A review by just_one_more_paige
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

4.0

 
I found this book originally on a stack of ARCs that was sent to the library and set out for staff to grab. I have had a bit of a soft spot for magical realism (recent highlights of the genre for me including The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, Eartheater) for a long time, which only grew after studying Spanish language and literature in college.  So, I was of course intrigued by the blurb, and decided to grab it for myself. 
 
From the first pages, the narrative style was familiar and I sank right into the storytelling. There is something about the vibe/tone of Spanish-speaking/heritage magical realism that is so immediately recognizable and comfortable, and Gonzalez James’ writing nailed it. This was a dramatic family drama told in two different timelines, intertwined with a history of American/Spanish colonization of Mexico - the land and the people – and equally mashed with elements of classic adventure Westerns. (Please beware, on that front, there is very graphic violence and injury description throughout.)  
 
There is an almost fable-like quality to the timeline in the more distant past (late 1800s) following legendary bandito Antonio Sonoro, in which he robs trains, survives shootings (thus, earning the nickname Tragabalas, the Bullet Swallower), murders(?), and generally running from/escaping the law. And in a more recent timeline, we follow Antonio’s grandson, famous actor and singer Jaime Antonio, as he learns the truth of his family’s (violent and terrible) history. And as the story unfolds towards the finale, we get to see the sort of subtly unique way that the family “curse” is resolved, and they find redemption for their history of cruelty. 
 
This was a steadier/slower style read, so keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up. But I would say it’s well worth it. And I was really happy with the way it all came together and was resolved in the end. 
 
“Kindness is its own reward […] but cruelty is a self-inflicted wound.” 
 
“No man lives free from history.” 
 
“So he was enemy number one, the boogeyman embodying Texas’s collective guilts and fears, and it was all a cover up for a land grab.” 
 
“How inadequate was love when it couldn’t stop suffering?” 
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