In the Time of the Butterflies discussion

I am very interested in asking readers to respond to the Julia Alvarez's use of Spanish in this narrative. It is well-glossed so many people don't specifically reference this feature of her text. But nonetheless I want to know: Whether you speak Spanish or not, how did the appearance of the Spanish affect your reading?

I think the Spanish helps to establish the setting of the story, whether or not the reader understands it. There is just enough Spanish for this purpose.

I loved the Spanish! It offered a sense of authenticity to the novel!

It works--and I think this technique is one that authors should embody more often when writing about other cultures.

I use this technique since many of my novels are set in cultures where a language other than English is spoken. The trick is to enable readers who don't speak the other language to understand what the phrase means. In my settings the other language is usually Spanish (e.g. Infamy, Sarah's Laughter, The Golden Door), but in some cases it has been Polish (e.g. A Shower of Roses).

I felt it added a lot to the story. I also know that there are some expressions that simply cannot be translated to English and retain their authentic feeling. Using Spanish for emotional or significant expressions helped deepen the story. And even if I don't understand the Spanish, i think it enriches the setting and characterization.

I loved the Spanish. It really made the story more realistic and authentic. This book was just amazing. Even though I'm not Latina, I have such a thing for Julia Alvarez's books. They're universal.