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 8
... Chino. I was happy with the name. Chino was a cool name, qué chévere. There were many guys named Chino in East Harlem but it wasn't a name that was just given to you. First, you had to look a bit Chinese, and second, you had to fight ...
... Chino. I was happy with the name. Chino was a cool name, qué chévere. There were many guys named Chino in East Harlem but it wasn't a name that was just given to you. First, you had to look a bit Chinese, and second, you had to fight ...
Page 14
... Chino, man, whass up? You know yor my pana, right? And like, you know yor the only guy I can trust, right? I mean, we go way back." He'd rattle out credentials as if I might deny him the favor. Then after recapping our friendship from ...
... Chino, man, whass up? You know yor my pana, right? And like, you know yor the only guy I can trust, right? I mean, we go way back." He'd rattle out credentials as if I might deny him the favor. Then after recapping our friendship from ...
Page 18
... Chino, whassup?" "Whassup, man." “So like, can you do me a solid? Like, you my pana, right? You know, like the day Mario DePuma jumped yo' ass at school? Who was there to save you from that fucken Italian horse? I mean, I know you didn ...
... Chino, whassup?" "Whassup, man." “So like, can you do me a solid? Like, you my pana, right? You know, like the day Mario DePuma jumped yo' ass at school? Who was there to save you from that fucken Italian horse? I mean, I know you didn ...
Page 19
... Chino, come on. Some rich white nigga on Sixty-eighth Street ordered all this shit for a party in one of those penthouses by Park." “I don't know, Sapo.” I was afraid. Not of the cops but of Blanca. "Yo, come on, man, one last favor for ...
... Chino, come on. Some rich white nigga on Sixty-eighth Street ordered all this shit for a party in one of those penthouses by Park." “I don't know, Sapo.” I was afraid. Not of the cops but of Blanca. "Yo, come on, man, one last favor for ...
Page 20
... Chino, Bodega wants ta speak with ya." As always Sapo was Sapo and he said this not caring that Blanca could hear him. She strode to the door and stared at me, waiting to see what I was going to say. “What does he want?” "Bro, are you ...
... Chino, Bodega wants ta speak with ya." As always Sapo was Sapo and he said this not caring that Blanca could hear him. She strode to the door and stared at me, waiting to see what I was going to say. “What does he want?” "Bro, are you ...
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Common terms and phrases
ain't Alberto Salazar Alleluia asked aunt b'cause baby Barrio bitch Blanca Blessington building called Chino church Claudia Colombia cops crazy DeJesus door East Harlem East River Enrique everything eyes face fire Fischman floor fuck fucken girl gonna hand happy hated head hear heard hope inside Iris Chacón Izzy Julia de Burgos Julio killed knew Latin laughed leave living looked married Mercado mother Nazario Negra neighborhood Nene never nigga night nodded okay opened Ortiz pana Pentecostal 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 Vasquez Vera's Veronica Victor Vidal waiting walked Whassup whispered wife William Irizarry Willie Bodega Yeah yelled