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
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Page 146
Ernesto Quiǫnez, Ernesto Quiñonez. ROUND 6 After the Fire FTER the fire was
put out , we tenants were let back inside to retrieve what remained of our
belongings . The building had been completely drenched with water and the
stairs had ...
Ernesto Quiǫnez, Ernesto Quiñonez. ROUND 6 After the Fire FTER the fire was
put out , we tenants were let back inside to retrieve what remained of our
belongings . The building had been completely drenched with water and the
stairs had ...
Page 152
Such buildings made perfect places for crack houses and numbers joints . The
electricity was easily siphoned from a lamppost socket or the nearest building (
via the roof ) . The windows facing the street were covered with plywood and only
...
Such buildings made perfect places for crack houses and numbers joints . The
electricity was easily siphoned from a lamppost socket or the nearest building (
via the roof ) . The windows facing the street were covered with plywood and only
...
Page 167
That night Sapo dropped me off at one of the new - old buildings Bodega had
renovated on 119th and Lexington . ... The City of New York takes so much time
to either renovate or bulldoze a condemned building it ' s like those guys on
Death ...
That night Sapo dropped me off at one of the new - old buildings Bodega had
renovated on 119th and Lexington . ... The City of New York takes so much time
to either renovate or bulldoze a condemned building it ' s like those guys on
Death ...
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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 | |
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Common terms and phrases
ain't already answer asked believe better Blanca Blessington block Bodega building called Chino church City Claudia coming didn't don't door East everything eyes face feel felt fire floor front fuck fucken gave getting girl give hand happened happy Harlem hated head hear heard hope inside it's Italy Julio keep killed knew later Latin laughed leave living looked Lord married mean meet mother move Nazario Negra neighborhood Nene never night once opened played Roberto Salazar Sapo seemed seen shit sister smiled someone Spanish started stay stopped street sure talk tell Thass That's things thought told took turned Vera Veronica Victor waited walked watch wife Willie Yeah yelled young