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
We are fortunate to have UMRA member and former Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director Peter Moe to lead this approximately 3.7-mile hike at the Arboretum on Monday, May 6. Plan to have lunch together after the hike at the Eatery café inside the Oswald Visitor Center.
This session will continue the discussion begun in the May 8, 2023 session. See that article for details.
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.