For reasons many at Readerville tire of hearing, I’ve a penchant and a half for English-language fiction in which Spanish words and phrases enrich the text with lilt and grace. Do not take this to be comparable to erudite literature in which entire paragraphs of Greek or Latin are presented to the reader, who is then expected to translate on the fly. Most readers can’t, so we get all huffy about language stuff. No, this is the judicious use of words and phrases here and there that communicate to the reader that the world in the story is parsed in a different language — one redolent of accent and attitude.

• Come Together, Fall Apart by Cristina Henriquez
This exquisite story collection is set in post-Noriega Panama.

• The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
Splendid novel set in Colonial Mexico.

• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Set in possibly the worst of times in the Dominican Republic, this gorgeous novel speaks to readers personally, and exquisitely so.

• The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
Cuban brothers on the music scene in New York City who get their big break on the “I Love Lucy” show in 1956.

• Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros
There really is a place named Woman Hollering Creek and you’ll cross it if you drive across Texas on I-5.

• Los Gusanos by John Sayles
Yes, it’s that Sayles and he can write. This book about Cuban exiles from the Castro regime is a terrific novel.

• Hunter’s Run by George R.R. Martin et al.
Stretching here because the protagonist speaks a version of Portugeuse but, as he’d be the first to tell you, any port in a storm. Damn fine book.

• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
For half of an already small island, the Dominican Republic does itself might proud with writers.

• Queen of the Underworld by Gail Godwin
Budding journalist lands in Miami just in time to intersect Cuban refugees fleeing the socialist victory on the island.

• Adios Muchachos by Daniel Chavarria
Cuba, again, but this time actually on the island, and it’s a sexy, witty romp.