Prophet Song by Paul Lynch has won the £50,000 (about $63,000) 2023 Booker Prize, making him the fifth Irish writer ever to win a Booker. Originally published by Oneworld, Prophet Song will be published in the U.S. by Atlantic Monthly Press on December 12.

Booker winner Paul Lynch. (photo: Booker Prizes)

Booker Prize organizers called Prophet Song "an exhilarating, propulsive and confrontational portrait of a country--and an ordinary family--on the brink of catastrophe.

"On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB on her doorstep. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police want to speak with her husband....

"Things are falling apart. Ireland is in the grip of a government that is taking a turn towards tyranny. And as the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a collapsing society--assailed by unpredictable forces beyond her control and forced to do whatever it takes to keep her family together."

Chair of judges Esi Edugyan said: "From that first knock at the door, Prophet Song forces us out of our complacency as we follow the terrifying plight of a woman seeking to protect her family in an Ireland descending into totalitarianism. We felt unsettled from the start, submerged in--and haunted by--the sustained claustrophobia of Lynch's powerfully constructed world. He flinches from nothing, depicting the reality of state violence and displacement and offering no easy consolations. Here the sentence is stretched to its limits--Lynch pulls off feats of language that are stunning to witness. He has the heart of a poet, using repetition and recurring motifs to create a visceral reading experience. This is a triumph of emotional storytelling, bracing and brave. With great vividness, Prophet Song captures the social and political anxieties of our current moment. Readers will find it soul-shattering and true, and will not soon forget its warnings."

Paul Lynch's five novels include Beyond the Sea, Grace, The Black Snow, and Red Sky in Morning. Grace won the 2018 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the 2020 Ireland Francophonie Ambassadors' Literary Award. The Black Snow won France's bookseller prize, Prix Libr’à Nous for Best Foreign Novel. Lynch was the chief film critic of Ireland's Sunday Tribune newspaper from 2007 to 2011 and wrote regularly for the Sunday Times on cinema.

At Blue Cypress Books, New Orleans, La.

Early reports about general Thanksgiving holiday sales were positive. The Wall Street Journal said yesterday that "more shoppers visited stores and online spending grew on Black Friday this year compared with last year, according to third-party analytics firms," and that "U.S. retail sales on Black Friday rose 2.5% from last year, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures sales in stores and online." The National Retail Federation predicts that some 182 million people will shop online and in stores between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

Adobe Analytics said Black Friday online shoppers in the U.S. spent a record $9.8 billion, up 7.5% from a year ago, according to Seeking Alpha. Many shoppers are looking for discounts and flexible payment options; the bestselling categories have been smartwatches, TVs, toys, and gaming. Vivek Pandya, an analyst at Adobe Analytics, commented: "The strong online sales momentum for Black Friday further emphasizes the staying power the major holiday shopping days continue to have."

Bookstores appeared to share in sales momentum on Small Business Saturday, participating in a variety of ways. For example, Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, Tex., wrote that Small Business Saturday was "a wonderful day of holiday shopping, mystery ARCs, and surprise discounts from our gratitude jar."

Celebrating Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Literacy and Justice Sunday, and Giving Tuesday, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Mo., offered a Saturday in-store special: a $29.99 Left Banks Books Cozy Treat Pack that included a Left Bank Books mug and tea and chocolate combinations "that go with the perfect cozy read." The store also had signed books and every in-store purchase was entered to win a $10 store gift card.

The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, Kan., celebrated Small Business Saturday with "the famous Raven Prize wheel," the debut of two new sweatshirt designs, and signings all day with local authors Jenn Bailey, Catherine Browder, Paul A. Thomas, Curtis Marsh, and Rebecca Ozier Schulte.

Rep. Mike Quigley (r.) at Unabridged Bookstore, with bookseller Owen Keehnen.

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) stopped by Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago, Ill., to help celebrate Small Business Saturday. The store offered 10% off all purchases, free cookies from Sugar Daddy Bakery next door, special deals on kids totes, and the store's new Unabridged coffee mug.

At Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, Wash., all gift items--cards, gifts, calendars, and journals--were all 15% off on Small Business Saturday.

Similarly, at Gramercy Books, Bexley, Ohio, offered 20% off "literally everything that's not a book or a gift card." That included puzzles, food, candles, bags, mugs, shirts, and more.

Doylestown Bookshop, Doylestown, Pa., featured community guest booksellers, including a borough councilman, author Tiffany Schmidt, and the Element Youth Group; raffles; holiday music with School of Rock Doylestown students; a galley with a purchase of $30 or more; and a bookshop tote bag with a purchase of $100 or more.

Bookends & Beginnings, Evanston, Ill., had "special treats" for customer on what is traditionally its best sales day of the year, including a storytime, specials from 5 to 8 p.m. at the MiniBar, and caroling with the North Shore Harmonizers at 6 p.m.

The Book and Cover in Chattanooga, Tenn., kicked off #SBS "with a chilly Audiobook Run/Walk--so many great reads from our pals @librofm."

Libro.fm offered a Shop Small Sale on thousands of audiobooks November 22-27, and many bestsellers were available for $5 or less. Titles included In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, Milkman by Anna Burns, The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish, The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah, Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah, Opinions by Roxane Gay, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón, Doce cuentos peregrinos by Gabriel García Márquez, Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, The Levee by William Kent Krueger, and Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor.

And beginning Black Friday and continuing through today. Bookshop.org offered free shipping on orders. It's also offering 15% discounts on titles in its Gift Guide through December 18.

Among shoppers was President Joe Biden, who as usual spent the Thanksgiving weekend on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket. On Friday, he went out with the family to have lunch, shop, and mingle "with the Nantucket crowd as the town Christmas tree is lit," the AP reported. After a late lunch, "his first stop" was at Nantucket Bookworks, where First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley were already shopping. "Can't come without going to the bookstore," he said on entering the shop. "We've got a tradition."

The president spent 20 minutes at Nantucket Bookworks and left with a copy of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson (Viking), who interviewed him at the White House last year.

At the Book and Cover, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Independent booksellers took to social media for #IndiesFirst on #SmallBusinessSaturday to share their experiences and to express gratitude to communities across the U.S. for stepping up to support them in challenging times. Here's a sampling from the big weekend:

A Novel Idea on Passyunk, Philadelphia, Pa.: "Thank YOU for shopping small today. Alex and I loved seeing so many familiar faces and loved meeting all the new folks! Days like this are absolute magic. People connecting over books, over stories of magic, adventure, mayhem, and more. We are grateful (and exhausted)." 

Greedy Reads, Baltimore, Md.: "Y'all really know how to make a small business feel loved! THANK YOU for an incredible Small Business Saturday."

At Brave and Kind Books, Decatur, Ga.

Brave and Kind Books, Decatur, Ga.: "Thanks so much for a fantastic day Indie Bookshop Crawlers! Small Biz Saturday has been a great success thanks to all of our friends popping by the bookshop and our webshop (there is still time to shop small!!).... Y'all are the best. Happy Reading."

Sausalito Books by the Bay, Sausalito, Calif.: "In addition to the 7 PEOPLE you see in this photo, here are 5 OTHER REASONS TO SHOP AT INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES like ours...."

I Love Books, Delmar, N.Y.: "We love books and we are having a fabulous day with wonderful customers. Let's make it #SmallBusinessSaturdayEveryday."

At the Silver Unicorn, Acton, Mass.

The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, Mass.: "Happy Small Business Saturday! Ruby, Maisy, and Paul are here to get your day started right. Stop by and ask for a recommendation on books, gifts, and more!"

Blue Cypress Books, New Orleans, La.: "Somehow we're back today for Small Business Saturday doing even more dumb/fun stuff because we are nothing if not a little dumb and a lot extra."

Story on the Square, McDonough, Ga.: "Thank you to everyone who joined us today to celebrate local businesses!... Your support means the world to us!"

Harriett's Bookshop, Philadelphia, Pa.: "That's what #SmallBusinessSaturday is really about. It's about being woven into the fabric of a community in a real and undeniable way--not simply to extract resources and appease faceless shareholders, but because you're committed to the forward movement of your neighbors so much so that not even a flood, a covid, or a bat-wielding protestor could keep you from it."

Scout & Morgan Books, Cambridge, Minn.: "Wow! What a fun and fantastic Small Business Saturday! We wish we would have had time to take more photos, but know you mean the world to us."

Prairie Lights Bookstore, Iowa city, Iowa: "We had a festive and joyful Small Business Saturday.  We thank you all for the tremendous support!!"

At Reads & Co., Phoenixville, Pa.

Reads & Company, Phoenixville, Pa.: "Small Business Saturday is on! Marco even busted out the big sign for the day--don't forget, double rewards all weekend long in store and online!"

Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif.: "We know you have many ways to shop this holiday season, so we thank our community for embracing the spirit of the season by choosing to Shop Local and Shop Small."

Books of Wonder, New York, N.Y.: "On this #SmallBusinessSaturday, we'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our loyal readers and book lovers! Your support for independent bookstores during these challenging times means the world to us. We also wanted to express our immense gratitude to the talented authors and illustrators whose work has been the wind beneath Books of Wonder's wings. We appreciate everything you do for us and for the world."

At Buxton Books, Charleston, S.C.

Buxton Books, Charleston, S.C.: "Small Business Saturday is the new Black (Friday). You heard it here first! Enjoy our celebratory family photo! A big business could never be this cute."

The Book and Cover, Chattanooga, Tenn.: "Thank you, readers, for loving this little shop and spending Small Business Saturday with us! Today was full of magic & we are so thankful for this bookish community."

Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Beverly Farms, Mass.: "A little tired, a lot grateful at the end of a busy Small Business Saturday. It was a beautiful day to share our love of books."

At One More Page, Arlington, Va.

One More Page Books & More, Arlington, Va.: "It may have been cold out but that didn't stop folks coming out on Small Business Saturday! Thanks for such a great day--we really appreciate it!"

Dotters Books, Eau Claire, Wis.: "It's the day after Small Business Saturday and I'm feeling very grateful. We had a staff meeting at the shop this week, and I told Bergen, Mati, & Sara that SBS is always one of my favorite days of the year--and it is!... Because it's true that small business owners are just people hoping to share the things that bring them joy and create a bit of community along the way."

If social media posts from indie booksellers were any indication, Plaid Friday made a notable impression as a Black Friday alternative and a Small Business Saturday prelude. Several indie bookstores across the U.S. celebrated Plaid Friday, including The Baker's Bookshoppe, Mount Joy, Pa., which advised: "Leave the Black Friday crowds at the mall and the big box stores. Celebrate Plaid Friday this year by shopping local."

Among the indies donning the plaid this year were: 

At Rakestraw Books

Rakestraw Books, Danville, Calif.: "Happy Plaid Friday!"

Bodacious Bookstore and Café, Pensacola, Fla.: "It's PLAID FRIDAY! We're wearing plaid and encouraging all our customers to do the same while shopping local on this typically big box shopping holiday. All our downtown neighbors are offering some great deals alongside us. Come celebrate the holiday season with us!"

Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola, Iowa: "It's here! Plaid Friday! For each piece of plaid you wear you get 20% off that many items. Wear 5 pieces of plaid get 5 items 20% off! 10 am to 5 pm!"

Stories Like Me, Pittsburgh, Pa.: "Happy Plaid Friday!! Today, we celebrate independent businesses while wearing plaid (or, if you're one of our dragons, the Campbell Tartan)."

2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, Mich.: "A hearty and appreciative THANK YOU to all who chose to spend some time shopping in a laid back, comfortable environment on this Plaid Friday. Now, we rest for a few hours before the rest of the world shops small tomorrow!"

At Pages: A Bookstore, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Chapter2 Books, Hudson, Wis.: "It's PLAID Friday here at BackRoom Vintage and Chapter2Books Hudson. Wear plaid today and receive 15% off new books."

Paper Pages Bookstore, Crescent, Okla.: "THANK YOU ALL for coming out this weekend for Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday and well, for all the days before.... We appreciate your business, your support, and allowing us to be a small part of your life."

The Book Dragon Shop, Staunton, Va.: "Thank you to everyone who made our first Plaid Friday at the bookstore a success! Your love for books and support means the world to us. It was great to see everyone who came in. It means so much to us that you chose to shop with us and support our small business. Here's to many more cozy reading days ahead!"

After a three-hour book signing, romance authors (left to right) Jo Segura, Julie Soto, Susan Lee, and Ali Hazelwood strike a Charlie's Angels pose at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Wash.

Blackstone Publishing is distributing worldwide physical audio formats--CD and MP3-CD--of Dreamscape Media.

Dreamscape Media produces fiction and nonfiction audiobooks, book-based children's read-along video programs, and offers video and audio distribution services. Titles are available to both library and retail channels in physical and digital formats.

Greg Boguslawski, executive v-p of Blackstone, said, "As a fellow independent publisher, Blackstone shares the same dedication as Dreamscape Media in curating top-tier audiobooks from a diverse spectrum of authors. It's an ideal synergy that perfectly complements and enriches our existing collection."

Sean McManus, president and publisher of Dreamscape Media, said, "At Dreamscape, one of our primary objectives is to consistently discover opportunities for our extensive audiobook catalog to reach listeners worldwide. Our partnership with Blackstone Publishing offers precisely this."

Chris Kouzes has joined Cottage Door Press as senior v-p of sales. He has more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations, including stints at Readerlink, Baker & Taylor, and most recently talkshoplive.

Palestinian Music in Exile: Voices of Resistance by Louis Brehony (American University in Cairo Press).

Today:
Good Morning America: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche, author of Made Whole: The Practical Guide to Reaching Your Financial Goals (Rodale Books, $22.99, 9780593581292).

Fresh Air: Garrett M. Graff, author of UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government's Search for Alien Life Here--and Out There (Avid Reader Press/S&S, $32.50, 9781982196776).

Late Show with Stephen Colbert repeat: Rachel Maddow, author of Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism (Crown, $32, 9780593444511).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Omid Scobie, author of Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival (Dey Street, $32, 9780063258662).

CBS Mornings: Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, authors of This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained (Rodale, $28, 9780593580950).

Drew Barrymore Show: Jada Pinkett Smith, author of Worthy (Dey Street Books, $32, 9780063320680).

Late Night with Seth Meyers repeat: Henry Winkler, author of Being Henry: The Fonz... and Beyond (Celadon, $30, 9781250888099).

Rose Ayling-Ellis is heading a TV adaptation of Will Dean's first Tuva Moodyson novel--Dark Pines, about a deaf journalist--that is in development with Death in Paradise producer Red Planet Pictures. Deadline reported that Ayling-Ellis is also exec producing TUVA, its working title, a six-part crime thriller that will move the action from Sweden to the U.K.

The former EastEnders star "became the first deaf winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and has since landed roles in the likes of ITV's Code of Silence," Deadline noted. She is exec-producing with Belinda Campbell, Caroline Skinner and the show's writer Charlotte Jones (The Halcyon).

"As soon as I read Charlotte's scripts and then dived further into Will's books, I just knew this was a role I wanted to play and a world I wanted to explore," said Ayling-Ellis.

Red Planet has acquired the rights to all novels in the Moodyson crime series.

Winners have been announced in 20 categories for the 2023 An Post Irish Book Awards, which "celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible." The Eason Novel of the Year is The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. The Dubray Non-Fiction Book of the Year is A Thread of Violence by Mark O'Connell. The An Post Bookshop of the Year is Halfway Up the Stairs children's bookshop, Greystones, County Wicklow. The 2023 overall An Post Irish Book of the Year will be revealed on December 6. All category winners can be seen here.

---

The winners of the Polari prizes for LGBTQ+ books are The Whale Tattoo by Jon Ransom, which received the £1,000 (about $1,260) Polari first book prize, and Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, which won the £2,000 (about $2,520) overall prize.

The Guardian noted that in The Whale Tattoo, "protagonist Joe Gunner navigates difficult memories as he returns to his Norfolk fishing town and renegotiates his relationships with those he left. 'Jon Ransom's novel is suffused with salt air and gay longing,' said judge Adam Zmith. 'It transported me to a life that is not my own, and yet one where I recognised myself. Ransom conjures up gorgeously evocative images for his hostile locations and finds love and energy there.' "

Our Wives Under the Sea, the Guardian continued, "tells the story of Leah, who unexpectedly returns from a disastrous deep-sea dive, and her wife, Miri, who grapples with the ways Leah changed while under water. The novel 'opens up what we believe is possible from queer writing,' said judge Joelle Taylor. 'It is a strange, speculative, poetic and thrilling novel--a heart turner as much as a page turner.' "

LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 December titles public library staff across the country love:

Top Pick
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura (Berkley, $16.99, 9780593547465). "Dr. Corrie's professional dream has come true: she's been invited on an archaeological dig to uncover an Aztec mystery. But there's one big catch. Her longtime rival, Dr. Ford, is the lead on the expedition. As they become better acquainted, their animosity transforms into an undeniable attraction--that is, until the truth behind Ford's motivations comes to light. Will they be able to find their happily ever after? This thrilling and steamy debut will appeal to fans of adventurous romances." --Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library, Ill.

The Couple in the Photo by Helen Cooper (Putnam, $18, 9780593544907). "Lucy's perfect life crumbles when she sees a photo of her best friend on a romantic vacation with someone who isn't his wife. When she tells her husband, he tells her she must be mistaken and to leave it alone. Soon, the woman Lucy saw in the photo is found dead, making Lucy wonder if it's all in her head or if her husband is keeping something from her. Readers will be sucked into this well-written, fast-paced, twisty tale." --Sarrah Knight, Newton Public Library, Iowa

The Curse of Penryth Hall: A Mystery by Jess Armstrong (Minotaur, $28, 9781250886019). "Unconventional American heiress Ruby is living in Exeter, where she runs a bookstore. Sent to deliver a box of rare and dangerous books, she ends up getting involved in a murder, an ancient curse, and the possibility that witches really do exist. The story is revealed slowly, giving readers a chance to guess the who and why. The possibility of the supernatural lingers like fog along the Cornish coast: with a view that's sometimes clear and other times, otherworldly." --Janet Makoujy, New City Library, N.Y.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson (Berkley, $17, 9780593549377). "This paranormal rom-com follows two wolf shifters living in the human world, navigating the immense amount of shifter stereotypes to survive in the cutthroat world of medicine. Ferguson takes an interesting approach, creating a world where shifters are known--and for the most part, accepted--in society. Mack and Noah circle each other through the novel, fighting the pull of nature and attempting to navigate a relationship that is both fake and real." --Zoe Sucu, East Kingston Public Library, N.H.

Familia by Lauren E. Rico (Kensington, $17.95, 9781496744647). "Gabby takes a DNA test and finds out she has a sister in Puerto Rico, and Isabella is convinced Gabby is her lost sister. The mystery of finding out what really happened, while switching between different perspectives and the rich characters, will keep readers intrigued. Puerto Rico in all its complexity is just as much a character. This is a great book club pick that explores what family and sisterhood means." --Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, Tex.

On the Plus Side: A Novel by Jenny L. Howe (‎St. Martin's Griffin, $18, 9781250837882). "Everly has been chosen for a makeover show and is given the opportunity to see where she can go with her art and marketing skills, both of which she hides under a bushel. As she begins to grow and shine, she and the cameraman start falling for each other. Unfortunately, the show and Everly both become victims of sabotage. Can Everly and the show remain on the plus side?" --Patti Cheney, Pima County Public Library, Ariz.

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner (Gallery, $28.99, 9781668024782). "Choose your friends wisely! Tasha needs to jump start her journalism career, so when a nanny turns up dead in a neighboring community, she begins to investigate. She enrolls her son in school and becomes friendly with the other mothers. Exploring class and motherhood, this clever, twisty plot alternates between the nanny's past and Tasha's present narration of events." --Jayme Oldham, Highland Park Public Library, Ill.

Rebecca, Not Becky: A Novel by Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene (Amistad, $30, 9780063213593). "Two mothers--one Black, one white--form an uneasy relationship when their daughters become friends at their 'progressive' private school. A must-read for those wanting contemporary fiction that addresses important issues but maintains a brisk plot and relatable characters. Book clubs looking for something both funny and compelling should definitely consider this one." --Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Va.

This Spells Love: A Novel by Kate Robb (‎Dial Press, $18, 9780593596531). "Gemma just broke up with her ex, so her aunt, sister, and best friend Dax help her perform a love cleanse. Suddenly, she wakes up in another timeline where Dax doesn't know who she is! Though now she has her own store, she wants to get back to her own reality. Or can she have Dax here as something more than a friend? Readers of Lana Harper's Witches of Thistle Grove series will love this." --Jessica C. Williams, Cleveland Public Library, Ohio

The Vacation: A Novel by John Marrs (‎Hanover Square Press, $30, ‎ 9781335013255). "As the reader explores the distance between unlikable and likable, each character reveals that they are not who they seem to be. When they intersect at a run-down hostel, these travelers--whether killers or caretakers--drive this fast-paced narrative in which each viewpoint is well fleshed out." --Beth Emmerling, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Md.

"Alferez Antonio Sonoro was born with gold in his eyes." Thus begins The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James (Mona at Sea), a novel that examines three generations of men in the Sonoro family, each grappling with their own relationship to violence, justice, trauma, and forgiveness. Alferez Antonio is one of the anchors to this story's pain, the source of a line of evil that demands a certain retribution. But the book leaves Alferez Antonio in the prologue, alternating between his son Antonio, a Mexican bandido known in 1895 as El Tragabalas (the Bullet Swallower), and his great grandson Jaime, star of wildly popular ranchera comedies in 1964 Mexico.

A failed robbery lands Antonio in the sights of the Texas Rangers, and fans of classic westerns will appreciate the atmosphere of every dusty backwater town and the tumult of each gunfight. But The Bullet Swallower is much more than just a western, introducing elements of magical realism that provide the perfect backdrop for its exploration of morality and the generational impact of human choices. Jaime discovers the evil deeds of his ancestors in a book (the other malevolent anchor in this tale) published in Spain in 1783 by Maria Gaspar Rocha de Quiroga. She explains that the book is "a documentation of the genesis of evil in our world. Like the estimable botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, I have identified a specimen, named it... that others may recognize evil, too, and once named, tear it root and stem from the soil." It is an impossible task, perhaps, as even Maria Gaspar exclaims, "I fear--oh my God, I fear!--that in looking at them I recognize myself." Just as Antonio and Jaime realize the role the past must play in the present, readers will see their own failings and frailties in the Sonoro men, as did Maria Gaspar centuries before.

The Bullet Swallower is based on the family history of the author, including her great-grandfather, a bandido known as El Tragabalas. In an author's note, James comments, "Everything in this book is true except for the stuff I made up." Her blending of fact and fantasy, magic and morality, and the weight of family history is a success, making The Bullet Swallower both a page-turner with impeccable pacing and a complicated narrative full of unexpected elements and deeper questions. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian

Shelf Talker: The Bullet Swallower is more than just a fabulous western, with elements of magical realism providing a perfect backdrop for its exploration of morality and the generational impact of human choices.