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
Results 1-5 of 59
Page 5
... doors. You lived in a place where vacant lots grew like wild grass does in Kansas. Kansas? What does a kid from ... door. “Mira, my cousin Freddy just passed away. Canyou do him a R.I.P.”You would bemoan Freddy's death whether you ...
... doors. You lived in a place where vacant lots grew like wild grass does in Kansas. Kansas? What does a kid from ... door. “Mira, my cousin Freddy just passed away. Canyou do him a R.I.P.”You would bemoan Freddy's death whether you ...
Page 7
... door and blocked his path. She dared him to push her. She said to him, “I'll get your mother. I bet she hits harder." And Sapo had no choice but to go back to his seat. From that day on, no one messed with her. She might have been ...
... door and blocked his path. She dared him to push her. She said to him, “I'll get your mother. I bet she hits harder." And Sapo had no choice but to go back to his seat. From that day on, no one messed with her. She might have been ...
Page 14
... door at crazy hours of the night. “Yo, 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 ...
... door at crazy hours of the night. “Yo, 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 ...
Page 19
... 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 that's when I heard the name Willie Bodega ...
... 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 that's when I heard the name Willie Bodega ...
Page 20
... door. I went to answer it. It was Sapo. “Yo, 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 ...
... door. I went to answer it. It was Sapo. “Yo, 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 ...
Other editions - View all
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