Bodega Dreams

In a stunning narrative combining 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."e;Bodega is a fascinating character. . . . The story [Quiñonez] tells has energy and verve."e; —The New York Times Book Review"e;Rich with eye-opening detail, [this is] a lively and entertaining work by a young writer whose talents are deserving of a wide readership."e;  —Oscar Hijuelos, author of The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love"e;A new and authentic voice of the urban Latino experience."e; —Esmeralda Santiago, author of When I Was Puerto Rican"e;[Quiñonez's] ideas for using fiction to galvanize the city into confronting poverty are invigorating. . . . Blend[s] street-smart dialogue, culturally relevant prose, and progressive politics into a noir thriller with literary merit."e; —Time Out New York