To kick things off, I want to mention that I typically don't gravitate towards westerns. However, being a fan of magical realism, this book presented a unique blend of genres that intrigued me from the start. Initially unsure about my reception, the narrative gradually captivated me as it unfolded. While the adventure aspect was enjoyable, what truly resonated with me was the exploration of family history and its impact on character development. The infusion of magical realism added an extra layer to the narrative that I found particularly compelling. The protagonist, Jamie, receives a peculiar-smelling book detailing his family's history, and despite the unpleasant odor, he can't resist delving into its pages. The more he reads, the clearer it becomes why his father always avoided discussing their family's past.

This magical realism western inspired by a true story was AMAZING!!!! I loved this book so much, it kept me enthralled and entertained from start to end.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Now, talk about an enticing title 😳 I saw this as a Simon Books Buddy offering and I was more than intrigued. Not my usual genre, but I occasionally like to dabble. A Western with a dash of magical realism, as expected, had graphic scenes and gun violence. But also had family, politics, commentary on racism, and a whole lot more.

James’ writing style was fantastic and kept me going even if I didn’t find some of the story appealing.

If you’re a fan of old timey Westerns, dual timelines, generational stories, and violence, this would be right up your alley.

This was a very interesting read! The Bullet Swallower is a tale about a man down on his luck, but good with his gun. When his home is hit with a drought, Antonio Sonoro has an idea to get money fast for his wife and children. He begrudgingly brings his brother on a heist, traveling from Mexico to Texas in 1895. When the plan goes wrong, Hugo winds up dead and Antonio tries to keep going to redeem himself. Along the way, he realizes that not only is he fighting for his life, but he is fighting for his very soul.

I think the plot and story was good! I really like that the author used her family history to influence this book and the book is written well. The downside was the flipping back and forth from the 1890's to the 1960's. This completely took me out of the narrative.. I do not think the 1960's storyline was needed until the end of the book. The characters are very one dimensional and the book took some time for me to get into it. It's a magical realism story, but the magical part takes some time to show up. It's mainly historical fiction until almost halfway into the story. This book gave me old western vibes and I enjoyed the ending. If you are looking for a unique fantasy western, this book is for you!

Thank you Elizabeth Gonzalez James, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the review copy!

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro travels to Houston, Texas to rob a train filled with treasures and gold with his brother Hugo. When Texas Rangers kill Hugo and thwart the heist, Antonio sets off to avenge his brother’s death and save his family’s future back in Dorado, Mexico. In 1964, Antonio’s grandson, Jaime Sonoro, is a beloved movie star and singer who finds his life turned upside down when he discovers a book detailing the Sonoro’s bloodline and the horrific cosmic debt that follows him. Both narratives collide in The Bullet Swallower as Elizabeth Gonzalez James tackles border politics, family ties, and identity while addressing the question of who pays for our ancestors’ sins.

The prose was absolutely stunning in this book! The landscape was so vibrant and lively, and James asks such hard-hitting questions of mortality and sin in such a beautiful way. The author weaves in these fantastical elements with death and witchcraft through Cielita and Remedio’s presences that I really loved. The book was also a great balance of fast-paced action with the shootout scenes and the slower deliberations of recovery in Cielita and Jaime’s homes. I also found the characters to be rich and jumping off the page. I also enjoyed how animals had such a deep presence in the plot and meaning of the story, as if they were spiritual guides in Antonio’s journey. The author did an incredible job incorporating various mediums like music, literature, and Jaime’s book itself; it made the stories weave together quite nicely. The ending did move me emotionally because of Antonio’s sacrifice in breaking the family curse. Overall, this book was so rich and full of life, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a fantastic read!

THE BULLET SWALLOWER by Elizabeth Gonzalez James initially appealed to me when I saw it on The Washington Post's list of "10 noteworthy books for January." However, it was a slower read and more violent than I had anticipated. There is a hint of magical realism as Gonzalez James explores the lives of members of the Sonoro family across multiple generations. One man, Antonio, is born in the mid-1800's and the other, Jaime, lives in the mid 1900's. Their ancestors' cruelty and barbaric actions are documented in an old book and these two struggle with consequences. The publisher says, "THE BULLET SWALLOWER tackles border politics, intergenerational trauma, and the legacies of racism and colonialism in a lush setting and stunning prose that asks who pays for the sins of our ancestors, and whether it is possible to be better than our forebears." Deep questions that may have contributed to the starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal. Yes, there was evil, death, and danger in another recent western, too, but I would be more apt to recommend The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook for its action-packed adventure.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/12/30/new-books-january/

This book has one of the best opening chapter I’ve read in years. It was original and captivating and high stakes…I couldn’t look away! From there the book slows down a bit but the plot remains compelling. The story is told in two primary timelines about 80 years apart interspersed with excerpts from a centuries old book telling the story of the cursed Sonora family. The characters are complicated, though this is novel is driven much more by its plot and themes than character development. What I loved about this book is how seamlessly it plays with genres and themes to create something that feels both timeless and completely different. While the themes of redemption and revenge can verge on the heavy-handed, that worked for me here because of the Western genre conventions and touch of magic. Those magical or supernatural elements are integrated naturally into the story in a way that expanded my thinking and reminded me what story telling can be. If you love plotty books that are still invested in structure and themes, this is a great one to pick up.

I love a good epic story, especially one that has elements of magical realism in it. “The Bullet Swallower,” by Elizabeth Gonzalez James, promised to be in the vein of Gabriel Garcia Marquez – a western saga combined with fantasy. Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to my expectations.

The story switches back and forth between two time periods and two different main characters: Antonio Sonoro in 1895 and his descendant, Jaime Sonoro, in 1964. In Antonio’s timeline, he decides to rob a train and a violent, heart-pumping adventure ensues. Jaime is Mexico’s most famous actor, but his life is turned upside down when he is given a book that describes his family’s entire history. A mysterious man shows up in both timelines, and the men must try to figure out who he is.

I thought James did a wonderful job describing scenes of action – there were many times in the plot where Antonio must escape danger, and this was done really well. However, the sections with Jaime fell flat for me. They always dragged me out of Antonio’s story (usually at really exciting moments), so I felt like I was slogging through to get back to the important stuff. I also wish there had been a tad more magical realism – it just popped up here and there, so it wasn’t as much as a through-line as I would have liked.

My favorite part of the whole book was the author’s note at the end. I enjoyed reading where James’ inspiration came from, but it’s not a great sign that I was more intrigued by this description than by the actual book.

Setting is Mexico City where James Sonoro a famous actor finds out about his notorious criminal ancestors from 1895. He embarks on a journey of discovery to find out about his grandfather Antonio Sonoro.

Not to give anything away, I recommend reading this book to follow the journey and history of the Bandido.

This book was a vibrant read for me in which I thoroughly enjoyed and with the description of the characters so vivid which is important to me reading a book.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Bullet Swallower is a reimagined, magical Western, told in two time frames (Antonio, in the 1890s, the bullet swallower of the title, who is seeking fortune and revenge, and Jaime, a Mexican film star in the 1960s who is seeking to understand his family's story), and eventually their stories converge. (It takes a while.). There are a lot of gun fights (the violence level of this book should definitely be noted). But it's also a story about who controls the story (even the main characters do not get to decide what other people will call them, as their public selves as El Traba): the Texan Rangers who are hunting Antonio down, the mysterious Remedio who appears in both their stories, or the curse of the Sonoro family name, and I found this element especially satisfying. The novel is being marketed as magical realism, and there are some supernatural elements, but it feels more haunted to me, and both readers who enjoy full-blown magical realism and those who are simply seeking a reimagined Western from a more complicated perspective will enjoy this novel.

Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for my earc. My opinions are all my own.

Book Review: The Bullet Swallower
by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I love a classic Mexican Western, epic in scope, with a dab of myth and a sprinkling of magical realism. The Bullet Swallower is all that and more.

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro’s town of Dorado, Mexico, once a thriving mining town, is ravaged by drought. His wife and children are going hungry and he’s tired of seeing that disappointed look in his wife Jesusa’s eyes. Over a deadly game of cards, Antonio hears about a train ladened with gold and untold treasures. He decides to rob the train along with his younger brother Hugo. Antonio’s plan fails miserably, and his brother is killed by Texas Rangers. Fueled by guilt and wrath, he sets off on an epic journey to avenge his brother’s death. Along the way, the bandito, Antonio Sonoro, earns the name El Tragabalas (The Bullet Swallower) and becomes a legend in his own time.

Mexico City, 1964, Jaime Sonoro is named one of Mexico’s highest-grossing stars. Jaime is in his study reading the trades, when he is visited by a rare-books dealer. She hands him a package claiming that it is the story of his family beginning with Cain and Abel. Jaime is both revolted and entranced as he learns that he is descended from generations of unscrupulous and ruthless men. Jaime questions whether his family is cursed, if he is fated to follow in his ancestors’ footsteps, and whether it is possible to be better than your predecessors. Meanwhile, his father warns him that it is dangerous to stir up the past. Is it? Or is it necessary to look to the past in order to right the sins of the fathers?

The Bullet Swallower is a beautifully written, sprawling family saga that examines themes of colonialism, racism, border politics, intergenerational trauma, legacy and freedom. Inspired by the author’s great-grandfather, the author states the events in the novel are “mostly” true. Be sure to read the author’s note to learn more.

Many thanks to the author @UneFemmeJames, @SimonAndSchuster and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this galley completely based on the cover and blurb. I knew nothing going in and really enjoyed this read. It gave me some Silvia Moreno-Garcia vibes , which if you know me is very high praise. The magical realism elements, especially, reminded me of her style. I liked the dual timelines about Antonio, the bandit, and his grandson, Jaime, the actor. It was violent in places which I struggled with as a sensitive reader, but for the most part it was manageable. I would be aware that there is a lot of death and some of it is particularly vicious. I liked the way the book explored what it means to be evil or be good. I also liked reading a book that took place predominantly in Mexico, as that is not a setting I read enough of. Don't miss the author's note on this book as it was really cool to read about the real life stories that inspired Elizabeth Gonzalez James.

The bullet swallower is an imaginative and original western mixed with magical realism. We follow the sonoros family across two timelines-the 1800s and the 1960s. We follow two brothers in the 1800s in a story similar to Cain and able-and in the 1960s we follow the grandson of one of the brothers, a movie star who is trying to get a movie sold about his family. The story follows themes of temptation, family, paying for the sins of our fathers-all set across a western tale and deals with the devil. I found this to be a unique tale and one that will please many readers! It is a fun and fast read, with themes that are deeper and heavier than the plot appears on the surface.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the arc via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this delightful eARC.

A wonderful magical book that is destined to be a classic, a modern day Don Quixote that deserves to be required reading in any creative writing course.

I cannot describe just how special and well-crafted this novel is, I am planning on buying a copy for all my family members and friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Thank you to @simon.books for my ARC of this one! This was outside of my comfort zone and very unlike the books I usually read. It took me maybe 40 pages to get into, but once I hit that point I was very invested and couldn’t stop reading. It felt like an escape to a world in which I knew very little about. Antonio is an anti-hero who commits violent acts that have intentions misunderstood by the public. I rooted for him and his family and wanted him to get home safely, and by the end of his character arc, I viewed him as a good man. The imagery throughout was beautiful and kept me reading. I could picture vividly what was happening and how Antonio felt as he saw and endured great suffering. There was no shortage of action and blood shed, but there was also emotion and hopeful moments of redemption. Also, how cool is it that this is based on the author’s own family? The Bullet Swallower hits shelves officially 1/24 and was also an option for Book of the Month! If you are looking for a change of pace or a book to branch out to new genres, this would be a great one to pick up.

One-sentence summary: A generally bad man makes generally bad choices with generally terrible consequences, but does learn important lessons along the way while generations later his progeny must also sift through the aforementioned consequences and make choices of their own.

It started a little slow, exacerbated by the fact that our main character, Antonio, the Bullet Swallower, was difficult to like. I do struggle with an unlikeable main character. As his journey progressed, and especially once we met his British frenemy who was funny and lovable, I was invested. I wanted to see how things turned out, how they got out of each seemingly inescapable predicament, and I did care about Antonio’s quest for vengeance. The chapters set in the ‘60s were compelling with likable descendants who were haunted, literally, by Antonio’s legacy and struggling to leave their own.

Rating: A 2-star start combined with a few 4-star characters and some crazy, fun action and magical realism equals a solid 3 stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this exceptional novel from Netgalley, author Elizabeth Gonzalez James, and publisher Simon & Schuster. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Bullet Swallower of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Elizabeth Gonzalez James to friends and family. She writes from the heart about people we 'know'.

This story, based on 70 years of the history of the Sonoro family from 1895 through the 1960s, is a look through times, personal trials, and interactions that make our borderland history our own. It is the story of family, international dependence, and life in the southwestern US and Mexico, how it melds, how it sizzles. As a New Mexico resident for most of my 75 years, living an hour from the Mexican border at El Paso, this story resonates with me like a blues ballad. I can't recommend it highly enough with just the option of five stars.

Thank you to Elizabeth Gonzalez James, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for pre-approving me to receive an electrical Advanced Review Copy of The Bullet Swallower. All opinions mentioned in this review are my own.

Wow! What a phenomenal read.

In the Mexican, Western Homeric story, "The Bullet Swallower," Elizabeth Gonzalez James masterfully entwines two timelines to tell the captivating saga of Antonio Sonoro's transformation into the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, and the story his grandson, Jaime Sonoro, Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer shares with the world. The novel delves deep into themes of fate, identity, and love, while maintaining a poignant commentary on intergenerational trauma amidst broader issues of colonialism, border politics, and racism. Skillfully blending magical realism with historical fiction, the narrative craftsmanship vividly brings the characters and landscapes to life, making "The Bullet Swallower" not only an enjoyable read but a journey into a skillfully crafted world where magic and history intertwine in extraordinary ways.

The whole time I was reading, I couldn’t help but compare Gonzalez James’s writing prose with that of other Great American authors - Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, Hemingway. I would not be surprised if “The Bullet Swallower” finds itself on AP Lit Syllabuses in the near future.

Review will post to duffRUNStough.com on Monday, January 22nd. Just in time for it’s publication date!

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James is unlike any book you might read this year. It is a magical realism western with big characters.

" It's 1895 and the ruthless Antonio Sonoro heads to Texas with his brother for one big heist to save his family. It goes horribly wrong and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers. Now Antonio is dead-set on revenge.
In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is one of Mexico's leading actors and singers. He receives a book that supposedly tells his family's long, bloody history. When a mysterious man from the book shows up on his doorstep, Jaime wonders if he'll be the one to pay for family's crimes."

James puts you right in the middle of the conflict between the Texas Rangers and anyone they don't like. The side of right and good is often blurry. Much of the time you feel sympathy for Antonio even though you know he's not really a nice man. You feel for Jaime, especially if there's some dark history in your own family. "Why do I have to pay for their sins?" The movie he makes has some surprising parts that show up.

Read the author notes at the end. It's interesting how her family story fits into this. Good story from James.

I need to start off with saying that westerns are not in general my favorite, but I really love magical realism and this book was both so I had no idea how I would find this book when I started. In the beginning I wasn’t sure I would like it, but as this story developed I really began to enjoy it. I liked the adventure but I really loved the exploration of family history and how it played into the character development. I also really liked the magical realism part and thought that really added a lot to the story. Jamie is given a book and despite it having a nasty smell it is about his family history and he can’t help but read it. The more he reads the more he understands why his father always refused to talk about his family’s history.