Full of magical realism, multi-generational Mexican family politics, and tales of vaqueros and bandits along the turn of the century Mexico / Texas border, Elizabeth Gonzales James's new novel "The Bullet Swallower" delivers on all fronts. The author deftly weaves together multiple timelines and generations of the Sonoro family, weaving together a tale centered on a mysterious presence that visits itself upon the most recent generation of the Sonoro family looking to settle a long term karmic accounting. Based loosely on her own grandfather, Gonzales' "Bullet Swallower" grips the reader from the first chapter and lures the reader into chapter after chapter of gorgeous prose in search of the next development in the story.

Personally, I was excited to jump into this novel based on the gorgeous cover art and intriguing back cover summary, but almost instantly fell in love with Gonzales' talent and voice as a writer . . mixing Cormac McCarthy-esque descriptions of western landscapes and action with Silvia Moreno-Garcia tinged passages centered on magical realism, folk lore and myth. I found myself anxious to get to each successive chapter, diving deeper into both timelines and worlds, and Gonzales's unique ability to bring both to vivid life.

Overall, I would enthusiastically recommend this novel to everyone, but especially to fans of either McCarthy or Moreno-Garcia, and to fans of magical stories of the old west, Mexican history, and top notch story telling. I can't wait to see what Gonzales writes next, will search it out immediately.

The Bullet Swallower
By Elizabeth Gonzalez James

It's very hard to categorize this book: it is part mystical, part western; it is about the nature of time; it is about the choices we make to do good or evil; it is about paying a price; it is about redemption.

The prologue begins in the early 1800s. The Sonoro family - wealthy mine owners in Dorado, Mexico – have a history of inflicting evil on the Carrizo workers in the mines. Many of the Carrizos have sickened and died because of conditions in the mine. But the Sonoro patriarch is greedy and will not listen to his workers. Instead he has them all herded into mine and blows up the entrance sealing them in. The explosion spells the end of Dorado as part of the land and turns it into an island in the river. With the mine gone, the Sonoro fortunes take a downturn.

Some years later a daughter of the family bears a son, Antonio. As she holds him in her arms, a man named Remedio appears by her bedside to collect the soul of her son, who is damned by the sins of his ancesters. Remedio, it seems, is the angel of death who appears to collect your soul and your debt when it is your time to die. But he rebels at that idea of taking this innocent child. For the first time, he refuses his task, and decides to follow Antonio's life to see how it turns out.

From there, the story of Antonio's life unfolds. He is a subsistence farmer with a wife and family he loves, but he decides to leave them and head north into Texas to better his lot. Instead, his life becomes a series of disasters. All those he loves are stripped from him along the way. When he finally meets up with Remedio and learns that he must live for many years, he also learns that he will have to make a difficult decision at the end, a decision that the will affect himself or alternatively, his descendants.

The book has another story line about Jaime Sonoro, a Mexican movie actor who lives with his wife, his children and his father, Juan Antonio. This part of the saga takes place in the 1960s. Jaime is visited by an old bookstore owner who gives him a book about the history of his family. Jaime also meets Remedio. But as he reads through the book and realizes what Remedio represents, Jaime becomes obsessed with trying to understand his ancestor, Antonio, and redeem his family.

This story, according to the author, has some basis in the reality of her own family, but much is "stuff I made up". She obviously put a great deal of time and effort into the research needed to write this tale – and she has created a wonderful book!

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

This is an immersive western that begins with a train robbery gone wrong, and ends in remorse and redemption. Be warned - the taut, compelling tale is frequently interrupted by some magical realism crap. This annoyed the hell out of me, though it all came together nicely in the end. Here's another one of those books that's hard to categorize - not "western" enough for the Louis L'Amour crowd, too violent and macho for the ladies' book clubs. I'll definitely push this on my library's patrons, but I'm unsure what the reception will be.

This Western epic blends historical fiction and magical realism. Gonzalez James creates an incredibly cinematic plot: the places, the larger-than-life characters, the chase scenes, the shootouts... This book would make an excellent movie. That being said, the focus on the plot meant that there was not nearly enough character development for my taste. I left The Bullet Swallower feeling as though I only got to know each character on a surface level. However, if you love Westerns and plot-heavy storytelling, you will love this book.

I absolutely adored the writing in this book. Sometimes transitions like the one used in this novel throw me off, but I thought that it was very well done in the end. I also found myself flying through each page, which means I felt pretty invested in what I was reading. Highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself!

When I was deciding on a specialty for my degree, I studied Chicano lit and discovered Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo and Rivera’s Y No Se Lo Tragó La Tierra which were mind blowing. I then took a Latin American Lit class where I discovered Boom Lit writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes, Isabel Allende, Octavio Paz and more.

Then a couple weeks ago I picked up The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James and it brought back all the feels of wonder. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Fuentes’ The Death of Artemio Cruz and the fractured self because of the issues of identity between colonizer and colonized. I thought of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Marquez thinking through the circling timeline that feels like it may repeat history forever and Allende’s House of the Spirits which discovered a way out and forward from the cyclical nature of the history of violence and power. Meanwhile it also carried the Western swagger of Cormac McCarthy’s Border trilogy without feeling so fatalistic.

Needless to say I loved it. If you haven’t followed all these references that’s ok. It’s feels like a Border/Charro Western. The Sonoro family which has struggled with a legacy of evil going all the way back to Spain. We see a juxtaposition of Antonio Sonoro, a bandido, in 1895 who seeks revenge against the Texas Rangers who wronged him and Jaime Sonoro, a popular Mexican singer and actor who’s family’s history is thrust upon him when he is delivered a mysterious book.

Major issues tackled in this book include inter-generational trauma, the long-standing effects of racism and colonialism, border politics, and exploration of who pays for the sins of your forefathers.

As heavy as the book is in some aspects I found it incredibly full of hope and joy. Cielita-the old woman who nurses him back to health, Peter Ainsley-his unasked for companion, and Candida-the horse who is as wide as a bull-were a joy to read.

This book was just really fun to read. Thank you
@unefemmejames for writing this wonderful thought provoking book.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonbooks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review! #thebulletswallower #netgalley

(@𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥) 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 by Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a book with much to discuss as Carla from @happiestwhenreading and I found last week when text messages were flying back and forth. So, today we’re going to try a joint review. This one gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from us!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
At first, this seems like the most unlikely story to love: a western that involves a touch of magical realism, two things that don’t have any sort of obvious connection and often scare readers off. But, within this magical western there is so much more. From two different times, 1895 and 1964, we get the story of the Sonoro family, a family of men both feared and haunted.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Carla 1895: The first timeline gives the background story of the Sonoro family and how they came to carry a generational curse. It’s a complicated past that Antonio keeps trying to outrun, and while seeking revenge, he also comes to realize the importance of his family and home. He vows to be a better person, but when he returns home, all he’s fought for is now gone. Antonio’s transformation was my favorite part of the book; his development captured my heart, along with his witty and quirky demeanor. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Susie 1964: The second timeline features Jaime, a “singing actor” much beloved in Mexico. Into Jaime’s possession comes a book that tells a dark history of his family, a history Jaime knew nothing of. He’s terrified, ashamed and haunted by what he reads, and he can’t let it go. Jaime needs to know if somehow he’s inherited the sins of his forefathers. I loved Jaime’s quest to understand the evils of his family and his determination to bring their story into the light.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
The Bullet Swallower explores generational curses, racism, and colonialism. Through powerful storytelling, and characters with memorable growth, this fairly short novel provides much to discuss! Set against the brilliant Southwestern backdrop of the Mexico/Texas border, this book was a true delight!

✨ Review ✨ The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James; Narrated by Lee Osorio

This dual timeline historical fiction / magical realism book is told through the POV of Antonio, a Mexican bandito in the 1890s Texas-Mexico borderlands, and his grandson Jaime, a film star in 1960s Mexico City. The book's description of the borderlands environment is lush and colorful, spanning from the chaparral the horses are riding through to brothels, trains, and towns in the borderlands region. Antonio sets off of an adventure of retribution that evolves throughout the book as he frequently comes into battle with the Texas Rangers. Jaime's trying to figure out his family history and a mysterious figure that appears among his family. The two stories intertwine slowly reaching fruition at the end!

I loved how the author sets the scene and winds through these spaces, varying the speed are characters are moving about. I appreciated how she depicted the Texas Rangers, and the messy aspects of the borderlands in the late-19th century (the brothel masquerade party was great!). The historical fiction was fantastic, and the magical realism was understated -- definitely not over the top.

I loved that this was based on her ancestor's mythology as El Tragabalas (The Bullet Swallower), and is an intersecting story of myth and history, corridos and Mexican film, and just a delight of a story.

I wanted the dual timeline stories to come together a bit sooner - I was skeptical about this until it came together at the end, and would have loved some more payoff here early on, but otherwise really enjoyed the book.

I alternated between the physical copy and audio and think starting this one out in text might work a bit better (I prefer dual timeline stories in text more than audio typically anyways), but the narration was entertaining and drew me into the story. I appreciated how much emotion he brought to the narration!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction, historical fiction, magical realism
Length: 9 hours, 59 minutes
Setting: Northern Mexico, Southern Texas in 1890s and 1960s.
Reminds me of:
Pub Date: 23 Jan 2024

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Audio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

In the author’s note, Elizabeth Gonzalez James describes this as “a magical realism Western about a Mexican bandido” which I think is a succinct way of summarizing this excellent novel!

I don’t usually read books that are quite so action-packed, and I admit that it was a fun ride. I was not quite prepared for all the violence (though truthfully this should not have surprised me given the premise of the book) but otherwise I generally enjoyed reading it.

I think Gonzalez James is doing something cool here by taking a “western” style adventure story and centering a Mexican protagonist. She highlights issues of racism, colonialism, police profiling, and somehow still makes the story feel fun.

Despite him being a somewhat unlikeable main character, I was invested in what happened next in the Bullet Swallower’s story, and it kept me wanting to pick up the book. I was not quite as invested in the other storyline but I do always love a multigenerational family story and multiple timelines, which this book features.

It was even more cool to find out that the author based a lot of this novel on real historical events, some of which are tied to her own family history. Overall, an enjoyable read that I think helped me to re-contextualize part of US and Mexican history that I learned in a very white-washed way in school.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

In 1895 along the Tex Mex border, Antonio Sonoro is struggling to eke out a living to sustain his impoverished family. Once his family had great wealth, accumulated to the detriment and death of many, but now all is gone. When Antonio hears about a Texas train full of treasure, he sees a chance to restore his heritage and assure his future for generations. But this is not an ordinary Western novel.

In 1964, his descendent, Jaime, is a successful, known and liked Mexican singer/actor. A mysterious book comes into his possession that details a dark history about his family. Jaime is intrigued, somewhat horrified and suspicious. Above all he is curious if he can somehow set the past to right in the present.

Gonzalez James shifts the narrative by switching time periods, emphasizing the past and its threat to the future, introducing magic realism and crafting characters that could have been sung about in a corrido. This is a fascinating peek of what life was like on the border and the effect of trauma from past generations. Compelling characters, exciting escapes and characters that bring out their basest instincts. Danny Trejo, the actor, should think about this one! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

This was a compelling story. The author deftly managed time period changes and a lot of interwoven stories in a way that was easy to follow. The book was fast-paced but still meaty. I will definitely be checking out additional titles from this author.

At one time or another while reading Elizabeth Gonzalez James' "magical realism Western about a bandido and his movie star grandson," I got Gabriel Garcia Marquez vibes, then Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, then Lonesome Dove, then Isabel Allende. This remarkable novel based in the Texas/Mexico borderlands is worth re-reading and studying for its masterful trope-tweaking. The characters and situations are at once recognizable yet wholly original. The language is rich, as are the philosophical questions raised. Who pays for the sins of our fathers? What (and who) does reparation look like? The titular character, Antonio Sonoro -- El Tragabalas, the Bullet Swallower -- shines as the star of this novel, with the later timeline of his grandson Jaime a close second. Parallel to and interwoven with these characters is Remedio, the shadow tasked with collecting the Sonoros' cosmic debts. This is the character whose journey and revelations blew my mind every time he entered the scene. Again, I say, remarkable. I highly recommend this book.
[Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

Working Magic in the West

“A dazzling magical realism western in the vein of Cormac McCarthy meets Gabriel García Márquez…” Talk about setting some lofty expectations… Fortunately, I was seduced by the publisher’s tantalizing blurb.

“The Bullet Swallower” covers generations of a Mexican family, starting with a heartless and barbaric mine owner in the early 1800’s, continuing with his fearsome bandido son, and winding up with a 1960’s box office star, Jaime Sonoro. The family’s venomous history is revealed in a manuscript delivered to Jaime, who now struggles with his accountability. This is complicated by the arrival of a shadowy figure, Remedios, apparently present to extract justice from the family.

Antonio Sonoro, Jaime’s grandfather and the son of the mine owner, is a major focus here. He was the outlaw known as El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower. A good deal of the book follows the explosive action as he executes a plot to rob a train– a doomed adventure which costs him everything he holds dear and forges a quest for revenge. Eventually we witness this thirst for retribution transformed into a burning desire for redemption. The final puzzle is of how Jaime can atone for the sins of generations.

Author Elizabeth Gonzalez James has masterfully melded themes of the Old West, border life, racism, magical realism, and the balancing of personal identity versus inherited accountability. She loosely based some of the characters on some family history… and wrote in a note worthy of the Coen brothers, "Everything in this book is true except for the stuff I made up.” This is an entertaining read and lived up to the hype.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster, NetGalley, and Elizabeth Gonzalez James for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is outside of my normal comfort zone. But I saw magical realism and wanted to give it a try. I am so glad that I did!
The story draws you in, and I thought it was even more interesting because it is based on the author's own great grandfather. There are themes of greed, racism, family legacy, and revenge. The story is told in a dual timeline between a man and his grandson. I thought this was well done and thought I had a favorite POV but ended up enjoying both. I was excited when I realized there was a book included in the story, because that is something I normally enjoy.

I enjoyed the authors writing quite a bit. I liked the imagery and felt transported into the setting. I would recommend this story if you like westerns (or even if you don't) magical realism, family curses, and dual timelines.

This is a gem of a book. An impeccably written page turner that makes us care about the characters even when they’re doing wrong and being despicable. It is also an uplifting story of the power of redemption with a personal connection to the author that feels full of love and empathy. Loved it!

This book is completely different in terms of subject matter than Elizabeth Gonzalez James's prior novel, which I gave 5 stars to. There are actually two stories in one here, and I think the author completely pulls off the shift to the Western genre that makes up one of the stories in this novel. In fact, I enjoyed the Western story, which was the sharpest shift in subject matter from prior work, much more than the other story in this work. The story of Antonio Sonoro was engaging and atmospheric and was another 5 star read for me. However, the Jaime Sonoro's story, set in 1964, that alternated with Antonio's throughout the novel was not as interesting to me. I understand the purpose of interlacing this story into the novel, especially from the author's personal perspective, but overall I think the novel may have been better without it. Still, this is another great work by Elizabeth Gonzalez James in which she pulls off a completely new genre. Despite my reservations about the dual story structure, I would completely recommend this book.

A generational western centered around the burdens each generation either adds ont0 or takes from the current genrations' shoulders. Working through the scenes and events that qualify a "western" as a "western" and adding in a little magic, the Sonoro family has managed to live and prosper, with a few bloody fights along the way. In 1964 the Sonoros are well represented by Jaime Sonoro, a popular actor and singer. But a book......it's always a book, journal, diary.....will educate Jaime in his family's history and he'll learn that the family's debts are now due and he is expected to pay them.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James has delivered the magical story that I expected when I read the cover synopsis. I was intrigued by the cover and was sure that I'd either love it or hate it. Taking a chance has given me one of the best books you could read if you are looking for something different.....good different. It's hard to describe the story in a way that will describe the overall feel as Jaime reads the Sonoro family's history and realizes the responsibilities that are now his. It's well worth your reading time.

My special thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Part western, part magical realism, part historical fiction, this was one of the most unique books I've read in awhile!

Antonio Sonoro is not one to be messed with. A notorious Mexican bandit scheming and killing his way through 1895 Mexico, he will stop at nothing to garner riches and continue to raise his and his family's station in life. When he hears of a train coming in across the river in Texas full of riches, he concocts a plan to rob the train and bring his new found wealth back to Mexico and his family. When his plan goes awry, he is thrown into a journey where he fights for his own survival no matter what the cost to others. What Antonio doesn't know is that he is being followed by a mysterious, shadowy man, always lurking nearby watching his every move.

Jaime Sonoro is a famous Mexican movie star and the grandson of Antonio. Jaime is at the height of his acting success when a mysterious woman shows up one day with a literally foul smelling book detailing the entire lineage of the Sonoro family and the treachery and destruction they have imparted over the years. As Jaime is drawn into the tale of his family heritage, he realizes that he may become the person that finally has to pay for all of his family's mistakes, especially when he, the same shadowy mystery man that followed his grandfather suddenly appears in his life.

Normally, I'm not a big reader of westerns but I absolutely loved this book. The mix of adventure, drama, action and suspense kept me fully engaged and I truly enjoyed learning so much about the people and environment of the wild west of Texas in the late 1800s.

I think this was the first western I’ve read in a long time and it has me wanting to check out more from this genre. There was a certain magic to the dual storylines of Antonio and Jamie Sonoro happening about 70 years apart. Both grandfather and grandson felt larger than life in their own ways - as a bandido and a movie star. I love how Jamie became more and more obsessed with finding out the true story of his grandfather, despite his father protesting this and arguing against wanting to learn more about the man - due to some very clear trauma caused by the man.

The story grips you tight and leaves you holding onto your cowboy hats as it takes you jaunting across Mexico and Texas, through a heist gone bad, border disputes, Texas Rangers, and healing and spiritualism that consume the latter part of Antonio’s story. Jamie learning about the cosmic debt and who ends up paying the dues is fantastically revealed and the icing on the cake of this beautiful story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was fantastic!! Well written, well paced, and the plot never lost me. I loved the Western with magical realism combo. I will definitely be checking out more books by Elizabeth Gonzalez James, and highly recommend this one!