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 29
Bodega stopped , and held his index finger in front of his eyes . “ But Nazario , he
saw . He knew . He knew better . ” He moved his finger to his temple . “ He ' s a
lawyer , but he hustled . He can still hustle because he never forgot he is street .
Bodega stopped , and held his index finger in front of his eyes . “ But Nazario , he
saw . He knew . He knew better . ” He moved his finger to his temple . “ He ' s a
lawyer , but he hustled . He can still hustle because he never forgot he is street .
Page 91
A minute later the school nurse arrived . When she saw all that blood on the floor
she took off her smock and put pressure on Blessington ' s neck . Meanwhile I
went looking for Sapo . He had stopped by the bathroom to rinse his mouth and ...
A minute later the school nurse arrived . When she saw all that blood on the floor
she took off her smock and put pressure on Blessington ' s neck . Meanwhile I
went looking for Sapo . He had stopped by the bathroom to rinse his mouth and ...
Page 155
Nazario stopped himself as if he had said too much . He waited . The old man
kept watering the tree . Then he turned the water off and lifted his hand to caress
the wet leaves . He moved his eyes and head slightly toward Nazario , who
began ...
Nazario stopped himself as if he had said too much . He waited . The old man
kept watering the tree . Then he turned the water off and lifted his hand to caress
the wet leaves . He moved his eyes and head slightly toward Nazario , who
began ...
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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
Bibliographic information
| Title | Bodega Dreams Vintage Contemporaries Vintage contemporaries original |
| Authors | Ernesto Quiǫnez, Ernesto Quiñonez |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Vintage Contemporaries, 2000 |
| ISBN | 0375705899, 9780375705892 |
| Length | 213 pages |
| Subjects | › Fiction / General Fiction / Urban |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |