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The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve López
lostinfrance's review
3.0
The interview on NPR is what encouraged me to read this story....the interview was much more interesting! I did enjoy the book----but the writing was not as interesting as the story.
mcbibliotecaria's review
3.0
Long form article. Enjoyable, but didn't get anything out of it beyond what the film covered.
acsaper's review against another edition
4.0
The Soloist is a true testament to the power of music.
Always looking for a new lead and an interesting story, LA Times columnist Steve Lopez inadvertently stumbles into the life of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a Julliard trained musician battling with mental illness on the streets of Los Angeles.
Through a series of columns Lopez writes about Ayers, the very different lives of these two men begin to grow more and more intertwined. The Soloist is the story of this unlikely friendship that developed in an equally unlikely place, in and around LA's infamous Skid Row.
Offering Ayers a the strength and support of a human relationship, Lopez finds himself suddenly thrown into the role of mentor, psychologist, and music student. While he pries at Ayers for a story, Lopez is quickly immersed into the otherwise unfamiliar world of classical music.
It is touching to read about Ayers' journey, guided by Lopez's friendship and the motivating forces of music.
Always looking for a new lead and an interesting story, LA Times columnist Steve Lopez inadvertently stumbles into the life of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a Julliard trained musician battling with mental illness on the streets of Los Angeles.
Through a series of columns Lopez writes about Ayers, the very different lives of these two men begin to grow more and more intertwined. The Soloist is the story of this unlikely friendship that developed in an equally unlikely place, in and around LA's infamous Skid Row.
Offering Ayers a the strength and support of a human relationship, Lopez finds himself suddenly thrown into the role of mentor, psychologist, and music student. While he pries at Ayers for a story, Lopez is quickly immersed into the otherwise unfamiliar world of classical music.
It is touching to read about Ayers' journey, guided by Lopez's friendship and the motivating forces of music.
jachinheckman's review against another edition
4.0
Just a good novel. There are no real surprises or curve balls. It's nothing special, but very enjoyable.
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jmarchek's review
4.0
I heard an interview with Steve Lopez on NPR and was really intrigued to read the book. Mr. Lopez is a newspaper columnist and meets a homeless street musician who was once a Juliard student. It's a fascinating look at mental illness in our country and really shows how there are no easy quick solutions to this problem. I heard there was going to be a movie about it.
barbc789's review against another edition
4.0
Great insight into the homeless and what you can and can't do to help others.
katies1031's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
dinah56's review
3.0
Great writing, and compelling story. Based on a real friendship between a writer and a street musician - love it so far!
book_concierge's review
4.0
The book's subtitle says it all: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music. There are parts where I thought Lopez's work was self-serving, but in general I think it's a sincere depiction of a meaninful relationship with a man who suffers mental illness.