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martinjen98's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Violence, and Suicide
judassilver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Child death, Blood, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Colonisation, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Minor: Religious bigotry and Suicide
autonomous_lass's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Police brutality, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is routinely billed as Cormac McCarthy meets Gabriel García Márquez, and my one quibble with this is that the author's perspective is so radically different than these authors, and the characterization of the leading men in this story underscore her efforts to avoid romanticization or glorification of patriarchal traditions and colonial violence. These men are pathetic, greedy, indecisive, immature, and, eventually (finally) reflective and seeking. It's not just a story of fate, adventure and family curses, it's a dismantling of the cowboy.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Child death, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Stalking, Suicide, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Misogyny, Animal death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Body horror, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
crows_in_a_trenchcoat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Police brutality, Child death, Gun violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, and Rape
itshrewsbury's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death and Suicide
Minor: Drug use and Child death
clichemarker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"When these promises of salvation went ignored the men always threw down their bibles and picked up their rifles, for that was what they'd wanted to do all along, and shout at that such an indolent race didn't deserve the soil under their feet."
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Suicide, and Animal death
Minor: Child death
litoreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Bullet Swallower delves into themes of generational trauma, antiheroes, and the significance of family. It skillfully weaves these elements into a captivating narrative of cowboy bandits, a train heist, a plot for
Among the many memorable lines in this book, the descriptions of nature's beauty, colors, and the poignant depiction of
"
The knowledge that this story is rooted in the author's own family history adds an extra layer of excitement, prompting me to reflect on my own family background because my last name is Villa. While there's a playful family joke about being related to the famous Pancho Villa, despite his actual last name being Arango, the connection remains intriguing.
Whether you're a fan of cowboys, adventure, contemplation of life's meaning, or simply seeking an entertaining read that imparts fascinating facts about Mexico and Texas, like the reef road, this book is a must-read. If you identify as Latino, especially Mexican, the connection to the narrative is even more profound.
With supernatural elements, a no-bullsh*t bruja character, a fun
I cannot emphasize enough the ✨excellence✨ of Gonzalez James' writing: descriptive without excess, perfectly paced, and able to encapsulate a fully-formed narrative with well-rounded characters and an adventurous plot within fewer than 300 pages. I sincerely hope you enjoy this book as much as I did when it comes out later this month on January 23rd.
5/5 stars.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Suicide, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Classism, Gun violence, Body horror, Police brutality, Gore, and Genocide
Moderate: Alcohol and Animal death
rissathereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide and Gun violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Child abuse and Animal death