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
His father saw the baby and said, "Cofio, he looks like a frog," and quickly handed the baby to the mother. “Here, you take him." I think this story is true. But Sapo never bitched, as if he had said, “Fuck that shit. I'll love myself.
His father saw the baby and said, "Cofio, he looks like a frog," and quickly handed the baby to the mother. “Here, you take him." I think this story is true. But Sapo never bitched, as if he had said, “Fuck that shit. I'll love myself.
Page 5
Fires, junkies dying, shootouts, holdups, babies falling out of windows were things you took as part of life. If you were a graffiti artistand people knew you were a good one, death meant an opportunity to make a few bucks.
Fires, junkies dying, shootouts, holdups, babies falling out of windows were things you took as part of life. If you were a graffiti artistand people knew you were a good one, death meant an opportunity to make a few bucks.
Page 15
Maybe if you would stop hanging around with Sapo, you could finish up before the baby arrives. We're going to need real money, real jobs." “Ahh, Blanca, this is all reruns. It's all been said before. Come on.
Maybe if you would stop hanging around with Sapo, you could finish up before the baby arrives. We're going to need real money, real jobs." “Ahh, Blanca, this is all reruns. It's all been said before. Come on.
Page 16
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?" “It's no one's fault. Look, I don't intend to keep ...
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?" “It's no one's fault. Look, I don't intend to keep ...
Page 17
Finally, during her second trimester, Blanca didn't even bother, more out of preoccupation with the baby than out of hopelessness. When she knew I was going to hang with Sapo, she would throw her hands up in disgust and ask the Lord for ...
Finally, during her second trimester, Blanca didn't even bother, more out of preoccupation with the baby than out of hopelessness. When she knew I was going to hang with Sapo, she would throw her hands up in disgust and ask the Lord for ...
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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 |