The Soloist Chapters 23-31 !

The last part of The Soloist was my favorite part. There was action and drama, yet it still had a fairy-tale like ending. Nathaniel and Steve got into an argument, which was really Nathaniel screaming at Steve and saying many mean things. He told Steve he never wanted to see him again, and yells at him that he doesn't need any of the things Steve provided him with. Lopez states that it's not the things Nathaniel said to him that hurt him, it's the fact that it was coming from someone who he now considers a close friend. I feel this is a "milestone" in the book, because Lopez finally gets to see and feel what Nathaniel's disease is like personally. Although it shocks him, I think he finally realizes just how delicate and tragic the situation really is, and realizes that although Nathaniel may never become "better", he can help him to the best of his ability.

Despite the argument, Nathaniel apologizes to Steve and the two become friends again. Nathaniel finally is able to get his studio-apartment, and the pair are still able to see concerts at the Philharmonic. At one concert, Nathaniel is even allowed to meet a fellow classmate from Julliard, Yo-Yo Ma. This meeting makes Nathaniel very happy. By the end of the book, everything seems to be going well for Nathaniel, even though his illness won't be cured. He has a nice studio apartment to live in, still has his passion for music, and a new batch of friends who are ready to help him out with anything he needs. It reminds me of a fairy tale, which normally don't happen in real life situations. It's one of those feel good stories where you're happy Nathaniel and Steve both got a happy ending; Nathaniel got a better life, and Steve made a close friend. All in all, I ended up liking The Soloist. Some parts were slow, but like any book, you have to keep reading.

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The Soloist Chapters 13-22 !

Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.
Who is Nathaniel Anthony Ayers?

Is he the mad schizophrenic everyone makes him out to be? Or is he the music-loving, honest, caring person Steve Lopez has come to see? I believe he is the second option, with just a touch of the first option in him. Although Nathaniel is clinically diagnosed with schizophrenia, I feel that he does not let that ruin what he truly feels and loves.

Nathaniel started out with a happy childhood; a mother who was her own person, and a father who was there. Then things got confusing, when his father left him and created a new family, and his mother recovered from that by marrying again. All Nathaniel wanted in his life was a father to impress, and although there were different substitutes throughout his life, they weren't exactly what, or who, Nathaniel needed. Now the schizophrenia cannot be blamed by Nathaniel's father, but I feel that that could have played a part in Nathaniel's condition. The pressure of Julliard, the feeling of abandonment from his father, and the mental illness that was possibly there from the beginning of his life, all caused Nathaniel to get to the point of homelessness in his life.

To some, that type of let down would be a terrible situation. I feel that it helped Nathaniel to become a more happy, and peaceful person. Yes, I agree Nathaniel still needs treatment, and his illness shouldn't go unfixed, but if living on the streets and doing what he loves most- playing music- is what he likes, then that is what he should be allowed to do. If Lopez, or any other professional psychiatrist, would force him to go along with their rules, Nathaniel could possibly have a break down and hurt someone, or possibly hurt himself. Nathaniel is his own person, and he knows what he wants, and he follows his own rules to get it. It may not be the smartest, or the most sensible way, but as long as Nathaniel is happy, why should anyone complain?

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The Soloist Chapters 7-12 !

When first reading The Soloist, you see Steve Lopez trying to find a possible topic to write an article about. He finds his topic in musician Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a person who suffers from schizophrenia. Although Lopez at first just helps Nathaniel because of the article, I feel that through reading the rest of the book you see Lopez start to help Nathaniel because he has truly developed a friendship with this man. Done is Lopez just trying to find information for his "story". He now finds information to help Nathaniel into recovery, and to help him get his life back into order. He is able to get Nathaniel certain "privileges" and learns the story of the man who once was.

When starting these chapters out, Lopez decides he wants to spend a night with Nathaniel on the streets. Although obviously disgusted and nervous, Lopez wonders how Nathaniel is able to sleep out in these conditions, and realizes the world isn't always a nice peaceful place. He states that by doing this however, he feels closer to Nathaniel. Continuing the reading you see Lopez go through the process of having to worry about missing time with his family, and worrying about losing his job since the person who hired him has decided to resign. With these fears, Lopez realizes he cannot constantly worry about Nathaniel and cannot continue to help him out constantly, although he does not want to abandon his relationship with Nathaniel.

Lopez is able to get Nathaniel the chance to go see the Los Angeles Philharmonic during a rehearsal. He hopes that this will possibly help lead to Nathaniel's recovery. Although this trip doesn't completely help Nathaniel realize his troubles, Lopez is happy of the fact that Nathaniel had a good time and that he seemed to be in peace in the Disney Hall where "Beethoven might still be lingering in the shadows." I feel that Lopez has moved on from just using Nathaniel as an article, and has decided to help this man into recovery.

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The Soloist Chapters 1-6 !

The book The Soloist holds mixed opinions from me. There are some points of the story that are able to hold, or catch, my interest, but then there are times where I find the book to be boring. Overall I like the idea of the book; letting the readers see the relationship that was created between journalist, Steve Lopez and street musician, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.

One thing about The Soloist that I like is the way Lopez tells his story of meeting and helping Nathaniel. He talks in first person, and writes in a style that isn’t necessarily blunt, but straight forward. This helps to make reading the story easier on the reader. Lopez also, in my opinion, is honest. He describes how he only first asked Nathaniel a bunch of questions in order to get a newspaper article. Once he found out Nathaniel’s story (which would be Nathaniel, the talented musician, being kicked out of Julliard for the mental disease of schizophrenia), he realized just how much he wanted to help the distraught man. And although Nathaniel is doing alright by himself on the street, Lopez feels as if he could be living a whole lot easier than the way he is.

I find the book to be boring when it drags on. I’m the type of person who wants to know all the facts and details upfront, rather than wait and find them out in due time. When you have to wait to find out information about Nathaniel, or wait to see just how the situation is going to play out, that starts to become boring. I’d rather have the author just tell the story and get to the ending, or point. Since Lopez is a journalist, I feel he uses some of that style of writing to describe what is happening. I find newspaper articles boring, which is probably why some parts of the story seem dragged on to me.

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