The first six chapters of the Soloist have been very interesting. First off, not many stories I've encountered have focused primarily on a homeless person, but "The Soloist's" Nathaniel Anthony Ayers is the reason this story was written. Lopez passes Nathaniel one day on his way to work, and both of their lives are changed forever. An unusual friendship, Nathaniel and Lopez both are unsure what to expect from the other. Lopez is looking at Nathaniel as another column in the LA times, but you can tell there's something more than just business between these two. I think Nathaniel is also unsure why Steve is so interested in him. I mean, why would some famous columnist care about a homeless violinist in the middle of Los Angeles? But Lopez isn't just your average guy, he notices the brilliance in Nathaniel's playing and tries to help him. I have some question as to why Lopez takes time out of his own life to get Ayers new violins and cellos, but i think he just does it all out of the kindness of his heart and feels that Nathaniel can be something great. As the story progresses on, I'd like to find out why Steve stays in this friendship if he is always giving to Nathaniel and not benefiting from anything.
Focus: Is anyone else skeptical as to why Steve even bothers to deal with Nathaniel? I mean I understand that it's the right thing to do and all, but why does Lopez show such interest and passion in helping this troubled violinist if he doesn't even have any interest in classical music?
Friday, May 8, 2009
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You ask a great question at the end of this post. If others don't end up responding, you might consider making it the focus of your final post for this book. I'm not sure about why Lopez does what he does (in the larger sense of devoting so much time and interest to Ayers and his story). I think that there is a trend in Lopez's writing, an interest in telling the stories of those who perhaps don't have the means to tell their own, or of those that just don't get told, period.
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