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 4
So I decided that I no longer wanted to be called by the name my parents had given me, Julio. I wanted a name like Sapo had and so I looked for fights. It was always easy to get into fights if you hated yourself.
So I decided that I no longer wanted to be called by the name my parents had given me, Julio. I wanted a name like Sapo had and so I looked for fights. It was always easy to get into fights if you hated yourself.
Page 13
“Julio, don't you hate it when people from the neighborhood who somehow manage to leave change their names? Instead of Juan, they want to be called John.” “I see your point. But what's in a name, anyway? A Rivera from Spanish Harlem by ...
“Julio, don't you hate it when people from the neighborhood who somehow manage to leave change their names? Instead of Juan, they want to be called John.” “I see your point. But what's in a name, anyway? A Rivera from Spanish Harlem by ...
Page 14
"He's a drug dealer, Julio." “Man, you're brilliant, Blanca. What could have possibly given him away?" The honeymoon had been over for months. “What is your problem? You know, Julio, I married you because I thought you had brains.
"He's a drug dealer, Julio." “Man, you're brilliant, Blanca. What could have possibly given him away?" The honeymoon had been over for months. “What is your problem? You know, Julio, I married you because I thought you had brains.
Page 15
“What we want, Julio, what we want." She pointed at the two of us. “Blanca, I hate that supermarket job and I've no classes tonight so don't ask me right now what I want. Right now justlet me watch Jeop. ardy, okay?
“What we want, Julio, what we want." She pointed at the two of us. “Blanca, I hate that supermarket job and I've no classes tonight so don't ask me right now what I want. Right now justlet me watch Jeop. ardy, okay?
Page 16
“Julio, I know how you feel about your studies. I do. But I'm only thinking about the baby. I would have preferred to have waited a year or two after we graduated, but it didn't work out that way." “Oh, so it's my fault, right?
“Julio, I know how you feel about your studies. I do. But I'm only thinking about the baby. I would have preferred to have waited a year or two after we graduated, but it didn't work out that way." “Oh, so it's my fault, right?
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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
Bibliographic information
| Title | Bodega Dreams Vintage Contemporaries |
| Author | Ernesto Quiñonez |
| Publisher | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2015 |
| ISBN | 0804154058, 9780804154055 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Subjects | › Fiction / Coming of Age Fiction / Hispanic & Latino Fiction / Urban & Street Lit |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |