Bodega dreams"A new and authentic voice of the urban Latino experience." --Esmeralda Santiago, author of When I Was Puerto Rican In a stunning narrative combining the gritty rhythms of Junot Diaz with the noir genius of Walter Mosley, Bodega Dreams announces the arrival of a writer who The Village Voice has already hailed as "a Writer on the Verge." The word is out in Spanish Harlem: Willy Bodega is king. Need college tuition for your daughter? Start-up funds for your fruit stand? Bodega can help. He gives everyone a leg up, in exchange only for loyalty--and a steady income from the drugs he pushes. Lyric, inspired, and darkly funny, this powerful debut novel brilliantly evokes the trial of Chino, a smart, promising young man to whom Bodega turns for a favor. Chino is drawn to Bodega's street-smart idealism, but soon finds himself over his head, navigating an underworld of switchblade tempers, turncoat morality, and murder. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 11
Page 124
I wanted to tell her that I wasn't a Saldivia, I was a Mercado, and that Blanca was
now a Mercado too, but then I thought that was just stupid pride, so I stayed quiet.
"Champagne for all the Saldivias, right, Izzy?" she repeated, laughing. Bodega ...
I wanted to tell her that I wasn't a Saldivia, I was a Mercado, and that Blanca was
now a Mercado too, but then I thought that was just stupid pride, so I stayed quiet.
"Champagne for all the Saldivias, right, Izzy?" she repeated, laughing. Bodega ...
Page 173
"Does a Julio Mercado live here?" one asked. "Julio?" Blanca stood up and
walked over to the door. "What do these gentlemen need to see you for?" she
asked with artificial formality. Pastor Vasquez was right behind her. "I'm Detective
...
"Does a Julio Mercado live here?" one asked. "Julio?" Blanca stood up and
walked over to the door. "What do these gentlemen need to see you for?" she
asked with artificial formality. Pastor Vasquez was right behind her. "I'm Detective
...
Page 179
"I'll walk you out, Mr. Mercado," Ortiz said to me. I thanked both him and the
captain. I had nothing to say to Dejesus. "Just one thing, son." This time Leary
emphasized the word, patronizingly. "If I see you as much as jaywalking, I'll have
you ...
"I'll walk you out, Mr. Mercado," Ortiz said to me. I thanked both him and the
captain. I had nothing to say to Dejesus. "Just one thing, son." This time Leary
emphasized the word, patronizingly. "If I see you as much as jaywalking, I'll have
you ...
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
| 5 stars |
| ||
| 4 stars |
| ||
| 3 stars |
| ||
| 2 stars |
| ||
| 1 star |
|
LibraryThing Review
User Review - BtB_Library - LibraryThingBodega Dreams features really well-written, sympathetic characters living in Spanish Harlem. With a gripping, detailed portrayal of the neighborhood and a fast moving plot that's very easy to get ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - marciathing - LibraryThingThe books by Ernesto Quinonez were my first introduction to Spanish Harlem. Thanks to my Midwestern existence, and even to some years in S. Texas, I had never known this place existed. Both his novels are fantastic and engrossing. I'm looking forward to more. Read full review
Contents
Because Men Who Built This Country Were Men from the Streets | 1 |
Because a Single Lawyer Can Steal More Money Than a Hundred Men with Guns | 83 |
A New Language Being Born | 201 |
Copyright | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ain't Alberto Salazar Alleluia asked aunt b'cause Barrio Blanca Blessington building called Chino church Claudia cops crazy Dejesus door East Harlem East River Enrique everything eyes face fire Fischman floor fuck fucken girl gonna hand happy hated head hear heard hope inside Iris Chacon Julia de Burgos Julio killed knew Latin laughed leave living looked married Mercado mother Nazario Negra neighborhood Nene never nigga night nodded okay Ortiz pana PEDRO PIETRI Pentecostal Piri Thomas Puerto Rican Robert Frost Roberto Vega Salazar salsa Sapo Sapo's shit sister smiled someone Spanish Harlem stared street Taino talk Tapia tell Thass right things thought told took Vasquez Vera's Veronica Victor Vidal waited walked Whass whispered wife William Irizarry Willie Bodega Yeah yelled yo'r
Bibliographic information
| Title | Bodega dreams Vintage Contemporaries Original |
| Author | Ernesto Quiñonez |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Vintage Contemporaries, 2000 |
| ISBN | 0375705899, 9780375705892 |
| Length | 213 pages |
| Subjects | › › Bildungsromans Fiction / General Fiction / Suspense Fiction / Urban Life New York New York (N.Y.) New York (State) Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans - New York (State) - New York Puerto Ricans/ New York (State)/ New York/ Fiction Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Hispanic American Studies |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |