“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison.
I came across this quote and instantly attached it to The Soloist. After finishing this book I came to find that It was a true story with a good ending based on the ambition of a writer and cooperation of a man who lost his way and suffers from a sickness. It relates to the quote because most people would miss the opportunity of meeting Nathaniel because of the looks of him realizing it would be a handful. Not only his physical appearance, but realizing he was ill, Steve still continued his friendship.
No task in life is easy and a lot of times we work at something and get disappointed. The Soloist was not an example of that. It was an epic story of a man who put his mind to something and was successful to both himself and another man. From chapters 23 through the end Steve grew fond of Nathaniel and developed a great friendship; however, they got into a minor quarrel that stemmed from Nathaniel’s illness. Steve was so disturbed by the cause of the fight and hurtful things Nathaniel said. He could have easily walked away from him and put all his effort and friendship with Nathaniel in jeopardy but he did not. Similar to the quote by Edison, He did not miss his opportunity because of the imperfection caused by Nathaniel’s condition.
Nathaniel and Steve got passed their digression and kept their newfound friendship. They continued spending time together and going to concerts. Nathaniel ran into one of his friends from Julliard, the great Yo-yo Ma. These were all part of the wonderful opportunities he got through meeting Steve, who took him places like the Philharmonic. The studio apartment was Nathaniel’s to live in. He was off the street and had many fun times he shared and will continue to share with Steve. Taking his disease into consideration, Steve still remains great friends with Nathaniel and assisting him in any way that he could.
This all brings me back to the quote I found. Would the average person be able to follow the words of Edison and actions of Steve? It took bravery and patience that made Steve do the things he did. I originally thought it could have been selfishness for him to get ahead of his work, but after finishing the book, I realized it was not just that. He grew fond of him and they built a beautiful friendship to last a lifetime and a story to be admired by others.
Things to Notice:
Focus of point
Subject of writing, was it good?
Writing machanics
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Soloist (chapters 13-22)
In life you come in contact with many people. Each person you meet, every action that u make and each choice u make all has a hue impact on the person u grow to be. Reading the Soloist is like watching a person develop into a great person through the various experiences mentioned along the way.
Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez both grew by this point in the book from where they started because of meeting one another and learning through each other. Here you have this man living on the street with nothing but a violin and a disease so you think how can this benefit me? Steve Lopez, a hungry writer sees this interesting musician living on the street as a story opportunity and ends up learning the life lessons that you cant pay for.
The way the story is written in the beginning transforms by this point in the story. It turns into a more personal and interesting story that connects to Nathaniel more than a research piece to which it began. I find it so interesting how this is a true story because of the way the world is today. People on the street are not only usually unapproachable, but they could be dangerous or not even really homeless. Steve Lopez just took it upon himself to go up to this homeless person and it ended up being the best thing that ever happened to the both of him. His career skyrocketed and Nathaniel is benefiting in so many ways. This brings me back to my point as how people really affect who you become. Steve saw this man as an opportunity, he took a risk and it worked out perfectly; However, does this mean that if you take a similar risk and do not benefit that you do not get the same out of it? I would have to say no. The point is that by meeting people whether they actually help you or not, you learn and better yourself from them.
Nathaniel also became the way he was through sickness and after his father leaving hi family so is the theory of people in your life being beneficial still true? If there are some people that come into your life like displayed in the Soloist in Nathaniel's life harm him how can it be? These questions are displayed in The Soloist because despite all Nathaniel''es troubles he meets Steve and his life somewhat changes for the better. We just have to hope to find the inspiring people and not let the ones that harm life choices get in the way of our futures.
Look out for:
Style of writing
My ideas and how i focused them
grammar/spelling
Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez both grew by this point in the book from where they started because of meeting one another and learning through each other. Here you have this man living on the street with nothing but a violin and a disease so you think how can this benefit me? Steve Lopez, a hungry writer sees this interesting musician living on the street as a story opportunity and ends up learning the life lessons that you cant pay for.
The way the story is written in the beginning transforms by this point in the story. It turns into a more personal and interesting story that connects to Nathaniel more than a research piece to which it began. I find it so interesting how this is a true story because of the way the world is today. People on the street are not only usually unapproachable, but they could be dangerous or not even really homeless. Steve Lopez just took it upon himself to go up to this homeless person and it ended up being the best thing that ever happened to the both of him. His career skyrocketed and Nathaniel is benefiting in so many ways. This brings me back to my point as how people really affect who you become. Steve saw this man as an opportunity, he took a risk and it worked out perfectly; However, does this mean that if you take a similar risk and do not benefit that you do not get the same out of it? I would have to say no. The point is that by meeting people whether they actually help you or not, you learn and better yourself from them.
Nathaniel also became the way he was through sickness and after his father leaving hi family so is the theory of people in your life being beneficial still true? If there are some people that come into your life like displayed in the Soloist in Nathaniel's life harm him how can it be? These questions are displayed in The Soloist because despite all Nathaniel''es troubles he meets Steve and his life somewhat changes for the better. We just have to hope to find the inspiring people and not let the ones that harm life choices get in the way of our futures.
Look out for:
Style of writing
My ideas and how i focused them
grammar/spelling
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Soloist (chapter 7-12)
"The Soloist" is a book that I would consider an auto and regular biography. By this point in the book, I learned about the lives of Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers. In most biographies, they are written about the live of one person. In "The Soloist", Steve Lopez writes in such ways to incorporate the life story of two men into an intriguing story that leaves you yearning for more.
Lopez writes about real issues that matters. "The Soloist" discusses the issues of people living on the streets, his schizophrenia, music, and passion. He tries to teach you to look beyond what is literally there and appreciate what is behind everything. Most people look at the bums on the streets and pass by them like they do not exists. Lopez was different. Maybe you can say he payed close attention in search of a story, but either way he sees Nathanial for more than a bum. He came time and time again to see his real story. Chapters 7 through 12 expand on his interest in Nathaniel's life.
At this point in the story, Steve Lopez is doing everything he can to help Nathaniel out and learn about him. He brings him to Disney Hall to see his favorite symphony preform. This touches on the political issues of social class. Here you have this journalist who has his life together spending quality time with this man who has been living on the streets refusing to live in a homeless shelter. These types of things don't often happen because people are so caught up in what people think and would not want their social rating to go down. Steve Lopez does not care about these issues at all. He is initially in search of a story and is willing to do what it takes for his career but is slowly discovering friendship and an incredible inspiration. Nathaniel was so greatful of the symphony and was able to enjoy this because of Steve.
People can really learn through the life of Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers even by only reading the twelve chapters of the book.
Lopez writes about real issues that matters. "The Soloist" discusses the issues of people living on the streets, his schizophrenia, music, and passion. He tries to teach you to look beyond what is literally there and appreciate what is behind everything. Most people look at the bums on the streets and pass by them like they do not exists. Lopez was different. Maybe you can say he payed close attention in search of a story, but either way he sees Nathanial for more than a bum. He came time and time again to see his real story. Chapters 7 through 12 expand on his interest in Nathaniel's life.
At this point in the story, Steve Lopez is doing everything he can to help Nathaniel out and learn about him. He brings him to Disney Hall to see his favorite symphony preform. This touches on the political issues of social class. Here you have this journalist who has his life together spending quality time with this man who has been living on the streets refusing to live in a homeless shelter. These types of things don't often happen because people are so caught up in what people think and would not want their social rating to go down. Steve Lopez does not care about these issues at all. He is initially in search of a story and is willing to do what it takes for his career but is slowly discovering friendship and an incredible inspiration. Nathaniel was so greatful of the symphony and was able to enjoy this because of Steve.
People can really learn through the life of Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers even by only reading the twelve chapters of the book.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Soloist (Chapters 1-6)
The story opens with the view of a poor many living out of a shopping cart playing an old violin admiring Beethoven. The writing style of Steven Lopez is easy flowing and a series of chronological events explaining the accounts of a true story on the life of Nathaniel Ayers through his eyes.
True stories like the one by Steven Lopez are always of interest to me because I am finding out information at the leisure of reading a book. The first six chapters of “The Soloist” are page turners. So far the information gathered is that Steven Lopez is a local paper journalist seeking a story. Like most things that happen in life he happens upon an even greater discovery. He sees a man playing a two stringed violin living out of a shopping cart. He compliments him and realizes this man is a great story. He later finds the man is Nathaniel Ayers who is only living on the streets because of his diagnosis of schizophrenia that caused him to drop out of Julliard, which explained the violin.
So far the first six chapters have shown great inspiration. Even if I stopped at this point I would have been inspired by Steven Lopez’s ambition to further his meetings with Nathaniel and get his story. I am inspired by the life of Nathaniel. Even though he is living on the street he has a problem. He is not one of those people who takes his problem as a seek for pity by others, but he lives the way he wants playing his music which gives him life. People who live through the music and only need that to be happy inspire me greatly because something so simple can give them joy and that shows such passion.
I am looking forward to reading farther and to see what else happens between Nathaniel and Steven.
True stories like the one by Steven Lopez are always of interest to me because I am finding out information at the leisure of reading a book. The first six chapters of “The Soloist” are page turners. So far the information gathered is that Steven Lopez is a local paper journalist seeking a story. Like most things that happen in life he happens upon an even greater discovery. He sees a man playing a two stringed violin living out of a shopping cart. He compliments him and realizes this man is a great story. He later finds the man is Nathaniel Ayers who is only living on the streets because of his diagnosis of schizophrenia that caused him to drop out of Julliard, which explained the violin.
So far the first six chapters have shown great inspiration. Even if I stopped at this point I would have been inspired by Steven Lopez’s ambition to further his meetings with Nathaniel and get his story. I am inspired by the life of Nathaniel. Even though he is living on the street he has a problem. He is not one of those people who takes his problem as a seek for pity by others, but he lives the way he wants playing his music which gives him life. People who live through the music and only need that to be happy inspire me greatly because something so simple can give them joy and that shows such passion.
I am looking forward to reading farther and to see what else happens between Nathaniel and Steven.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Catcher in the Rye
Most of the time in life you encounter people who are smart, talented, kind, and many other things. The people that put their heart into something they care deeply for weather its music or a book or a profession. In “The Catcher and the Rye”, Houlden the main character is not one of these people. He is your typical floater that shows no interest in his future, or the well being of others. He is arrogant and has no motivation once so ever. He was kicked out of numerous schools and still showed no signs of improving.
Throughout the book Houlden narrates his life through day dreams that he reencounters his experiences. As a boy of sixteen having being kicked out of three schools, now four after Pencey, he still didn’t learn. All he cared about was the easy way out and his own enjoyment. There is always one Houlden that you know as you grow up in school and you think to yourself how on earth they are going to make it in life. While reading the book you see the outrageous things he does just to avoid his parents after being disgusted by the talk about his future from his teacher at Pencey. All Houlden did was run from the truth he did not want to face. He ran from things that challenged him and he had an immature way of thinking.
By the end of the book you see that like all of the floaters you knew as you grew up he had that one person that did affect him and for Houlden it was his sister. Houlden upset almost every person he encountered throughout the book. He even annoyed his sister when he told her how he was unsuccessful at Pencey before even seeing his parent. However, by the end when he sees her ride the carousel when he is about to run away from home, he realizes he loves her so much and that he wants to change his future.
The ironic thing about the ending is that he is supposeably at a mental home of some kind narrating the book, but we do not know where or how old he is. So how successful he was with his self change is unknown.
Throughout the book Houlden narrates his life through day dreams that he reencounters his experiences. As a boy of sixteen having being kicked out of three schools, now four after Pencey, he still didn’t learn. All he cared about was the easy way out and his own enjoyment. There is always one Houlden that you know as you grow up in school and you think to yourself how on earth they are going to make it in life. While reading the book you see the outrageous things he does just to avoid his parents after being disgusted by the talk about his future from his teacher at Pencey. All Houlden did was run from the truth he did not want to face. He ran from things that challenged him and he had an immature way of thinking.
By the end of the book you see that like all of the floaters you knew as you grew up he had that one person that did affect him and for Houlden it was his sister. Houlden upset almost every person he encountered throughout the book. He even annoyed his sister when he told her how he was unsuccessful at Pencey before even seeing his parent. However, by the end when he sees her ride the carousel when he is about to run away from home, he realizes he loves her so much and that he wants to change his future.
The ironic thing about the ending is that he is supposeably at a mental home of some kind narrating the book, but we do not know where or how old he is. So how successful he was with his self change is unknown.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Willy and Gatsby
Reading both The Great Gatsby and The Death of a Salesman taught me a lot about life through the similarities between the main characters. Both Gatsby and Willy Loman die after living a long life through a dream of what they thought should have been. Gatsby lived most of his adult life wondering what it would be like to be with Daisy, the love of his life. When the opportunity to be with her comes, he is thrilled. However, he dies in the novel. In a way, you can say he deserves it because he lived through this dream and acted upon it when it presented itself even though Daisy was married. You cannot always get what you want especially when it involves hurting others. Karma will eventually find its way to get you.
Willy Loman’s story is similar but different. He lived his life in the dream of being a successful salesman because that was the kind of work he knew and did his entire adult life. His problem was that he wished to live more successfully through his sons, no matter the cost. This sons Happy and Biff didn’t quite see the joy in becoming a salesman, but wanted the love and satisfaction of their father. Willy put a lot of pressure on his sons especially the oldest, Biff. As a result Biff grew a feeling of resentment towards him. As Willy grew older and began to have episodes of illusions of the past, his wife and sons grew concerned. Biff did nothing except trying to please his father even though it didn’t work out the way Willy had hoped. Willy ended up committing suicide at the end of the book. I show only a small feeling of pity for Willy because all he knew was the life of a salesman and ultimately wanted success for his boys. However, the way he approached his goal for them was not right. You cannot treat others, especially family bad just because of your wants. Willy should have been supportive with any choice that Biff made with his life even if being a salesman was not one of them.
Both Gatsby and Willy strived for what they wanted. They did not care if it meant hurting people in the process. Or did they? The ultimate question that we face in life when we encounter people like Gatsby and Willy is; are they aware of the way they affect others by the way they act? Do they hurt others on purpose or are they just unable to change the way they push people and loved ones for their own dreams? I like to believe it has something to do with the way they were originally raised by their families. Everything you experience in life affects the person you become, and sometimes not always for the better. I do not believe that Willy and Gatsby were bad people. They let their dreams get the best of them and they unconsciously hurt people along the way. However, everything you do wrong in life catches up to you and in their case it was their very own death.
Willy Loman’s story is similar but different. He lived his life in the dream of being a successful salesman because that was the kind of work he knew and did his entire adult life. His problem was that he wished to live more successfully through his sons, no matter the cost. This sons Happy and Biff didn’t quite see the joy in becoming a salesman, but wanted the love and satisfaction of their father. Willy put a lot of pressure on his sons especially the oldest, Biff. As a result Biff grew a feeling of resentment towards him. As Willy grew older and began to have episodes of illusions of the past, his wife and sons grew concerned. Biff did nothing except trying to please his father even though it didn’t work out the way Willy had hoped. Willy ended up committing suicide at the end of the book. I show only a small feeling of pity for Willy because all he knew was the life of a salesman and ultimately wanted success for his boys. However, the way he approached his goal for them was not right. You cannot treat others, especially family bad just because of your wants. Willy should have been supportive with any choice that Biff made with his life even if being a salesman was not one of them.
Both Gatsby and Willy strived for what they wanted. They did not care if it meant hurting people in the process. Or did they? The ultimate question that we face in life when we encounter people like Gatsby and Willy is; are they aware of the way they affect others by the way they act? Do they hurt others on purpose or are they just unable to change the way they push people and loved ones for their own dreams? I like to believe it has something to do with the way they were originally raised by their families. Everything you experience in life affects the person you become, and sometimes not always for the better. I do not believe that Willy and Gatsby were bad people. They let their dreams get the best of them and they unconsciously hurt people along the way. However, everything you do wrong in life catches up to you and in their case it was their very own death.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Blogger Reflections
Blogging has been a real learning experience for me. I enjoyed it because it made writing and presenting my ideas very easy and beneficial by seeing what the other students had to say about my work in both 11-1 and 11-2.
I have taking a new outlook on writing by using blogger. I realized my flaws through the constructive criticism of my peers.
Blogging is very organized and prepares us for college. From what I have been told a lot of classes as we progress through the years are beginning to use tools similar to blogger. I feel that we should continue this approach. I like the way our assignment is on the sight just in case we don’t write it down. I also like the fact that we can read other people’s work and comment on them.
The use of blogger is different than the traditional writing of a paper and turning it in. It allows us to work at our own speed while still meeting deadlines. We are able to relate to each other’s work, and display our own work nicely organized.
I feel that as a teacher you are doing a great job with the blogger site. I find that it is confusing for you to tell who comments on other people’s work because everyone does that at different times and we are supposed to get credit for that so maybe that can be improved. Other than that I think it is a perfect way to do English.
I always interacted between 11-1 and 11-2 I enjoyed the fact that we are all connected in blogger. I think this is a nicer way for the people who are not used to seeing work from the other class to finally have that option.
I have taking a new outlook on writing by using blogger. I realized my flaws through the constructive criticism of my peers.
Blogging is very organized and prepares us for college. From what I have been told a lot of classes as we progress through the years are beginning to use tools similar to blogger. I feel that we should continue this approach. I like the way our assignment is on the sight just in case we don’t write it down. I also like the fact that we can read other people’s work and comment on them.
The use of blogger is different than the traditional writing of a paper and turning it in. It allows us to work at our own speed while still meeting deadlines. We are able to relate to each other’s work, and display our own work nicely organized.
I feel that as a teacher you are doing a great job with the blogger site. I find that it is confusing for you to tell who comments on other people’s work because everyone does that at different times and we are supposed to get credit for that so maybe that can be improved. Other than that I think it is a perfect way to do English.
I always interacted between 11-1 and 11-2 I enjoyed the fact that we are all connected in blogger. I think this is a nicer way for the people who are not used to seeing work from the other class to finally have that option.
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