I love westerns and this one gripped me from the start. It’s the tale of Antonio Sonorous who was supposed to die at birth. But Death decides to let him live. And wow, what a life he lives as he becomes The Bullet Swallower and seeks revenge for his brother. Alternatively we have the timeline of his grandson who knew nothing of his family but receives a mysterious book and starts to learn of his cursed history.

I am immensely thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to delve into "The Bullet Swallower" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James, an advanced copy that proved to be a captivating read.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James has woven a narrative that is both enchanting and grounded, blending magical realism with historical fiction in a way that is seamless and spellbinding. The touch of magical realism adds a layer of depth and wonder, making the story stand out in its genre.

The writing style reminded me of the skillful storytelling of Larry McMurtry. James's descriptions are vivid and evocative, effortlessly transporting the reader to different times and places. The attention to detail is remarkable, making the scenes leap off the page and come alive in the reader's imagination.

The potential of "The Bullet Swallower" to be adapted into a movie is undeniable. The vivid storytelling and the unique blend of genres make it ripe for a cinematic interpretation. I can easily envision it captivating audiences on the big screen, much as it does in its written form.

In conclusion, "The Bullet Swallower" is a highly recommendable novel. It’s a book that not only provides an enjoyable read but also immerses you in a skillfully crafted world where magic and history intertwine in the most extraordinary way. For anyone seeking a novel that is both imaginative and rooted in historical richness, this book is a must-read. Elizabeth Gonzalez James has truly crafted a masterpiece that resonates with its readers and leaves a lasting impression.

This book was a WILD ride! This wasn't something I'd typically pick up but I'm so glad I did.

Set in Dual timelines and multi-pov you get the full scope of everything coming together. This is 100% a western with magical realism.

In 1964 a young man is given a book based on his lineage going all the way back to Cane and Abel. Once he starts reading he starts to feel like he's being watched when another man finally shows up and is ready to collect a cosmic debt. The magical realism is what really kept me intrigued with the storyline and the characters.

This is fast paced, easy to read, and unique. Absolutely recommend!

Thank you @SimonBooks for the physical arc and eArc. All thoughts are my own.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Wow, great read. The dual timelines works well for telling this story, I was equally engaged with both.

4☆

What a wild ride this was!

This fascinating contemporary Western entwined with magical realism is loosely based on the life of the author's great-grandfather.

Through this family saga, readers are drawn into a world where the past collides with the present, forcing the characters to confront their demons and reconcile with their heritage.

It is a heart-wrenching journey for sure, that sheds light on the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of family. It explores multiple issues, including prejudice, border politics, morality, trauma, and colonialism. It also delves into the difficult dynamics within families, examining themes of good and bad, abandonment, loss, suffering, and grief.

I was trying to figure out where the magical realism factor of the novel comes in, but then we meet the character known as Remedio. He truly blurs the boundaries between the supernatural and reality.

I am not a big fan of Western-themed stories, but this book managed to captivate my attention with its compelling tale and well-crafted characters. Despite my initial reservations about the genre, I found myself drawn into the story due to its uniqueness and also the familiarity it evoked, reminiscent of Western movies that I have enjoyed in the past.

Heart in your throat redemption story of greed, corruption, survival gone wrong, and familial love.
The author adds in a dose of mysticism and honor among thieves to add dimension to a tale based on a true story. James tale reflects the dilemma of facing the dark past sleeping in many family histories.

Such a fun magical realism tale that pulls you into another world! I loved the development of characters and personalities! This read felt fresh and different to me. Highly recommend!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this tale of the old West, redemption, families and their guilt, and lots of violence.

The Old West exists for many as a kind of dreamscape. One gets out of the West what they put in. Long shots of men riding horses in Monument Valley seeking righteous revenge for despoiled families. Brave lawmen pursuing badmen through mud and lonesome plains. Riotous men lead by charismatic leaders, slaughtering for causes that were corrupt, or became corrupted. Revenge is a common theme, characters driven past the point of redemption, returning from Hell riding Nightmares, carrying vengeance. Or with dark angels looking over their shoulders, leading them on, or regretting actions that allowed this situation to encompass so much violence. This tale is a bit of all this, bad guys who redeem themselves, good guys who aren't, myths, legends, and even the magic of cinema telling a tale of the West, predestination, and trying to make amends. The Bullet Swallower, by Elizabeth Gonzalez James, is a mix of many genres, but in the end is a story about a man, whose acts to help his family, might doom future generations, as it has doomed everyone around him.

Antonio Sonoro is from a family infamous for their cruelty, and once known for their wealth. Now his wife, children and his adopted brother all live in a hovel, among drought conditions, with few hopes for the future. Sonoro hears of a train, laden with gold that will be passing through Houston, Texas. Sonoro wants these treasures but can find no one except his brother to go with him. With four burros, Sonoro and Hugo set north, but find only trouble, and for Sonoro, a new nickname that he will be hunted by, El Tragabalas, the Bullet Swallower. Sonoro is pursued by Texas Rangers, whose path of destruction is blamed on Sonoro, who fights back when he can. Sonoro though has a feeling that something else is chasing him besides the Rangers, something he can never shake. Years later in 1964 Jamie Sonoro is given a copy of the history of the Sonoro family, a litany of crimes and terrors starting in Biblical times. The more he reads the more things begin to go bad for the family, including a visit from a dark figure that knows quite a lot about the Sonoro name.

An amazing work of fiction that starts on the first page and does not let up until the end. And end witch must have some onions on the ereader, for something was making me tear up. This story has really everything. Magic, the old west, shootouts, cat houses, deserts, family relations, strange characters, evil characters, innocent victims and good people, trying to live their lives. Gonzalez James is a remarkable writer, able to switch times and characters without losing readers and creating a story that is thrilling, as well as very thoughtful and meditative. All the Sonoros characters are fascinating, and one wants to know more these characters even after the book is done. Even the bit characters are well developed, and seem to have lives, maybe not long, after these character pass through. This is a violent book, with little bits of happiness, but a really very good book, one that I am still thinking about.

Recommended for people who love their fiction with a few twists, and a lot of different ideas. And for those who enjoy really well-written novels, with characters that defy expectations, and in some cases morality. This is the first time I have read anything by Elizabeth Gonzalez James, but I can not wait to read everything Gonzalez James has done.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!!

The Bullet Swallower was an epic of a tale and, though it was out of my usual reading scope, I had a wonderful time with it. The Western atmosphere and the multiple timelines drew me in and had me hooked early on.

As I said, it’s not really my taste. Not sure I’d read something like this again. But I’m very glad I ended up reading this book!!

Note to Publisher: this review will be published in the coming months in the Southern Literary Review (where I am an associate editor) and I will send the link when it is published)

The Bullet Swallower (Simon & Schuster (2024) by Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a wild yarn of a story with elements of a classic western adventure invigorated with mystical realism and more than a gloss of karmic turbulence. In short, it’s fascinating. Literary historical fiction at its finest, it’s an ambitious novel with so much more than its vivid, riveting plot to recommend it. This one will make you think—and feel. There are passages so gorgeous in their phrasing that they deserve to be read aloud and savored.

The Amazon blurb says: “Cormac McCarthy meets Gabriel García Márquez” and yet to this reviewer it was more like Lonesome Dove meets Louise Erdrich. The plot takes a hero’s journey archetype (or rather an anti-hero’s journey) and spins it on its head—and across several generations when a ruthless Mexican, son of an even more ruthless man, sets out on a seemingly impossible journey to rob a train of gold. He is desperate. Things do not go as he’d planned to say the least. Loss, conflict, action make this a riveting read, yet there is so much more than mere adventure in the book.

Seventy years later, this Mexican bandit’s descendant—a famous Mexican entertainer—finds that he may be the one to pay the karmic cost for the crimes of his ancestors. Set in Mexico and Texas, the tale is imaginative, and the writing is excellent. Exciting, different, this is a book to read and ponder. It’s worth repeating that this novel is utterly fascinating. Within its themes of revenge, retribution, and violence, The Bullet Swallower also asks important questions about racism and colonialism. All in all, this is an epic, magical story based in part upon one of the author’s own ancestors.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James is the author of a prior novel, and several stories and essays published in well-respected journals. Originally from South Texas, she now lives in Massachusetts with her family.

This book is loosely based on the authors own great grandfather, it tackles border politics , intergenerational, trauma, and the legacies of racism and family redemption. This is a western which is way out of my usual genre but I really enjoyed it. It has train robberies, revenge, family drama, and interesting characters.

This is a book about Hispanics and the Southwest but the plot is not very interesting. There are lots of better books to read.

The title alone had me hoping for an ARC from the publisher..

Bring in that it's about the Texas/Mexican history of politics, power, and people and splash in some mysticism, I'm so there.

Told on two timelines (1895 Antonio Sonoro and 1964 Jaime Sonoro) , this intergenerational family saga paints a vivid story of how choices made by our ancestors affect generations to come. This is especially true when main character Jaime Sorono discovers he may have to pay with his own soul for a deal his great-grandfather made decades ago.

The story is brutally honest (as it should be) about the horrors of border politics, racism, and history.

It's a mix of McCarthy and Marquez with a dash of Cervantes.

Rich and layered with triumph, tragedies, and tradition, The Bullet Swallower is a book that stays with you, long after you finish the final page.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A really interesting story about a young man in Mexico who has turned to a life of crime. Looking for a big score, he leaves his family behind and heads to Texas with his brother coming along. When his brother is killed, he then is set on seeking revenge against the two Texas Rangers who were responsible.
There is also a parallel story focusing on Antonio’s grandson, Jaime, who is a Mexican actor in the 1960’s. Jaime’s father, Juan Antonio, does not share any information about his own father with his son. As time goes on, Jaime discovers information about his grandfather and the possible existence of a curse on his family.
I found the story very interesting , enjoyable and a bit creepy. I would definitely recommend this book. Happy reading!

A charming contemporary magical realistic Western that will keep you up reading until the end. Antonio is a ne'er-do-well outlaw descended from a long line of Spanish oppressors in Mexico. Poor and at the end of his rope, he routinely abandons his wife and children to pull off minor scores - until the Texas Rangers catch up with him and put a bullet in his head. Antonio lives to settle the score. Interspersed with Antonio's story is the tale of his grandson, a Mexican comedy icon who discovers his family's dark past and wants to put the Bullet Swallower's tale on screen. But who is the shadowy figure who came after Antonio and now comes after him? James' tale is a perfect update of such magical realism classics as Allende's House of Spirits and Marquez's A Hundred Years of Solitude. But it's also a super fun read that will have you laughing at its antics and pondering sin and redemption on the side.

A mesmerizing novel. I admit, however, it took me a little while to really become engaged, but I'm quite glad I stuck with it. By a third or so, I became wholly intrigued by Antonio's journey, his relationships with his brother and wife, the battles with the Texas Rangers (as gory as they were), so much so that I even went back to the beginning to read the early chapters after completing the novel to be sure I had fully grasped the intricacies of the plot. Extremely well-written, engrossing in terms of the moments in history represented, especially the interactions between those living on the Texas-Mexico border, and the meta-aspects regarding the contemporary movie, all crowned by a deeply satisfying resolution that brought the family saga full circle.
Highly recommend,

Fun, funny, moving,
and magical. What writing!
Couldn’t be better.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide more feedback.

A melodrama in novel form, The Bullet Swallower tells the gruesome and violent tale of an angry man and the story of his arrogant and self-aggrandizing grandson. It's got shoot-em-outs, train heists, murder (a lot and often, related explicitly), cardboard cutouts of women, who are mostly left behind or terrorized, an angel sent to collect a soul, the idea of the sins of the fathers passing to their children, and self-sacrifice. The pacing moves from slow to fast to slow again, and what I think the author intended to be the climax of the novel wasn't. Because the main characters are antiheroes who have to change to be redeemed, we know where the story is going. Because we know where the story is going, there's not a lot of dramatic tension overall, and I'm not sure where books centering amoral crack shots and murderers--whose evil is depicted through 90% of the book, before we learn that he finally became a good guy--have a place these days.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.

This was pretty far outside of my usual fare, but something about magical realism combined with a western made it an irresistible pick. It feels pretty light on magical realism, showing up in pockets rather than spread evenly throughout the story, but I loved the themes of redemption and atonement that the magical realism aspect allowed the story to have.

And oh, what a story.

Starting out, I quite honestly loathed Antonio and wondered how I was going to trudge my way through such an unlikable man's journey. As the story went on, though, I found I would get annoyed when the timeline shifted to Jaime's perspective in 1964 because I was far more keenly interested in Antonio. Not sure when my affections shifted, but once I realized that was happening, I had a hard time putting the book down.

I will say that I struggled through most of the book with questions of how necessary Jaime's point of view even was to the whole of the story. At the end, though, it drove home the bittersweet feelings of wholeness and healing that follow forgiveness of past wrongs.

I also wish that there had been more thought given to Hugo as Antonio aged. Obviously most of the story was Antonio seeking his revenge for Hugo's death, but as his quest came to an end and everything was coming to its conclusions, I feel like Hugo was mostly forgotten. It seemed odd not to have him be just as big of a part of the end as he was at the beginning.

This was a story that left an impression. I couldn't help but say a little "wow" when I finished it, and I especially want to thank Elizabeth Gonzalez James for including the Author's Note about her great-grandfather (whom Antonio was based on). People can amaze me with their resilience, whether it's enormous physical challenges (like surviving a gunshot to the face) or tremendous sorrow (of which there is plenty in this book), and I very much enjoyed how she layered that into the mix with all the other uplifting themes of this book. Difficult reading at times, but worth it.

If you're looking for a sweeping, split-timeline, epic family saga with elements of magical realism, look no further! Elizabeth Gonzalez James's novel was unexpected and she leaned into the Cain & Abel story and other fantasy elements impressively. The dual timeline structure worked well here, and I felt as connected to each generation. Ultimately, it was both too short and too wordy for me to fully engage, but I think there's a lot of good here that will excite a reader interested in this one!

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.