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The Bullet Swallower
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
10 posts | 11 read | 4 to read
A dazzling magical realism western in the vein of Cormac McCarthy meets Gabriel Garca Mrquez, The Bullet Swallower follows a Mexican bandido as he sets off for Texas to save his family, only to encounter a mysterious figure who has come, finally, to collect a cosmic debt generations in the making. 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. A family saga that's epic in scope and magical in its blood, and based loosely on the author's own great-grandfather, 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.
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review
marleed
marleed
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Mehso-so

My extent of history regarding Texas and Mexico had been minimal, but became fascinated in both culture and history during my 5 years living in downtown San Antonio. I had to laugh because without experiencing South Texas myself I wouldn‘t have realized the significance of fire ants 🐜, grackles🐦‍⬛, and bats🦇.

61 likes
blurb
Laughterhp
Laughterhp
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
post image

Here are my #Roll100 picks for June. I‘ve already bailed on number 24. But will try to pick up these other 2 in June.

tagged users iconPuddleJumper
PuddleJumper Sounds good! 6mo
39 likes1 comment
blurb
Graciouswarriorprincess
Graciouswarriorprincess
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
post image

I‘m attending the bookclub meeting with @unefemmejames @booksparks @sparkpointstudio to discuss “The Bullet Swallower”.

marleed Oh how fun! 9mo
Graciouswarriorprincess @marleed It was fun. 9mo
47 likes2 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
Hooked_on_books
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Bailedbailed

I gave the audio about an hour and a half, but it‘s just not grabbing me. I don‘t know if this is me, the book, or the timing, so don‘t let me deter you if this one appeals.

46 likes
review
ICantImReading
ICantImReading
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m happy I went outside of my normal genres to give this a try, even if the testosterone-fueled quest didn‘t fully captivate me personally. It was also interesting to read her author‘s note about her grandfather‘s true story, which inspired her to write this book. #BOTM

Prairiegirl_reading I really want to read more westerns. I had this in my hand the other day but decided on something else. I‘m still on the fence about it. 10mo
ICantImReading @Prairiegirl_reading I hope you like it if you decide to try it! There was certainly a lot to like in it, I just don‘t think it fit my tastes personally. Have you read Outlawed? I do remember liking that western a couple of years ago 🙂
[tagged book]Outlawed
10mo
bookaholic1 @Prairiegirl_reading Have you read LONESOME DOVE by Larry McMurty? It's such a great book 10mo
Prairiegirl_reading @bookaholic1 yes! That and true grit were so good that‘s why I want to read more westerns! 10mo
Prairiegirl_reading @ICantImReading I think I started it a while ago and put aside for some reason, don‘t remember why. I guess this is a sign. 10mo
51 likes5 comments
review
EKonrad
EKonrad
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Mehso-so

This book didn't quite live up to my expectations - not enough magical realism and a separate storyline that kept taking me out of the action. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/01/22/the-bullet-swallower-book-review/

33 likes
blurb
Graciouswarriorprincess
Graciouswarriorprincess
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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When it‘s your day off this week and next week, you still work.

I am planning out all ten of my 2024 reading challenges for the year. My goal is to not only complete the challenges but to read new authors and genres. Added bonus is that I can use it for readers advisory at my library job.

jenniferw88 There's a group of us on Litsy doing #52bookclub24 - do you want to be added to the tag list? @BarbaraBB is in charge of it! 10mo
Graciouswarriorprincess @jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB Yes, please include me! Thanks. 😊 10mo
52 likes2 comments
blurb
Laughterhp
Laughterhp
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Picked my January #BOTM books. I wasn‘t really happy with the choices. I‘m trying to stay away from mystery and thrillers, because I haven‘t really been enjoying them lately.

The tagged stood out to me the most. I don‘t know what “Experimental” means, so I‘m not sure if I‘ll actually like this book.

Let‘s be honest, I just wanted the sequel to Divine Rivals.

Kimberlone I think I will also be getting The Bullet Swallower. I really wasn‘t interested in any of the other options and I already have Ruthless Vows preordered. 11mo
37 likes1 comment
blurb
ICantImReading
ICantImReading
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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January #BOTM picks are up!! I‘m looking forward to these three very different stories 🙂

38 likes
review
suvata
suvata
The Bullet Swallower | Elizabeth Gonzalez James
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Pickpick

Thank you #SimonAndSchuster and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is February 13, 2024.

fiction • historical • literary • magical realism • adventurous • Texas • 3.5 Stars

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James combines magical realism and western genres. ⬇️

suvata It tells the story of two generations of a Mexican family that are haunted by the sins of their ancestors and a cosmic debt that they must repay. The novel spans from 1895 to 1964 and explores themes of violence, revenge, history, and redemption. It is based on (mostly) true events and draws inspiration from the author‘s own family legends.

#Bookstagram #TheBulletSwallower #ElizabethGonzalezJames
 11mo
33 likes3 stack adds1 comment