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 80
... Veronica would attend and at times even help out with breakfast programs and clothing drives , but what Veronica really wanted was for Bodega to find a real job and marry her . " How old were you back then ? " It was the only thing I ...
... Veronica would attend and at times even help out with breakfast programs and clothing drives , but what Veronica really wanted was for Bodega to find a real job and marry her . " How old were you back then ? " It was the only thing I ...
Page 125
... Veronica and telling her that nothing could be better than the two of them just lying in the Central Park grass , holding each other and merely existing . I pictured Veronica going home to meet her friends on the stoop to talk about her ...
... Veronica and telling her that nothing could be better than the two of them just lying in the Central Park grass , holding each other and merely existing . I pictured Veronica going home to meet her friends on the stoop to talk about her ...
Page 200
Ernesto Quiñonez. " You told me that my aunt Veronica was in love with your friend . " She looked me in the eye . “ Tía Veronica ? Tía Veronica ? ” Negra laughed and lit another ciga- rette . " Tía Veronica was in love with half of El ...
Ernesto Quiñonez. " You told me that my aunt Veronica was in love with your friend . " She looked me in the eye . “ Tía Veronica ? Tía Veronica ? ” Negra laughed and lit another ciga- rette . " Tía Veronica was in love with half of El ...
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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