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
Sapo and I played in those cars with no doors, tires, windows, or steering wheels, where mice had made their nests inside the slashed seats. ... Someone close to the deceased, usually a woman, would knockon your door.
Sapo and I played in those cars with no doors, tires, windows, or steering wheels, where mice had made their nests inside the slashed seats. ... Someone close to the deceased, usually a woman, would knockon your door.
Page 7
Sapokept walking and she ran toward the 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, ...
Sapokept walking and she ran toward the 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, ...
Page 14
Anyway, it was Sapo who introduced me. Sapo would knock at my 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.
Anyway, it was Sapo who introduced me. Sapo would knock at my 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.
Page 19
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.
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.
Page 20
Then someone knocked at our 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, ...
Then someone knocked at our 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, ...
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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 |