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 4
... baby and said , “ Coño , he looks like a frog , ” and quickly handed the baby to the mother . “ Here , you take him . " I think this story is true . But Sapo never bitched , as if he had said , “ Fuck that shit . I'll love myself ...
... baby and said , “ Coño , he looks like a frog , ” and quickly handed the baby to the mother . “ Here , you take him . " I think this story is true . But Sapo never bitched , as if he had said , “ Fuck that shit . I'll love myself ...
Page 133
... baby came along . The baby would make us allies again because the baby was more important than either of us and we had to be together to fight all those horrible things the world BODEGA DREAMS 133.
... baby came along . The baby would make us allies again because the baby was more important than either of us and we had to be together to fight all those horrible things the world BODEGA DREAMS 133.
Page 188
... baby rattle . She hugged me , telling me that unplanned babies are the most loved . I got nervous because we were still in school and didn't have real jobs , but I was happy . God , that was only a couple months ago . When did things ...
... baby rattle . She hugged me , telling me that unplanned babies are the most loved . I got nervous because we were still in school and didn't have real jobs , but I was happy . God , that was only a couple months ago . When did things ...
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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