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 16
... stay with you or not . I want to know . At least give me that . One hundred percent of that . If you are up to some- thing illegal , you tell me . Let me decide for myself if I want to stay with you , if I'm going to be one of those ...
... stay with you or not . I want to know . At least give me that . One hundred percent of that . If you are up to some- thing illegal , you tell me . Let me decide for myself if I want to stay with you , if I'm going to be one of those ...
Page 88
... stay on the street . You can make more money selling pot on the stairwells than coming to my classroom , but if you come — and I want you to come , I like having you here - all I ask is that you make an effort ! That's all I ask . Don't ...
... stay on the street . You can make more money selling pot on the stairwells than coming to my classroom , but if you come — and I want you to come , I like having you here - all I ask is that you make an effort ! That's all I ask . Don't ...
Page 147
... stay within a month . I believed him ; I knew Bodega had three build- ings on 119th and Lexington that were almost ready to house people . I always knock the people in Blanca's church , but a lot of them were right there that night ...
... stay within a month . I believed him ; I knew Bodega had three build- ings on 119th and Lexington that were almost ready to house people . I always knock the people in Blanca's church , but a lot of them were right there that night ...
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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