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 4
... pana, my friend. This gave me hope, and getting a name seemed possible. So I decided that I no longer wanted to be called by the name my parents had given me, Julio. I wanted a name like Sapo had and so I looked for fights. It was ...
... pana, my friend. This gave me hope, and getting a name seemed possible. So I decided that I no longer wanted to be called by the name my parents had given me, Julio. I wanted a name like Sapo had and so I looked for fights. It was ...
Page 10
... of having someone there to watch your back. It was important to have a pana, a broqui. But my mother didn't get it. And like my mother, that's what Blanca could never understand. Sapo was important to me. 1 o E R N E S T oo U No N E Z.
... of having someone there to watch your back. It was important to have a pana, a broqui. But my mother didn't get it. And like my mother, that's what Blanca could never understand. Sapo was important to me. 1 o E R N E S T oo U No N E Z.
Page 11
... ." “Yeah, 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.
... ." “Yeah, 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.
Page 12
... pana, my mainmellow-man. I knew that if I went to Sapo and said some guys wanted to jump me, he'd round up a crew for me, a clique from 112th and Lex or from another block. Sapo knew a lot of blocks. He knew just about all the guys that ...
... pana, my mainmellow-man. I knew that if I went to Sapo and said some guys wanted to jump me, he'd round up a crew for me, a clique from 112th and Lex or from another block. Sapo knew a lot of blocks. He knew just about all the guys that ...
Page 14
... pana, right? And like, you know yor the only guy I can trust, right? I mean, we go way back." He'd rattle out credentials as if I might deny him the favor. Then after recapping our friendship from the fourth grade to the adult present ...
... pana, right? And like, you know yor the only guy I can trust, right? I mean, we go way back." He'd rattle out credentials as if I might deny him the favor. Then after recapping our friendship from the fourth grade to the adult present ...
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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