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 13
... seemed as important as a cabinet crisis . We'd always talk about graduating and saving up to buy a house . About children who looked like me and slept like her . With Blanca next to me , El Barrio seemed less dirty , life less hard ...
... seemed as important as a cabinet crisis . We'd always talk about graduating and saving up to buy a house . About children who looked like me and slept like her . With Blanca next to me , El Barrio seemed less dirty , life less hard ...
Page 195
... seemed more composed than when I'd last seen her . But she also seemed exhausted . Her makeup was smudged and her clothes rumpled . It reminded me of the day when she and Bodega had arrived at my place all drunk and happy . " He is not ...
... seemed more composed than when I'd last seen her . But she also seemed exhausted . Her makeup was smudged and her clothes rumpled . It reminded me of the day when she and Bodega had arrived at my place all drunk and happy . " He is not ...
Page 213
... seemed to elude the neighborhood year after year . But in that transitory moment when at last the pearl was about to be handed to him , like Orpheus or Lot's wife , he had to look back to find Vera . No matter . Tomorrow Spanish Harlem ...
... seemed to elude the neighborhood year after year . But in that transitory moment when at last the pearl was about to be handed to him , like Orpheus or Lot's wife , he had to look back to find Vera . No matter . Tomorrow Spanish Harlem ...
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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