Title: The Bullet Swallower
Author: Elizabeth Gonzalez James
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: January 23, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Dark • Bloody • Entertaining

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He’s good with his gun and is drawn to trouble but he’s also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden with gold and other treasures, he sets off for Houston to rob it—with his younger brother Hugo in tow. But when the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers, Antonio finds himself launched into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life and his family, but his eternal soul.

In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer. But his comfortable life is disrupted when he discovers a book that purports to tell the entire history of his family beginning with Cain and Abel. In its ancient pages, Jaime learns about the multitude of horrific crimes committed by his ancestors. And when the same mysterious figure from Antonio’s timeline shows up in Mexico City, Jaime realizes that he may be the one who has to pay for his ancestors’ crimes, unless he can discover the true story of his grandfather Antonio, the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I don't recall how The Bullet Swallower ended up on my radar, yet it was on my list of 2024 releases to check out. It took me longer to get to than I originally expected, partly because I was waiting to borrow the audio version from the library. The synopsis sounded like something I would do better tandem reading, so that's what I did.

Spanning generations, the story is told from two separate timelines and tackles racism, border politics, intergenerational trauma, and the lasting impact of colonization, all while being loosely based on the author's own grandfather. It's a story of revenge and redemption at its core, while also telling the history of a cursed family.

The action scenes were well developed and intense, however, there was definitely a lull in the pace between these scenes. The magical realism aspect took me by surprise, yet it fits the tale. However, my main issues with the storyline is how this magical element didn't feel as fully developed as it needed to be. In my opinion, if you're adding this type of element to a story it needs to be done with intent and full development.

The Bullet Swallower is certainly entertaining, yet it somehow left a lot to be desired. The plot itself wasn't highly memorable and I'll be hard pressed to recall much about it down the road. I can understand the polarizing reviews on this one, as it definitely isn't going to be for everyone. The writing itself was solid, so I would definitely be willing to read something else written by Elizabeth Gonzalez James in the future.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• family sagas
• westerns
• magical realism elements

⚠️ CW: violence, gun violence, murder, death, child death, animal death, grief, blood, gore, racism, racial slurs, colonialism, injury/injury detail, xenophobia, alcohol, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, suicide, pregnancy, infidelity, police brutality, torture, cursing

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The past is not so far away as you might think, nor the future for that matter. No man lives free from history."

"Kindness is its own reward," she said, "but cruelty is a self-inflicted wound."

I wasn't sure that I would enjoy this book as much as I did, once I started reading I could not turn the pages fast enough, it was very compelling. Antonio Sonoro, his wife and children live in a small house in Dorado Mexico in 1895, it's a hardscrabble life, especially for his wife as Antonio has a wandering eye and likes to take off for long periods of time. After hearing about a train laden with gold and other valuables, he makes plans to rob it, his brother, Hugo, insists on going with him to help. The train robbery goes bad and Antonio and Hugo are quickly tracked down by the Texas Rangers, Hugo is killed, Antonio is wounded gravely though he survives with a bad wound to his face. He embarks on revenge against the Ranges that shot them. Along the way he meets an Englishman who helps him out of a bit of a jam (a shootout against the Rangers), and they band together. In 1965 Jamie Sonoro is a famous actor and is given a large and smelly book that is of his family history, so he's told by the person that gave it to him. The timeline goes back and forth between these time periods, Antonio running up against the Rangers seemingly at every turn, they have blamed him for every atrocity that they had done, making him the most wanted man in Mexico. Jamie is reluctant to read the book though a mysterious man, Remedios, enters his life and encourages him to. Strange things start to happen in the house and Jamie's father blames it on Remedios and urges him to kick him out. I really enjoyed this story and was fully engaged with all the characters they were very well drawn and the location came to life, I could almost feel the unrelenting sun and the drought that affected large parts of the area. Very entertaining, even if your not a western type reader, and I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Simon&Schuster for the ARC.

I debated between four and five stars for The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James but quickly realized just how much I loved the plot and what it achieved!

I tried to describe this book shortly after starting it, and it was hard to define! It's a western, yes, but it's the desolate kind, not the gambling in a old western town kind. It's 3:10 To Yuma and the grit of Clint Eastwood mixed with Olga Dies Dreaming and a touch of magical realism... all set between Mexico and Texas.

It deals with heavy and tangible themes (colonialism, intergenerational trauma, racism) while being handled in a lighthearted way. These are such heavy topics, but the beautiful prose is quotable, never becoming pretentious or preachy; this really allows James’s narrative to only becoming more impactful. This book truly meets you where you are; it's somehow not trying to tell you more than you are ready for.

The dryness and desolation of the desert really reflected back onto the characters, while becoming its own entity as well. Antonio was a ruthless bandido to cheer for. Preconceived racial notions proved that people from different locations and from other cultures are all the same; we have more similarities than we admit to ourselves.

Clearly, this all adds up to the five stars I landed on!

Thank you Booksparks, NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Simon & Schuster for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

When I first delved into the pages of "The Bullet Swallower," the amalgamation of Historical Fiction, Western, and Magical Realism intrigued me. The prospect of blending these diverse genres seemed ambitious, and I couldn't fathom how it would unfold.

The narrative unfolds through two timelines, intertwining the lives of Antonio—El Tragabalas, the Bullet Swallower—and Jaime, Mexico's esteemed actor and singer, who seeks a connection to his ancestry. Despite Western narratives not being my preferred genre, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the book's enjoyability. One notable aspect is the careful handling of violence—never overly graphic, striking a balance that allows readers to engage with the themes without being overwhelmed.

However, what truly sets this novel apart is its unexpected philosophical depth. The book, at its core, evolves into an exploration of existentialism. Antonio, the Bullet Swallower, emerges as a captivating embodiment of human existence. The narrative deftly portrays his character, showcasing the complexities of the human experience. Even the supposed "villains," Fish and Casoose, defy conventional expectations. Neither wholly good nor irredeemably evil, they mirror the inherent flaws, fickleness, and mortality that define humanity.

The strength of the narrative lies in its ability to blur the lines between right and wrong, challenging readers to confront the shades of gray within each character. It prompts introspection, urging us to acknowledge the shared humanity that unites even the most divergent lives. The conclusion, powerful and poignant, left me deeply moved. The resonating message, "No one is too wicked for grace," echoes long after the final page is turned.

In "The Bullet Swallower," Gonzalez James crafts a tale that transcends its genres, weaving a thought-provoking exploration of time, existence, and the universal struggle for grace. It's a journey that surprises, challenges, and ultimately leaves a lasting impression on the reader's soul.

This historical fiction debut has been getting lots of hype and while I did enjoy it, it did not blow me away. If you enjoy books like Outlawed by Anna North or well written Westerns with a touch of magical realism and very memorable characters, this is definitely one to give a try. Personally I thought it was longer than it needed to be and struggled to get as invested in the story as I had hoped. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Simon and Schuster Audio for a complimentary digital and ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!

“The past is not so far away as you might think. Nor the future, for that matter. No man lives free from history”

Not gonna lie, The Bullet Swallower took me a bit to get into. But once I was in, I was in. The half way point onwards really made me appreciate the book exceedingly as we realize the bigger picture of the story; vengeance, justice, misunderstanding, and most importantly, history. We discover that Antonio’s reputation is wrongly attributed and it is the Texas Rangers who killed innocent lives to get back at Antonio. We see Antonio’s more humanitarian side that was not previously exposed. He is not only seeking to avenge the death of his brother, but avenge all Mexicans harmed by the Rangers. Are his actions, then, justified? I personally find the conversation surrounding good vs. evil very interesting in this novel. As Jamie puts it, "I think the story is so much more than that, than him being a bad guy... It’s about vengeance and justice and history and, well, all of it."

I really loved how the language changes across the generations, from the prologue reading like a Mexican folktale, to the mystifying epic of the 1860s, and a more casual tone in the 1960s. The narration going back and forth between generations is quite seamless– the storytelling is very well done. I do wish there was more conversation surrounding the Mexico-Texas war, but I'm not too pressed about it.

A hiccup I did have with the story, though, is the lack of exploration with the female characters, such as Maria Gaspar Rocha de Quiroga and Jesusa. I would’ve loved to learn more about them and become more attached with their characters. Also, I did find myself cringe at some of the dialogue (especially in the beginning) but was redeemed through the many thought provoking quotes, particularly in relation to family dynamics and colonization.

The Author’s Note brings another layer of significance to the story, which is always great coming from a historical fiction! Being Mexican myself, The Bullet Swallower made me ponder about my own lineage as I have little to no information past my grandparents. It also brought some memories from my time in Mexico and made me very nostalgic, so thank you for that! Overall, quite an enjoyable and thought-provoking read!

There’s been a recent spate of fiction set along the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley with magic realism elements. First, there was the contemporary fiction of Fernando A. Flores’ short-story collection Valleyesque. Then, there was the historical Western Valley of Shadows by Rudy Ruiz which had magic elements to it. Now comes another Western that has a slightly fantastic flavour to it: The Bullet Swallower. The novel is based on historical fact: it tells a fictitious tale of the author’s real-life great-grandfather, who was a Mexican bandit at the end of the 19th century and is ultimately a story of revenge and family traits passed down the bloodline. It’s also a book about fathers and sons and the uneasy relationship between Mexico and the United States. There’s a lot that’s been thrown into this stew of a novel. Does it all work? Well, that might be in the eye of the beholder. While the publicity materials boast that The Bullet Swallower is what you’d get if you crossed Cormac McCarthy (Blood Meridian is cited as an influence in the author’s notes for this) with Gabriel García Márquez, the truth is that this is more a Western than it is a work of fantasy. The magic realist element doesn’t kick in until the very end of the book! Thus, one may be disappointed if you’re coming to this for any sort of weirdness because what you get here is a generally straightforward genre tale.

The story is told in two alternating timelines. The first is set in the year 1895 on the Mexican-U.S. border and involves a man named Antonio Sonoro who, though he is a family man with a wife and children, is living in squalor due to a drought in his homeland of northern Mexico. Thus, he sets out with his brother, Hugo, to rob a train over the border that is believed to be carrying a priceless amount of gold jewelry that Antonio intends to make himself rich with. However, Hugo is shot and killed by Texas Rangers and Antonio takes a bullet to the face (hence the name “the Bullet Swallower”), leading the latter to embark on a case of vengeance for his fallen sibling once he recuperates. The other timeline is set in Mexico City in the year 1964 and involves Antonio’s grandson Jaime, who is a movie star known by his nickname “the Rooster.” He is given a book about the family’s sordid history and sets out to make a movie about his grandfather. However, Jaime is dogged by a stranger who may ask him to exact a price for his lineage. Together, these two narratives make up the bulk of The Bullet Swallower, save for some extracts from the book Jaime is given, which seem to be superfluous at best to the point of the novel.

When it comes to books that I’m less than enamoured with, I’m trying these days to say something positive about them — lest I get sued for libel or come across as being little more than a grump. I will say that The Bullet Swallower was probably not a book for me — even though I was interested in the magic realist element and have read my share of Cormac McCarthy in the past. The good news is that if you’ve read every book that Louis L’Amour ever wrote, you might find this book to be enjoyable as a genre exercise. Gonzalez James has a singular masculine voice, which is neat to see coming from a woman, and some will love the rough-and-tumble adventurousness of the 1895 storyline. However, I must be critical and say that while Gonzalez James strives for authenticity by using Spanish words to describe certain things, it comes at the cost of having Anglophone readers baffled by what’s on the printed page sometimes. I also found that the book painted its characters into corners one too many times as well: Antonio finds himself frequently outnumbered and outgunned but somehow finds a way to escape from whatever predicament he gets himself into. Thus, the read sometimes feels quite incredulous, and that’s before the fantasy element kicks in in earnest.

Still, despite its deficiencies, The Bullet Swallower can be entertaining. My highest compliment might be that I read the book in two sittings, which is not only to say that it is a fast read but one that is propulsive and puts you on the edge of your seat as well. I, however, just waited for the magic to show up and was crestfallen that it only did when most of the book’s action was behind the reader. Even though the book isn’t perfect, there is a lot to chew on here. I’m wondering about the significance of certain animals being brought up in the book, such as scorpions and alligators, and the dynamics of the relationship Antonio has with other men that could be symbolic of a father-son relationship. (This dynamic is rendered a bit more literally in the Jaime storyline.) Thus, I suppose essays could be written on the topic of this book, which might be one reason to read it. In the end, I’d say that if you can overlook the hype and see this book as more of a literary fiction take on the Western in some respects, you’ll get far more mileage out of it than by believing that bullets somehow possess magical powers to cut through swaths of men in one shot. All in all, The Bullet Swallower is an interesting read — and, yes, I’m banding that word around as a means of saying that I’m not quite sure of what I thought of it. But if you like Westerns, you’ll want to tag along for the ride and say, “Hi-yo Silver, away!” to this as you gallop merrily along. It’s certainly something a little different, at least, which is maybe all that needs to be said.

This is a very thoughtful provoking book. It makes you wonder about the ancestors and how they play in our lives now.

A truly original book full of mystery, adventure and intrigue..

A definite recommend

Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else.