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His Oldest Friend: The Story of an Unlikely Bond
"A poignant tribute to two friends who, despite the gulf of 73 years, manage to ground each other in their all-too-uncertain worlds."-- The New York Times
They met under the most inauspicious circumstances. He was a teenage volunteer at a nursing home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She was a wheelchair-bound resident in her nineties. He was a poor Hispanic, living in a rented room in the barrio, separated from his family. Her life, at least before arthritis hobbled her, was comfortable, with regular visits from her daughters and grandchildren. But when Margaret Oliver's daughter hired Elvis Checo to look in on her mother a few afternoons each week, nobody anticipated that this would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
In His Oldest Friend , Sonny Kleinfield takes us inside the lives of these two unlikely close friends to explore the world of the very young and the very old. Too often we tend to submerge individuals in the group identity of "youth" and "the elderly," but Checo and Oliver defy the stereotypes, offering each other that rarest of recognition and affirmation as a unique human being.
They met under the most inauspicious circumstances. He was a teenage volunteer at a nursing home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She was a wheelchair-bound resident in her nineties. He was a poor Hispanic, living in a rented room in the barrio, separated from his family. Her life, at least before arthritis hobbled her, was comfortable, with regular visits from her daughters and grandchildren. But when Margaret Oliver's daughter hired Elvis Checo to look in on her mother a few afternoons each week, nobody anticipated that this would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
In His Oldest Friend , Sonny Kleinfield takes us inside the lives of these two unlikely close friends to explore the world of the very young and the very old. Too often we tend to submerge individuals in the group identity of "youth" and "the elderly," but Checo and Oliver defy the stereotypes, offering each other that rarest of recognition and affirmation as a unique human being.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Sonny Kleinfield
15 books9 followersSonny Kleinfield is a reporter for the New York Times and the author of eight books. He has contributed articles to the Atlantic, Harper’s Magazine, Esquire, and Rolling Stone, and was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal before joining the Times. He shared in a Pulitzer Prize for a Times series on race in America, and has received a number of other accolades, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the Meyer Berger Award, an American Society of Newspaper Editors Award, and the Gerald Loeb Award. A native of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, he is a graduate of New York University and lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 15, 2018
3.5 stars.
This is an interesting book about a 94 year old woman in a nursing home who befriends a teenage volunteer at the residence. Her daughter hires him to be a companion for her mother a few days a week and a close friendship blossoms. He is going through a lot of rough periods in his life and she gives home the benefit of her years of experience. He offers he his youthful exuberance and insight into the modern world.
Both Margaret Oliver and Elvis Checo are fascinating people in their own right, but the combination of these two is inspiring. More young people should interact with the elderly in order the learn from their wisdom and get a fresh perspective on life. And vice versa.
At times the story gets monotonous, almost like living in a nursing home. You really get a feel for what Margaret’s life is like there, along with all the inherent frustrations. I once tutored a woman who lived in a nursing home and she complained about many of the same things, especially the constant theft of her belongings. How pathetic to steal from the residents.
Elvis has had a hard life and it seems to take 1 step back for every 2 steps forward. He has ambitions but things don’t always work out for him.
The writing is OK, if a bit stilted at times.
Miss Oliver, as Elvis calls her, offers a lot of interesting wisdom. My favorite is this:
“You know, Elvis, life is something like a good book. A long time ago, I read a book, and it was such a good book that I didn’t want to finish it. I put off reading the last two or three pages for days. Then I finished it and it was over. Life is like that. It has an end. At some point it’s all over, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Well if your life is a book, it’s a really good one, one of the best, I can tell you that much,” said Elvis.
This is a pleasant read which makes you think sometimes. I would recommend just for the insights on aging.
This is an interesting book about a 94 year old woman in a nursing home who befriends a teenage volunteer at the residence. Her daughter hires him to be a companion for her mother a few days a week and a close friendship blossoms. He is going through a lot of rough periods in his life and she gives home the benefit of her years of experience. He offers he his youthful exuberance and insight into the modern world.
Both Margaret Oliver and Elvis Checo are fascinating people in their own right, but the combination of these two is inspiring. More young people should interact with the elderly in order the learn from their wisdom and get a fresh perspective on life. And vice versa.
At times the story gets monotonous, almost like living in a nursing home. You really get a feel for what Margaret’s life is like there, along with all the inherent frustrations. I once tutored a woman who lived in a nursing home and she complained about many of the same things, especially the constant theft of her belongings. How pathetic to steal from the residents.
Elvis has had a hard life and it seems to take 1 step back for every 2 steps forward. He has ambitions but things don’t always work out for him.
The writing is OK, if a bit stilted at times.
Miss Oliver, as Elvis calls her, offers a lot of interesting wisdom. My favorite is this:
“You know, Elvis, life is something like a good book. A long time ago, I read a book, and it was such a good book that I didn’t want to finish it. I put off reading the last two or three pages for days. Then I finished it and it was over. Life is like that. It has an end. At some point it’s all over, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Well if your life is a book, it’s a really good one, one of the best, I can tell you that much,” said Elvis.
This is a pleasant read which makes you think sometimes. I would recommend just for the insights on aging.
March 11, 2014
To be honest, I had no idea what to expect with this book. It just happened to be in the free section of a library book shelf at the right moment, where Leah hops on that crazy train of picking any book that catches her eye or sounds the least bit enticing. But, boy am I glad that I decided to pick this one up.
This story is endearing, tough, sweet, insightful, but most of all: completely real. And that is what was so severely refreshing in this work of non-fiction. Yes, it was a heartwarming story of two unlikely friends and how they came upon and came to love one another, but there is so much more to this book.
As someone who has spent much time in nursing homes and assisted living places either playing music or just visiting people I knew, I have always felt some sort of tug toward the elderly and what there is to learn from them. I'm starting to think that's why I chose to add this book to my library before I even read it. However, this book had such a wonderful balance of life lessons to learn from both main characters and most of all, learned from how they learned from each other.
If you're looking for a read that will make you feel more human, this is for you. If you're looking for a testimony to what opening your heart to the minds/hearts of others can do to your own perspective, this is for you. If you are a bit scared of the future or life in general and don't know how to face it, this book could be for you, too.
This story is endearing, tough, sweet, insightful, but most of all: completely real. And that is what was so severely refreshing in this work of non-fiction. Yes, it was a heartwarming story of two unlikely friends and how they came upon and came to love one another, but there is so much more to this book.
As someone who has spent much time in nursing homes and assisted living places either playing music or just visiting people I knew, I have always felt some sort of tug toward the elderly and what there is to learn from them. I'm starting to think that's why I chose to add this book to my library before I even read it. However, this book had such a wonderful balance of life lessons to learn from both main characters and most of all, learned from how they learned from each other.
If you're looking for a read that will make you feel more human, this is for you. If you're looking for a testimony to what opening your heart to the minds/hearts of others can do to your own perspective, this is for you. If you are a bit scared of the future or life in general and don't know how to face it, this book could be for you, too.
December 30, 2024
There’s a little bit more darkness to the story that I lived , one day with Gods blessing, I’ll be able to tell it in my own words . And give Him the glory in my awesome Jesus’ name 😊
And yes it is me, Elvis checo.
My miss Olivers is cracking up in heaven right now.
And yes it is me, Elvis checo.
My miss Olivers is cracking up in heaven right now.
June 23, 2008
Kleinfeld writes of an "unlikely bond" --and one which I found to be so intruiging. The story was truly inspiring and insightful. The author provided realistic glimpses into the two very different worlds inhabited by Elvis and Miss Oliver - and how both of them managed to get along on their own and together.
The relationship forged by these two disparate individuals, whose race and age, not to mention their backgrounds, was truly miraculous.
I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone with an elderly person in their lives. It gives great insight into this time of life.
The relationship forged by these two disparate individuals, whose race and age, not to mention their backgrounds, was truly miraculous.
I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone with an elderly person in their lives. It gives great insight into this time of life.
April 19, 2016
Wish I could give this book 3.5 stars. It was really quite interesting. A young man, as a teenager, begins volunteering in a nursing home. Over the years he befriends one particular woman who is in her early 90s. They become "best friends" and enjoy long, friendly chats together. It made me think of my mom (age 95) who enjoys a good friendship with a young man of ... maybe 55? I'm not sure of his age, but they are similar - enjoy great chats and a strong friendship.
In this book the young man is an immigrant from Dominican Republic. She is a life-long resident of NY. They seemingly have nothing in common yet form a very strong bond. Interesting and touching.
In this book the young man is an immigrant from Dominican Republic. She is a life-long resident of NY. They seemingly have nothing in common yet form a very strong bond. Interesting and touching.
May 31, 2007
Good story. Wish everyone had some of their experiences. Perfect intergenerational example.
August 13, 2016
After reading the description, I thought this was going to be so good. Ultimately, I wasn't enthused with the writing, thought the story was sweet.
August 13, 2012
Got about halfway through and discovered the elderly woman talks the boy out of believing in God. Done.
October 29, 2012
Our library' has a used book sale and I bought this for. 50 cents .
A gem of a book describing the relationship between a young man and the elderly lady he visits
A gem of a book describing the relationship between a young man and the elderly lady he visits
February 6, 2016
A sweet story. It reminded me of the stories my paternal grandmother used to tell me when I was a young kid.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews