AT THE LIBRARY

Michelle Campbell is the manager of public service at the Guelph Public Library. She recommends: “The Bullet Swallower” by Elizabeth Gonzalez James.

“The Bullet Swallower” by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Simon & Schuster, 2024, 272 pages

Set in 1895 Texas and 1964 Mexico, “The Bullet Swallower” recounts the history of the cursed Sonoro family through the lives of the outlaw Antonio Sonoro and his grandson Jaime Sonoro. Although a work of fiction, this novel is loosely based on the author’s own grandfather, a bandido who was shot in the face and survived, earning him the name “El Tragabalas,” which means “the bullet swallower.”

Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of cruel men. He is good with his gun and looking for a challenge, so when he hears about a train laden with gold, he decides to rob it. When the heist goes wrong and his brother Hugo is killed, Antonio launches into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life but his soul.

Seventy years later, Jaime Sonoro is Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer. Jaime’s comfortable life is disrupted when he discovers a manuscript about the history of his family, including their crimes. He realizes he may be the one to pay for his ancestors’ crimes unless he discovers the truth of his grandfather.

Blending the outlaw western with a touch of magic realism and delving into serious topics like colonialism, U.S. and Mexico border politics, and intergenerational trauma, this wild and unique saga captivated me from the first page.