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 14
... front of the neighborhood and in front of himself . He was street nobility incar- nated in someone who still believed in dreams . And for a small while , those dreams seemed as palpable as that dagger Macbeth tried to grab . From his ...
... front of the neighborhood and in front of himself . He was street nobility incar- nated in someone who still believed in dreams . And for a small while , those dreams seemed as palpable as that dagger Macbeth tried to grab . From his ...
Page 77
... front of El Museo Del Barrio and I got out . " Yo , I'll see you like layra , Chino . " " See you , man . " " One last thing , " Sapo said . " Like , I'm gonna ask you a fayvah . " " So what else is new ? I still got your shit in my ...
... front of El Museo Del Barrio and I got out . " Yo , I'll see you like layra , Chino . " " See you , man . " " One last thing , " Sapo said . " Like , I'm gonna ask you a fayvah . " " So what else is new ? I still got your shit in my ...
Page 131
... front of the congregation ? Why do they look at me and my faults and not you and your merits ? " " Because it was my decision to marry you . Therefore I am responsi- ble . It makes sense . Listen , if I'd cared more about playing the ...
... front of the congregation ? Why do they look at me and my faults and not you and your merits ? " " Because it was my decision to marry you . Therefore I am responsi- ble . It makes sense . Listen , if I'd cared more about playing the ...
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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