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
Page 17
... knew you were being ruined by those terrible teachers. You were just a kid. You should have been in a classroom and they didn't care about you, they only wanted you to make their assemblies look good." “So what are you getting at ...
... knew you were being ruined by those terrible teachers. You were just a kid. You should have been in a classroom and they didn't care about you, they only wanted you to make their assemblies look good." “So what are you getting at ...
Page 18
... knew their beauty was real because they didn't wear any makeup and still looked good. And I had married one of the the prettiest. Like with Sapo while I was growing up, I needed Blanca with me so I could feel valuable. No, I didn't want ...
... knew their beauty was real because they didn't wear any makeup and still looked good. And I had married one of the the prettiest. Like with Sapo while I was growing up, I needed Blanca with me so I could feel valuable. No, I didn't want ...
Page 21
... knew Blanca hated him right back. “Afriend.” “Afriend of Enrique's, you mean?" “Afriend of Sapo is a friend of mine," I said, and Blanca shot me an evil look, then pointedly clasped her rounded belly. “Blanca, please, I'll only be gone ...
... knew Blanca hated him right back. “Afriend.” “Afriend of Enrique's, you mean?" “Afriend of Sapo is a friend of mine," I said, and Blanca shot me an evil look, then pointedly clasped her rounded belly. “Blanca, please, I'll only be gone ...
Page 23
... knew. I mean, this guy could hug you and not know he was killingyou. He was a child of AM radio's Top Forty heyday. Word had it he started to talk in song years ago, when AM radio broke his heart by going all talk. I figured Bodega kept ...
... knew. I mean, this guy could hug you and not know he was killingyou. He was a child of AM radio's Top Forty heyday. Word had it he started to talk in song years ago, when AM radio broke his heart by going all talk. I figured Bodega kept ...
Page 29
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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