“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.
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