Bodega Dreams

Ernesto Quiñonez

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Ernesto Quinonez, in his first novel, tells a gripping and at times hopeful story. Yet there are contradictions in the central character of Bodega

from the start. While he seems learned in his analysis of the origins of great fortunes and how they develop, most of his knowledge is revealed as shallow as public TV. The difficult contradic-

tion is not seriously addressed: how does one live the rugged and brutal life dictated by the

world of big-time drug dealer and yet maintain the long-term social views of a utopian reformer.

In the end the contradiction fails and Bodega turns out to be an interesting, even likeable ro-

mantic (if romantic killer), and the dream is lost in his own stupidity and cupidity.

This contradiction doesn’t made Willie Bodega and his dream less interesting. Actually Willie’s eventual fall from success lends credence to the

exotic character that he is, and suggests that Quinonez is an up and coming author worth

hearing.

Ernesto Quinonez studied writing at The City College of New York and in 2000 was teaching bilingual fourth grade in the New York public

school system (which was actually suggested of his main character, Chino, in this first novel).

Bodega Dreams

By Ernesto Quiñonez

A new and authentic voice of the urban Lati-no experience.” --Esmeralda Santiago, author

of When I Was Puerto Rican

In a stunning narrative combining the gritty rhythms of Junot Diaz with the noir genius

of Walter Mosley, Bodega Dreams announces the arrival of a writer who The Village Voice has already hailed as “a Writer on the Verge.”

The word is out in Spanish Harlem: Willy 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.

Lyric, inspired, and darkly funny, this pow-erful 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, turn-

coat morality, and murder.

Vintage BooksKNOPF DOUBLEDAY PUBLISHING GROUP1745 BroadwayNew York, NY 10019Fax (212) 940-7390

ISBN-10: 0375705899ISBN-13: 978-0375705892

14.00 USD 16.94 CAD