A review by litoreads
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • 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

I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to read this book before its pub date. Elizabeth Gonzalez James, the author, has been incredibly gracious in acknowledging my online posts about it while I was immersed in its pages. I am thrilled to declare that, for me, this marks another five-star read this year.

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
vengeance
, and supernatural forces, all wrapped up in exquisite prose. Gonzalez James dedicated several years to crafting this masterpiece, evident in the meticulous research and careful selection of every detail.

Among the many memorable lines in this book, the descriptions of nature's beauty, colors, and the poignant depiction of
Antonio's taste of death
in one of the final chapters stood out:

"
He let himself be swallowed up by the lights, to be slowly disassembled into a million fragments and absorbed. And he didn't so much think his final thought as he knew it instantly to be true: Death is the process of becoming light. Red, orange, yellow. He let himself be refracted. Green, blue, indigo. The last thing to be dissolved would be his consciousness and this he allowed, turning himself into the purest shade of violet, a late spring jacaranda petal borne on a warm wind into a darkening sunset. He flew directly into the light, adding his purple to the multitude residing there, and he was pleased that he could make the colors richer for those he left behind.
"

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
British
sidekick/partner and light fantastical touches, this story introduces an antihero character you will root for until the end, and it might even make you cry like I did. I think I can confidently say Antonio Sonoro is one of my favorite characters of all time.

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings