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Liked It “This book is good until the end it just ended like that. I also didnt like how there wasnt detail. Bodega's dream is a good dream if only his dream could become reality.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “This book was a great read until the end. It had so much promise, developed the characters extremely well and the plot was refreshing...until the "twist" at the end. After that, the book fell into the realm of "been thre, done that". Needles to say, it was a very disappointing ending.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“This book is good until the end it just ended like that. I also didnt like how there wasnt detail. Bodega's dream is a good dream if only his dream could become reality.”
Ivan D wrote this review Monday, October 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“really good slow at first but gets interesting”
jaenelle l wrote this review Tuesday, September 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is one of the best books I have read so far in my life. Bodega Dreams is a story that takes place in New York in Spanish Harlem. The story is about the main character, Julio, who is struggling to make ends meet wile going to college, working, living on his own, and expecting a baby any time soon. Julio gets married to his childhood crush, a girl named, Nancy. Little did he know that getting married to this girl would get him involved with one of the most powerful men in Spanish Harlem, a man named Willie Bodega. Bodega has plans to better the community and help his fellow Hispanic people out. The problem is that his plans are coming true in an illegal manner. He uses the money he receives from selling drugs to have alliances with a lawyer who helps him buy run down buildings. He renovates these buildings and houses people in them that he feels in the future if he ever was in need of a favor they would be there for him. After coming into contact with Julio, Bodega once again puts a stop to his dream to find a women who he had been in love with when he was young (the women is Julio's wife's aunt). After finally coming into contact with the women of his life both Bodega and Julio begin to make decisions which will forever alter their lives. Both Bodega and Julio are two remarkable characters who have a lasting impression on the reader for their ability to not let anyone stagger their dreams and beliefs. The story takes a rapid unexpected turn towards the end which is very surprising but it is what kept me reading until the end. ”
JHAVIRY P wrote this review Thursday, April 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Bodega Dreams is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I really enjoyed reading this book. I think that the reason why this is true is because I can strongly relate to books such as this one. As a child, Chino went to Julia de Burgos Middle School, which is where I went to school when I was in Middle School, the only difference being that the building was split into different schools when I went, so the name of my school, Manhattan East, was different. Also, I went to elementary school on 109th and Madison, and Chino lived in Shaumberg Towers, and I know where those buildings are located, as well as Taino Towers on 125th and Second. Bodega goes through El Barrio and is willing to help Latinos with anything they need. His main goal is to create a new class of Latinos that would give them power, especially for Bodega. One of the main characters is Julio “Chino” Mercado, who has to balance college, work, and caring for his pregnant wife, Nancy “Blanca” Mercado. Chino befriends Bodega and decides to follow Bodega’s dreams, and the only thing that Bodega asks in return is loyalty. Bodega will do anything for you, as long as you are loyal to him. The apartment Chino and Blanca move into is owned by Bodega, so they are given more space for a cheaper rent than before. The funny moments during the book usually came up when someone said something in Spanish. This humor helped me to get through the book as well. Bodega also used the help of Edwin Nazario, a Hispanic lawyer who basically dealt with all the legal stuff behind Bodega’s dreams. Love also tied into the novel, with Bodega and Veronica “Vera” Saldivia. Bodega tells Chino that Vera loved Bodega, but her family wanted her to marry a Cuban guy who had a lot of money and move to Miami. Bodega never gave up, though, and he brought Vera back to New York, and again they fell in love. It turns out that she actually loved Nazario, and Vera and Nazario end up killing Bodega.”
ELIJAH S wrote this review Sunday, March 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was incredibly interesting to read. Taking place in the heart of Spanish Harlem, Quinonez really tugs at the heart strings of the reader. What I found to be the most interesting about this book was how I could picture it so well. Not only is the author very descriptive in his portrayals but I live very much in the same region the book takes place in so every place the author talks about I've either seen, been in, or at least heard of. My mother even knew one of the characters in the book. Overall its definitely a great read and I highly recommend it. ”
Chelsea O ♥ wrote this review Friday, January 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Was an interesting story, it was confusing at some points because the characters have lots of flashbacks. But overall, was fun to read ”
KASSANDRA G wrote this review Friday, October 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“a classic. i have to read this one again! read it back in...2001? i heard they're making a movie out of this.”
Lizz C wrote this review Friday, April 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This book was a great read until the end. It had so much promise, developed the characters extremely well and the plot was refreshing...until the "twist" at the end. After that, the book fell into the realm of "been thre, done that". Needles to say, it was a very disappointing ending. ”
Ozzy wrote this review Friday, December 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“this books has everything love, crime and betrayal!”
rosie wrote this review Sunday, November 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“One day Ernesto Quiñonez walked into my gallery in the same neighborhood where this story takes place. Some time later he gave me his book. I read it to find the stories of those same people that had inhabited my own house and he helped me imagine a past in which everything was tougher, yet the sense community was stronger. The story captures the imagination of people of all ages: I llet my younger sister borrow it and she said she had loved it. Now she is reading the second one, Chango's Fire (and I'm in it!!!! Wow!, I can't get over it!!) ”
Tanya T wrote this review Tuesday, November 6 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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