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 12
... asked. In my senior year at Art and Design, I learned about the Futurists. I wanted to do something like they had done. The Futurists had been a malcontent group of artists at the beginning of the century who loved speed and thought war ...
... asked. In my senior year at Art and Design, I learned about the Futurists. I wanted to do something like they had done. The Futurists had been a malcontent group of artists at the beginning of the century who loved speed and thought war ...
Page 17
... asked her to marry me, her pastor, Miguel Vasquez, had warned her that if she marriedme—a worldlyperson, a mundane—she'd lose the privilege of playing the tambourine in front of the congregation. That meantalotto Blanca. At times she'd ...
... asked her to marry me, her pastor, Miguel Vasquez, had warned her that if she marriedme—a worldlyperson, a mundane—she'd lose the privilege of playing the tambourine in front of the congregation. That meantalotto Blanca. At times she'd ...
Page 19
... asked. THE NExt night Sapo knocked at my door and handed me fifty dollars, just for taking something to where I was already headed. “Compliments of Willie Bodega, my man. For your backpack." Sapo slapped the crisp bill in my hand. And ...
... asked. THE NExt night Sapo knocked at my door and handed me fifty dollars, just for taking something to where I was already headed. “Compliments of Willie Bodega, my man. For your backpack." Sapo slapped the crisp bill in my hand. And ...
Page 20
... say. “What does he want?” "Bro, are you coming or not?" Sapo asked impatiently as if I was taking up his valuable time. He didn't look at Blanca and Blanca didn't look at Sapo. Blanca pulled me away from the door. “Julio, who is.
... say. “What does he want?” "Bro, are you coming or not?" Sapo asked impatiently as if I was taking up his valuable time. He didn't look at Blanca and Blanca didn't look at Sapo. Blanca pulled me away from the door. “Julio, who is.
Page 21
... asked, letting the door slam. Sapo waited in the hallway. He hated Blanca and he knew Blanca hated him right back. “Afriend.” “Afriend of Enrique's, you mean?" “Afriend of Sapo is a friend of mine," I said, and Blanca shot me an evil ...
... asked, letting the door slam. Sapo waited in the hallway. He hated Blanca and he knew Blanca hated him right back. “Afriend.” “Afriend of Enrique's, you mean?" “Afriend of Sapo is a friend of mine," I said, and Blanca shot me an evil ...
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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