Patience and Friendship

As Steve Lopez proceeds his mission to cure Nathaniel, his commitment to Nathaniel slowly grows into an honest love for his new friend. Following the new and odd friendship, are changes in Nathaniel's chemistry. These changes result in consistently happier days for Nathaniel as his overall attire improves, he gets invited back to go see the Philharmonic Orchestra, and he maintains a permanent residence at Lamp. Nathaniel even has the opportunity to have his own music studio to visit. 

However, with every great day follows a grim day. Days where Nathaniel is found at war with himself howling, or at war with the other residents at Lamp. Days where his hyper-race-conscious defenses are followed by obsessive compulsion. 

I feel that Steve needs to learn to be more patience with Nathaniel because as scary as the schizophrenic -paranoid side of Nathaniel is, it is still there inside of him. 

This being said doesn't cancel out all of the good Steve is doing. He isn't in it for the publicity and fame. It is a sincere obligation to help out a friend, something Steve hasn't really had in a long time being his profession only did allow so much intimacy in the past. Steve finds the truest form of a friend in Nathaniel: a friend who challenges and inspires you; someone who sends you out on a journey to find the truest form of yourself. I believe that Steve needed someone like Nathaniel because he had spent so many years writing the stories of others, that he forgot his own story.

Part Two of The Soloist

As Steve Lopez continues his journey to help Nathaniel Ayers, he takes an up-close and personal look at what Nathaniel is up against: his own so-called home, Skid Row. Skid Row can be described as a bombardment of drugs and mental illness. A complete catastrophe of heroin addicts and mercenary muggers, the whole image of a man productively playing a violin in the middle of all of the police/ambulance sirens would surprise and yet frighten you.

While reading, you can't help but wonder why Lopez would go through so much trouble in order to help out Nathaniel. This whole story on the progression of a street instrumentalist is no longer a job to Lopez, but a commitment. As committed as some people might be to their jobs, I doubt many people would stay the night within the mayhem of Skid Row just to help out someone who refuses to seek much dependency on medications, and with a flip of a switch could flip off of the wall. Maybe we'll come to find that as much as Nathaniel needs Lopez, Lopez needs Nathaniel a little more.

I support what Steve is doing in every way possible. However, after careful comparison and observation, I am worried about the outcome of the situation. I compared the curiosities of protagonist Lopez with protagonist Nick, from The Great Gatsby. Both Nick and Lopez took interest in someone they didn't know much about, and sought to find out more about these mysterious characters (Nathaniel and Gatsby). However, the outcome of Nick's obligations towards Gatsby resulted in is neighbor's demise. Will the efforts of Lopez result in Nathaniel's decline? If not a total decline, how will Nathaniel redeem himself?

The Soloist by Steve Lopez

After reading the first six chapters of The Soloist, I've become very enthusiastic about finishing it because the musical allusions and psychological elements appeal to me. I've come across many subtle details that amuse me and can't wait to continue alongside Steve Lopez in his journey to help cure Nathaniel Ayers' mental state of being.

In the beginning, we find Lopez as a hardworking columnist who recently discovered the grubby and mysterious musician, Nathaniel Ayers. Although this man was playing a rusty, old violin with only two strings, he immediately recognized that there was some form of musical professionalism in his stature. The alluring aura of the busking Ayers convinces Lopez that he may just have something on this man. After a short time, Lopez discovers not only Ayer's passion for the arts, but that this man had once attended Julliard until a mental breakdown.

The reason why I find so much appeal to this novel is because I can relate to state of mind that Ayer's is in when he picks up his instrument; you're a million miles away from everything and everyone, time ceases to exist, and all you can hear are the vibrations of your instrument. Following this trance, all you want to do is perfect the piece you're playing because each time you repeat it, it sounds all the more beautiful.  This is the kind of emotional protocol that takes place between every musician in the world. The desire for that feeling and the connection to the aspiring people around you and before you (who may of even composed the music you're playing) is what keeps people like Ayer's and myself practicing. Music is the spiritual connection between the people of this world.

In particular, there are two parts that I found entertaining. For example, when Lopez found the names, such as Babe Ruth, scribbled on the pavement near Ayers. After Lopez asks whose names they were, Ayer's merely commented that those were just some of his classmates at Juilliard. The idea that he was friends with worldwide famous characters is both compelling and hard to wrap my mind around. Or, the part where Ayer's comments that although he doesn't know where everyone he once knew ended up, he hears "a kid named yo-yo ma" is doing pretty well for himself. I have no words. 

In summary, this book, for someone like me that is, ought to be pretty interesting. It seems like a pretty heart warming book and I can't wait to see how Lopez treats Ayers, and not his disease. I would also like to see how Lopez winds up after his much-needed and profound change as well.

*As far as commenting goes, any mechanical corrections are welcome. As far as agreement or disagreement, I welcome either. I want to see what everyone thinks about this blog.