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
... 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 grade when ...
... 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 grade when ...
Page 9
... 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, Sapo." “Wha' for? She ain't ...
... 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, Sapo." “Wha' for? She ain't ...
Page 10
... fucken candles so the Virgin will give her the numbers. When that bitch saint tells my moms the Lotto numbers, then I'll believe. Yo, I'll believe. Yo, I'll believe so bad I'll buy Santa Clara a fucken wax museum.” My Mother hated Sapo ...
... fucken candles so the Virgin will give her the numbers. When that bitch saint tells my moms the Lotto numbers, then I'll believe. Yo, I'll believe. Yo, I'll believe so bad I'll buy Santa Clara a fucken wax museum.” My Mother hated Sapo ...
Page 11
... fucken leave this place?" he said with his Sapo smile, showing all his teeth as he glued some razors to his kite. “This neighborhood is beautiful, bro." “Yeah, you're right, pana," I said to him, but knew I didn't mean it. I gave my ...
... fucken leave this place?" he said with his Sapo smile, showing all his teeth as he glued some razors to his kite. “This neighborhood is beautiful, bro." “Yeah, you're right, pana," I said to him, but knew I didn't mean it. I gave my ...
Page 18
... fucken Italian horse? I mean, I know you didn't back down and shit but, like, he was fuckin' you uppretty bad." “Sapo, I'm in a rush. Are you gettin' somewhere or just swimmin' laps?" “Yo, I hear that. All right, you know that taped-up ...
... fucken Italian horse? I mean, I know you didn't back down and shit but, like, he was fuckin' you uppretty bad." “Sapo, I'm in a rush. Are you gettin' somewhere or just swimmin' laps?" “Yo, I hear that. All right, you know that taped-up ...
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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