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 |
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Page 4
... mother. “Here, you take him." I think this story is true. But Sapo never bitched, as if he had said, “Fuck that shit. I'll love myself.” And that's how I wanted to be. To have a name other than the one your parents had given you meant ...
... mother. “Here, you take him." I think this story is true. But Sapo never bitched, as if he had said, “Fuck that shit. I'll love myself.” And that's how I wanted to be. To have a name other than the one your parents had given you meant ...
Page 7
... 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 Jewish, but to us she was still white. Ms. Boorstein could yell like a Latin woman. To us ...
... 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 Jewish, but to us she was still white. Ms. Boorstein could yell like a Latin woman. To us ...
Page 10
... Mother hated Sapo. “I don't want to see you hanging around with that demonio," she'd say to me. But I never listened ... mother didn't get it. And like my mother, that's what Blanca could never understand. Sapo was important to me. 1 o ...
... Mother hated Sapo. “I don't want to see you hanging around with that demonio," she'd say to me. But I never listened ... mother didn't get it. And like my mother, that's what Blanca could never understand. Sapo was important to me. 1 o ...
Page 14
... mother?" "He's a drug dealer, Julio." “Man, you're brilliant, Blanca. What could have possibly given him away?" The honeymoon had been over for months. “What is your problem? You know, Julio, I married you because I thought you had ...
... mother?" "He's a drug dealer, Julio." “Man, you're brilliant, Blanca. What could have possibly given him away?" The honeymoon had been over for months. “What is your problem? You know, Julio, I married you because I thought you had ...
Page 27
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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