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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... thoughts, and conversations portrayed in this story are entirely the product of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons or events is entirely coincidental. A VINTAGE CONTEMPORARIES ORIGINAL, MARCH 2000 First ...
... thoughts, and conversations portrayed in this story are entirely the product of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons or events is entirely coincidental. A VINTAGE CONTEMPORARIES ORIGINAL, MARCH 2000 First ...
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... , you're right, pana," I said to him, but knew I didn't mean it. I gave my kite to the wind, which took it with a hiss, and I thought of Blanca and let out more string. R o U. N. D 2 Willie Kodega N the B O D E G A D R E A M 5 11.
... , you're right, pana," I said to him, but knew I didn't mean it. I gave my kite to the wind, which took it with a hiss, and I thought of Blanca and let out more string. R o U. N. D 2 Willie Kodega N the B O D E G A D R E A M 5 11.
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... thought war was good, the “hygiene of humanity." To them it was important to begin again. Culture was dead and it was time for something new. Burn all the museums! Burn all the libraries! Let's begin from scratch! were some of their ...
... thought war was good, the “hygiene of humanity." To them it was important to begin again. Culture was dead and it was time for something new. Burn all the museums! Burn all the libraries! Let's begin from scratch! were some of their ...
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... thought the same, and when we started going out we would talk about this all the time. “Julio, don't you hate it when people from the neighborhood who somehow manage to leave change their names? Instead of Juan, they want to be called ...
... thought the same, and when we started going out we would talk about this all the time. “Julio, don't you hate it when people from the neighborhood who somehow manage to leave change their names? Instead of Juan, they want to be called ...
Page 14
... thought you had brains. I thought you had more brains than most of the f.s.fucks in this neighborhood." When Blanca cursed, I knew she was mad. Even when she was angry I could detect some hesitation, a stutter before the curse. Blanca ...
... thought you had brains. I thought you had more brains than most of the f.s.fucks in this neighborhood." When Blanca cursed, I knew she was mad. Even when she was angry I could detect some hesitation, a stutter before the curse. Blanca ...
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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