Bodega DreamsIn a stunning narrative combining 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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 40
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. Sapoloved killing the
little mice in different ways. I liked to take a bigpiece of glass and tear open ...
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. Sapoloved killing the
little mice in different ways. I liked to take a bigpiece of glass and tear open ...
Page 17
Now I know about wanting some sort of recognition, of wanting to have some sort
of status, but when I think about yelling things like Cristo salva! I get the heebie-
jeebies. You don't know what it's like inside a Pentecostal church full of Latinos.
Now I know about wanting some sort of recognition, of wanting to have some sort
of status, but when I think about yelling things like Cristo salva! I get the heebie-
jeebies. You don't know what it's like inside a Pentecostal church full of Latinos.
Page 22
Sapo led me inside the old tenement where the storefront butcher shop
Casablanca had been been serving up meat to the neighborhood for years. We
walked up three flights. Inside the tenement the walls were torn up, the stairs
creaked, the ...
Sapo led me inside the old tenement where the storefront butcher shop
Casablanca had been been serving up meat to the neighborhood for years. We
walked up three flights. Inside the tenement the walls were torn up, the stairs
creaked, the ...
Page 23
I just shrugged, “You cool, Chino, because any businessman can come and drink
my wine. Come and dig my earth.” And he letus inside. Sapo just shook his head
and muttered curses under his breath every time Nene used a piece of a song.
I just shrugged, “You cool, Chino, because any businessman can come and drink
my wine. Come and dig my earth.” And he letus inside. Sapo just shook his head
and muttered curses under his breath every time Nene used a piece of a song.
Page 24
As if it were there in front of him. “I hear you," I said. I always say “I hear you"
when I don't understand things or have nothing to add. “Nazario, he's amazin'.
Chino, he knows the law inside out, like a reversible coat. And thass just the
beginnin'.
As if it were there in front of him. “I hear you," I said. I always say “I hear you"
when I don't understand things or have nothing to add. “Nazario, he's amazin'.
Chino, he knows the law inside out, like a reversible coat. And thass just the
beginnin'.
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - BtB_Library - LibraryThingBodega Dreams features really well-written, sympathetic characters living in Spanish Harlem. With a gripping, detailed portrayal of the neighborhood and a fast moving plot that's very easy to get ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - marciathing - LibraryThingThe books by Ernesto Quinonez were my first introduction to Spanish Harlem. Thanks to my Midwestern existence, and even to some years in S. Texas, I had never known this place existed. Both his novels are fantastic and engrossing. I'm looking forward to more. Read full review
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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 tambourines Tapia tell 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 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |