Bodega DreamsIn this "thriller with literary merit" (Time Out New York), a stunning narrative combines the gritty rhythms of Junot Diaz with the noir genius of Walter Mosley. Bodega Dreams pulls us into Spanish Harlem, where the word is out: Willie 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. Lyrical, 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. "Bodega is a fascinating character. . . . The story [Quiñonez] tells has energy and verve." —The New York Times Book Review |
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Page 102
... told me in front of the other employees . " I'm not sick , " I answered . " Yes . Yes you are . " He gave me this meaningful look that told me he didn't want the other employees to think I was getting special treat- ment . " You're sick ...
... told me in front of the other employees . " I'm not sick , " I answered . " Yes . Yes you are . " He gave me this meaningful look that told me he didn't want the other employees to think I was getting special treat- ment . " You're sick ...
Page 187
... told me to come up to New York . " He sounded worried . " I asked her why . Why she didn't just return . She continued to cry , so I agreed to come . On the phone she gave me this address . I thought this was a hotel . " He sat down . I ...
... told me to come up to New York . " He sounded worried . " I asked her why . Why she didn't just return . She continued to cry , so I agreed to come . On the phone she gave me this address . I thought this was a hotel . " He sat down . I ...
Page 210
... told me that Nazario had handpicked me to go with him . It was because Nazario knew he could fool me and thus fool Bodega as well . Nazario could report back to Bodega that he had met with that big Italian and been told it was okay to ...
... told me that Nazario had handpicked me to go with him . It was because Nazario knew he could fool me and thus fool Bodega as well . Nazario could report back to Bodega that he had met with that big Italian and been told it was okay to ...
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 Alberto Salazar Alleluia asked aunt b'cause Barrio Blanca Blessington building called Chino church Claudia Coño cops crazy DeJesus door East Harlem Enrique everything eyes face fire Fischman floor fuck fucken girl gonna hand happy hated head hear heard hope inside Iris Chacón Julia de Burgos Julio killed knew Latin laughed leave living Loisaida 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 Thass right things thought told took Vera's Veronica Victor Vidal waited walked Whass whispered wife William Irizarry Willie Bodega Yeah yelled yo'r