“Held in benefit of a recent automobile accident survivor, Mayagüez was host to an evening of reflection on what makes us human and the importance of self-discovery.”
On the evening of Friday, February 16, Mayagüez was treated to the presentation of the book Los Naufragios by Puerto Rican author Edwin D. Vélez-Barreto. In the book, the author shares his experiences with love—including the lack of love—and the end of a relationship, greatly inspired by his time living in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan. The book also presents the author’s perspective on women and what makes them stand out.
Held in the historical Casa Pilar Defilló museum, the event was hosted by our HerCampus Editor-in-Chief—and cousin to the author—Alanis Font. The activity was held in benefit of a friend of Vélez-Barreto, Yaritza Rodríguez Rivera, who recently survived an automobile accident. All proceedings of the book sold were donated to the Rodríguez family. Among the presenters and special guests were: the Rodríguez-Rivera family; co-host, Marissa Ramos Santana; clinical psychologist, Dr. Ana M. González-Luna; President of the Eugenio María de Hostos Cultural Center, Eng. Felipe Muñiz González; and in representation of the mayor of Mayagüez, María Colom Silva.
Beginning with an acoustic performance by Mayagüezano, José Valentín Caro, attendees were introduced to what proved to be a night of reflection on what makes us human and a reminder to appreciate what surrounds us.
Author Edwin D. Vélez-Barreto presenting the synopsis of Los Naufragios.
During the presentation of the book’s synopsis, Vélez-Barreto explained the meaning of the book’s title and the purpose with which he intended to publish it: “Losing ourselves leads to desperation. During my doctorate years [in San Juan], I found myself experiencing things I would have never thought I’d go through, both good and bad. The book presents those experiences from my naufragio, and what I learned from them.”
Poet José F. Avilés Acosta presenting the critical analysis of the book.
Poet and friend of the author, José F. Avilés Acosta, followed with a critical analysis of the book, offering the attendees insight on how the poetry book deals with the human experience. “The book is universal,” Avilés Acosta said, “it shows a journey through our own lives, breaking the illusion that we always have control of what happens to us. But, it reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering, and that losing ourselves leads us to our self-discovery.”
As the conclusion of the activity, Vélez-Barreto, alongside Avilés Acosta and González-Luna, presented a selection of poems from the book. The poems presented were: “Tatuaje”, about an erotic encounter ending in longing; “Arroyo”, the opening poem of the book; “Hospital psiquiátrico”, offering a look into the thoughts of someone inside a psychiatric institution; “Yo te inventaba”, presenting the idolization of a make-believe lover; “A mi abuela”, dedicated to the author’s late grandmother; and “Te haces parte del aire”, dealing with feelings of yearning and nostalgia, dedicated to the author’s late mother, who died when he was 12 years-old.
The event was an immense success; attendees filled the room and later formed long lines to buy the celebrated book towards the end of the activity. If you are interested in buying the book, click here to visit its Amazon page.
The activity served as a reminder that the human experience is universal—we all go through events that change us as people and teach us things we did not know before. Although some might have larger capacities for self-awareness, it is important to be reminded that we are capable of empathy and we should support each other in our particular journeys. Self-discovery is not a one-time thing—it’s a course throughout our entire lives.