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 7
... hand, saw themselves in our eyes and made us work hard. Most of them were young, the sons and daughters of the first wave of Puerto Ricans who immigrated to ElBarrio in the late forties and the fifties. These teachers never took shit ...
... hand, saw themselves in our eyes and made us work hard. Most of them were young, the sons and daughters of the first wave of Puerto Ricans who immigrated to ElBarrio in the late forties and the fifties. These teachers never took shit ...
Page 15
... hand. “But unlike you, I'm almost finished at Hunter. 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 ...
... hand. “But unlike you, I'm almost finished at Hunter. 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 ...
Page 17
... hands up in disgust and ask the Lord for forgiveness. To forgive me, that is, never her. Always me. This also meant I couldn't touch her. I was impure and her body, round as the moon, was still the temple. I can't say I blamed her. When ...
... hands up in disgust and ask the Lord for forgiveness. To forgive me, that is, never her. Always me. This also meant I couldn't touch her. I was impure and her body, round as the moon, was still the temple. I can't say I blamed her. When ...
Page 19
... hand. And that's when I heard the name Willie Bodega for the first time. “Willie wha'?" I thought it was a funny name. “Willie Bodega? You nevah heard of him? He's like the bigTaino in this neighborhood, you know? Although only a few ...
... hand. And that's when I heard the name Willie Bodega for the first time. “Willie wha'?" I thought it was a funny name. “Willie Bodega? You nevah heard of him? He's like the bigTaino in this neighborhood, you know? Although only a few ...
Page 21
... hand dismissively. “Forget it. Vete. Act like a single man.” She stormed into the bedroom to get on the phone with her sister, Deborah. Blanca called her sister only when she wanted to hear gossip or to complain about me. Deborah was ...
... hand dismissively. “Forget it. Vete. Act like a single man.” She stormed into the bedroom to get on the phone with her sister, Deborah. Blanca called her sister only when she wanted to hear gossip or to complain about me. Deborah was ...
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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