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 3
... ain't no fucken pawnshop.” I loved Sapo. I loved Sapo because he loved himself. And I wanted to be able to do that, to rely on myself for my own happiness. Sapo, he relied on himself. He'd been this way since we met back in the fourth ...
... ain't no fucken pawnshop.” I loved Sapo. I loved Sapo because he loved himself. And I wanted to be able to do that, to rely on myself for my own happiness. Sapo, he relied on himself. He'd been this way since we met back in the fourth ...
Page 6
... ain't stealing food from your kid's mouth, why should I do my work? The whole time I was at Julia de Burgos, I had no idea the school was named after Puerto Rico's greatest poet, had no idea Julia de Burgos had emigrated to New York ...
... ain't stealing food from your kid's mouth, why should I do my work? The whole time I was at Julia de Burgos, I had no idea the school was named after Puerto Rico's greatest poet, had no idea Julia de Burgos had emigrated to New York ...
Page 9
... ain't gold. She ain't the fucken Virgin Mary." “Blanca's Pentecostal, bro. Not Catholic.” “Whatevah the fuck she is. All the guys really want is to fuck her, so why do they keep her in some fucken glass case?" “Yo, respect that shit ...
... ain't gold. She ain't the fucken Virgin Mary." “Blanca's Pentecostal, bro. Not Catholic.” “Whatevah the fuck she is. All the guys really want is to fuck her, so why do they keep her in some fucken glass case?" “Yo, respect that shit ...
Page 10
Ernesto Quiñonez. “Wha' for? She ain't no angel. Yo, my aunt was Pentecostal and she, bro, she has fucked half the men in her congregation. Esa ha cosido mas huevosque una sartén.” “Respect, Sapo. Blanca believes in that shit, so—" Sapo ...
Ernesto Quiñonez. “Wha' for? She ain't no angel. Yo, my aunt was Pentecostal and she, bro, she has fucked half the men in her congregation. Esa ha cosido mas huevosque una sartén.” “Respect, Sapo. Blanca believes in that shit, so—" Sapo ...
Page 25
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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