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. |
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Page 62
Noah was a drunk , but God gave him the ark . David committed adultery with
Bathsheba but God made him king . Peter denied Christ , but God — ” “ I get your
point . So what you ' re telling me is , because this sister is not that young and
who ...
Noah was a drunk , but God gave him the ark . David committed adultery with
Bathsheba but God made him king . Peter denied Christ , but God — ” “ I get your
point . So what you ' re telling me is , because this sister is not that young and
who ...
Page 67
I knew she wanted something . She had already paid me back by getting the
information and now she wanted me to owe her . " Trouble in paradise , Chino ?
Why don ' t you want Blanca to — " “ Fine , I owe you . ” I gave it to her . “ What do
you ...
I knew she wanted something . She had already paid me back by getting the
information and now she wanted me to owe her . " Trouble in paradise , Chino ?
Why don ' t you want Blanca to — " “ Fine , I owe you . ” I gave it to her . “ What do
you ...
Page 129
Yes , but He knows everything , so why even bother ? No disrespect , but since
He knows everything , even the outcome of our lives , why even have Him be an
ingredient in this discussion ? Look , she gave it to me . It ' s like throwing it away
...
Yes , but He knows everything , so why even bother ? No disrespect , but since
He knows everything , even the outcome of our lives , why even have Him be an
ingredient in this discussion ? Look , she gave it to me . It ' s like throwing it away
...
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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