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 72
Page 4
... 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 you had status in school, had status on your block. You were ...
... 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 you had status in school, had status on your block. You were ...
Page 5
... never found anything except foam and sometimes more mice. Fires, junkies dying, shootouts, holdups, babies falling out of windows were things you took as part of life. If you were a graffiti artistand people knew you were a good one ...
... never found anything except foam and sometimes more mice. Fires, junkies dying, shootouts, holdups, babies falling out of windows were things you took as part of life. If you were a graffiti artistand people knew you were a good one ...
Page 6
... We hated the white teachers because we knew they hated their jobs. The only white teacher who actually taught us something, actually went through the hassle of making us respect her by never taking shit from us, 6. E R N = 5 To qui No N ta.
... We hated the white teachers because we knew they hated their jobs. The only white teacher who actually taught us something, actually went through the hassle of making us respect her by never taking shit from us, 6. E R N = 5 To qui No N ta.
Page 7
... never called us names; she would yell but never call us names. She only wanted us to listen, and when we did well on her math tests she was all smiles. The Hispanic teachers, on the other hand, saw themselves in our eyes and made us ...
... never called us names; she would yell but never call us names. She only wanted us to listen, and when we did well on her math tests she was all smiles. The Hispanic teachers, on the other hand, saw themselves in our eyes and made us ...
Page 8
... never come your way. But Junior was notorious for going straight for his jiga when he got into a fight. He didn't waste any time. It was Junior who introduced the phrase “Kool-Aid smile" when he cut a guy's face so bad, from ear to ear ...
... never come your way. But Junior was notorious for going straight for his jiga when he got into a fight. He didn't waste any time. It was Junior who introduced the phrase “Kool-Aid smile" when he cut a guy's face so bad, from ear to ear ...
Other editions - View all
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