The Bullet Swallower is a 2024 magical realism western by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. It was published by Simon & Schuster. It was released today, though I was able to get an early copy through Book of the Month.
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.
The plot of the novel was entertaining and engaging. Told in dual timelines, the plot moves in an interesting and compelling way, keeping the mystery of what might happen next, for both Antonio's story and Jaime's, alive for a great deal of the book. Jaime, and thus the reader, doesn't know how Antonio's story ends, so that plot is kept mysterious for quite a while, keeping the reader engaged in both timelines. The dual timelines also allows for the reader to see every aspect of the story come together at once, in a way that feels unique and satisfying. In both eras, the narrative weaves a compelling narrative about each man and his notions of his legacy. Antonio's story has more twists and turns in it than Jaime's, mainly due to the nature of his quest for revenge, and most are executed very well. There was only one twist that disappointed me, and it was only because it seemed obvious to me. The climax of Antonio's story was exciting and invigorating, while Jaime's was more subdued, but still satisfying. I enjoyed the way the conclusion of the two storylines dovetailed into each other, and how each informed the other.
Antonio was a fantastic protagonist, though an imperfect character. He was ruthless and unapologetic, yet the reader sees glimpses of a softer side to him. He has no delusions about which side of the law he's on, yet few of his actions are destructive or threatening for the sake of being so. His character development was intriguing, as his experience seeking revenge forces him to rethink his life, and evaluate the choices and mistakes he's made. Jaime wasn't a protagonist that I connected with as much. He begins the story as a good man, and a good father, with a bit of an ego, among some other flaws. His development as a character is more subtle, as it centers around him learning of his family history and coming to terms with the damage his ancestors have caused. He was a good protagonist, but wasn't quite as dynamic or memorable as Antonio. Remedio is a mysterious stranger that encounters both Antonio and Jaime in their respective timelines. The reader isn't told much about him, by design, which makes each encounter more tense and more interesting, as his intentions are unknown and unfathomable to the reader. Other characters could've been a little more fleshed out, such as Antonio's wife, but at the same time, their lack of depth doesn't harm the story too much. Certain moments might lack an abundance of weight, but the reader still feels some weight.
The writing in this novel was beautiful. The prose flowed very well and helped build a descriptive, dynamic image of the world of the story. It was beautifully paced, with the stakes slowly raising with each chapter. While magical realism is central to the story, the writing didn't rely too heavily on that angle, making it approachable for many different kinds of readers. It was an easy read, and an entertaining one.
The Bullet Swallower was a fun, wild read. It had a compelling plot, with interesting twists and turns. The characters were fascinating and complex. The writing was beautiful, and brought the intriguing story to life. All in all, it was a fantastic, unique story and I'd recommend it to anyone even slightly curious, based on the blurb.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
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