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 |
From inside the book
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Page 43
... Barrio on 104th Street and Fifth Avenue . Then I walked a block south and sat on the marble steps of the Museum of the City of New York . When Sapo and I were in the sixth grade we would play hooky by going there to play hide and seek ...
... Barrio on 104th Street and Fifth Avenue . Then I walked a block south and sat on the marble steps of the Museum of the City of New York . When Sapo and I were in the sixth grade we would play hooky by going there to play hide and seek ...
Page 79
... Barrio was the only museum where I could look at the paintings without having a guard follow me from wing to wing . At the Met I got suspicious looks . First the guards checked my shoes to see if they were once alligators . When they ...
... Barrio was the only museum where I could look at the paintings without having a guard follow me from wing to wing . At the Met I got suspicious looks . First the guards checked my shoes to see if they were once alligators . When they ...
Page 106
... Barrio would burn like a roman candle , bright and proud for decades . If Spanish Harlem moved up , we would all move up with it . " Willie plans on building a professional class . One born and bred in Spanish Harlem . " So now I knew ...
... Barrio would burn like a roman candle , bright and proud for decades . If Spanish Harlem moved up , we would all move up with it . " Willie plans on building a professional class . One born and bred in Spanish Harlem . " So now I knew ...
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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 dreams 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 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