Reviews

Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez

christinecasey's review against another edition

4.0

Finished in two days/
Spanish Harlem has no clue/
Who is in control

annalee95's review

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

willowrae's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

arielsage's review against another edition

5.0

Really clever reimagining of The Great Gatsby set in (1990s?) Spanish Harlem. I particularly enjoyed seeing how Quiñonez reworked the plot, played with famous passages, and adjusted the themes of Gatsby, one of my favorite books ever. But it stands on its own as a really great, beautifully written book. Highly recommend.

malabarista13's review against another edition

5.0

me veo pasando por la lexington y viendo a bodega, a chino, a sapo, de pasada. veo a mi abuela en la esquina, a mi mama en su bicicleta y a toda la corilla puertorriqueña luchando con el día a día, con el sueno americano y el sueno puertorriqueño, recordando lo que se dejo y sonando con las posibilidades. amo este libro y como captura el estar allá y tener el corazón en la playa, en la libertad de la isla, en poder seguir pa´lante.

isalime's review against another edition

4.0

(3.5 rating) Chino, born and raised in Spanish Harlem, is trying to make a better life for himself and his pregnant wife Blanca. However, Chino doesn't make the best decisions and life doesn't make it easy. Willie Bodega, a man with a dream for Spanish Harlem, asks Chino for a favor. Chino reluctantly agrees and sets off a chain of events that he can't get away from.

I enjoyed this Great Gatsbyesque story set in Spanish Harlem. Throughout the book, I kept thinking if the ends justify the means. Willie Bodega has street-smart idealism paired with Young Lord ideology that makes me want to root for his vision of what Spanish Harlem could be. He and Nazario want to build a better community - they want to fund college educations, build better housing in the neighborhood with subsidized rent, and preserve the community of Spanish Harlem. All he asks in return is the people's loyalty. Loyalty as currency is tricky. He's also funding the vision with criminal activities that hurt the community. At the end, I was left wondering what was it all for and if it really matters why Willie was doing this since it was resulting in some good.

astoldby_cece's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

lilmissreadalot's review against another edition

4.0

Such an amazing book! A realistic portrait of what life is like on the streets when the "blood" of your family is so intertwined.

shiannejourdan99's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this book! As the layers of Julios relationships unfolded, especially with Sapo and Blanca, I was more invested. There are hints of cultural love, as well as long lost love and the contrast between these two were great to see in the same story. I also liked how Julio was proud of his cultural, while at the same time, trying to prove the stereotypes wrong.

drbex's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0