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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 27
Page 29
They would say things like , you guys ain't Incas , you have no Machu Picchus in
San Juan ; you guys aren't Aztecs , there ain't no pyramids in Mayaguez . You
guys are Tainos , dumb mothafuckas . There ain't no ancient ruins on that island
of ...
They would say things like , you guys ain't Incas , you have no Machu Picchus in
San Juan ; you guys aren't Aztecs , there ain't no pyramids in Mayaguez . You
guys are Tainos , dumb mothafuckas . There ain't no ancient ruins on that island
of ...
Page 87
He speaks like a hundred languages , but he ain't worth jack . ” The class was
rolled . “ Sapo , do you think the pope would be the pope if he didn't know his
hundred languages ? ” Tapia asked after the laughter died down . “ Nah , if he
didn't ...
He speaks like a hundred languages , but he ain't worth jack . ” The class was
rolled . “ Sapo , do you think the pope would be the pope if he didn't know his
hundred languages ? ” Tapia asked after the laughter died down . “ Nah , if he
didn't ...
Page 151
Now , I've done a lot of things in my days but I ain't never kidnapped nobody . But
I will if I have to cuz that was Nazario on the phone . ” I had to go . So I told one of
Blanca's church friends , Wilfredo Reyes , that I had forgotten something ...
Now , I've done a lot of things in my days but I ain't never kidnapped nobody . But
I will if I have to cuz that was Nazario on the phone . ” I had to go . So I told one of
Blanca's church friends , Wilfredo Reyes , that I had forgotten something ...
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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
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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 matter 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 original Vintage contemporaries |
| Authors | Ernesto Quiǫnez, Ernesto Quiñonez |
| Publisher | Vintage Contemporaries, 2000 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 12 Mar 2008 |
| ISBN | 0375705899, 9780375705892 |
| Length | 213 pages |
| Subjects | › Fiction / Urban & Street Lit |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |