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 29
... fire marshal at City Hall . ' We haven't broken any fire codes . This building is safe . You can come see for yourselves . ' And they came and they checked . And they declared the buildin ' safe . And the fire department backed off ...
... fire marshal at City Hall . ' We haven't broken any fire codes . This building is safe . You can come see for yourselves . ' And they came and they checked . And they declared the buildin ' safe . And the fire department backed off ...
Page 144
... fire engines are headed to someone else's house . You never think it will be your own home that's on fire , but when it is , all the toughness , the calloused nonchalance of watching fires and hearing sirens falls away . It takes away ...
... fire engines are headed to someone else's house . You never think it will be your own home that's on fire , but when it is , all the toughness , the calloused nonchalance of watching fires and hearing sirens falls away . It takes away ...
Page 212
... fire escape . He walked up and up until there was no fire escape left and he was lost in the night sky . In my dream I felt sad . But the new language Bodega had spoken about seemed promising . Alone on the fire escape , I looked out to ...
... fire escape . He walked up and up until there was no fire escape left and he was lost in the night sky . In my dream I felt sad . But the new language Bodega had spoken about seemed promising . Alone on the fire escape , I looked out to ...
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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