Book notes | Have You Seen Luis Velez?
Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde, tells the story of the unique friendship between Raymond Jaffe and Mildred Gutermann. Raymond is a teenage boy of divorced parents. His mother is white; his father is black. Both parents have remarried, and Raymond feels he doesn’t fit in with either family. His only friend moves to California, leaving Raymond lonely.
Mildred Gutermann, who lives in Raymond’s New York apartment building, is a lonely 92-year-old blind woman who survived the Holocaust. They become unlikely friends when Raymond hears her crying, “Have you seen Luis Velez?” in the hallway outside her apartment door. Unlike most residents in the building, Raymond stops to talk with her and thus begins a friendship that changes their lives forever.
Luis Velez was Mildred Gutermann’s home care assistant, coming to help her with errands. Without him, she is isolated. Raymond decides to help Mrs. G with her errands and becomes secretly determined to find Luis Velez. His quest leads him to find 21 Luis Velezes in the NYC phone directory, and thus begins a journey that ultimately leads to discoveries, a courtroom trial, and new friendships for both Raymond and Mrs. G.
This heart-warming, thought-provoking story reminds the reader that, as Mrs. G says, “When it comes to seeing what is important about a person, I think it’s possible that what our eyes tell us is only a distraction.”
UMRA Book Club I members overwhelmingly enjoyed reading this book with its uplifting theme. One member said during the group’s November 2021 discussion they felt the author was being manipulative, and that this novel seemed more like a young adult novel due to its simple language and a teenage protagonist who was deemed to be unbelievable. Others said they felt this story was especially appreciated in today’s times of social unrest and they have recommended the book to others.
Catherine Ryan Hyde, a prolific American novelist and short story writer, gained fame with her first novel, Pay It Forward, which inspired a movement to do small acts of kindness—a hopeful theme that also underlies Have You Seen Luis Velez?
—Mary Jane Towle, UMRA Book Club 1 member
Book Club I to meet November 19
Fri, Nov 19 2021, 2pm
Mary Jane Towle will lead the discussion of Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde when the UMRA Book Club I meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 19.
This book club currently has 16 members, a number that works well for our discussions. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information, including suggestions for starting a new book club.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.