The discovery of a book that purports to tell the entire history of his family beginning with Cain and Abel is, I expect, what draws the publisher to use as a comp title "One Hundred Years of Solitude" which, according to the critic William Kennedy, chronicles the history of the Buendias from "not long after Genesis left off and carries through to the air age." But comparing this novel to Gabo and Cormac McCarthy is a significant overrreach by the marketing team. While quite good, "The Bullet Swallower" is unlikely to become, as Kennedy said, in reference to "Cien años," "the first piece of literature since the Book of Genesis that should be required reading for the entire human race."

Generally NOT a magical realism fan BUT this grabbed me right away . The combining of past with present tied together the idea of "sins of the father". A western, more in the line of Cormac McCarthy than John Jakes. The descriptive language made me feel the heat and feel the cold. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

4 stars

I loved this book. It was so much more than what I was expecting. A full saga. I highly recommend.

Epic, saga, heritage, the story starts forever-ago but it also starts in the present. The past and the present are so intertwined that to try to describe it doesn’t do it justice. You just have to read it.