A california native, lopez is the author of three novels and a book of nonfiction, the soloist. I believe that the movie missed certain key aspects of the book and that the story was not needed to be made into a movie. For each triumph, there is a crashing disappointment, yet neither man gives up. The story was both eyeopening and heartbreaking, a score of stunning human crescendo and stark morendo, blowing the doors wide open on the stigmas and misconceptions associated with mental illness and homelessness. Lopez published a book about ayers called the soloist. Lopez collects donated violins, a cello, even a standup bass and a piano. Lopez ventured out of his office into the community in search of his economic need to find a story. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music. Steve is a wonderful advocate for nathaniel and arranged music lessons, concerts and a visit from nathaniel. Oct 19, 2011 quotes from the book the soloist with the page number and who said it. The book inspired the recently released movie the soloist starring.
If youre interested in classical music, especially the violin or cello, and love to read about the lives of musicians, then this touching, heartwarming book about the redeeming power of music is for you. Joe wrights the soloist is based on the book which chronicles the actual friendship between steve lopez and nathaniel ayers which began in 2005. Steve describes himself in the situation as intellectually challenged at every turn. An added delight were the references to cleveland and l. Praise for steve lopez and the soloist lopez is a terrific reporter.
The soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by joe wright, and starring jamie foxx and robert downey jr. Thank you steve lopez for reserving us a front row seat at this symphony in the big city in the soloist. Steve comes to think of nathaniel almost like family and includes him in some family activities and dinners. Moving along the streets lopez stopped to listen to nathaniel anthony ayers, the violinist. Determined to understand the evolution of ayerss illness, lopez probes his family history, revisits his painful past at juilliard and seeks advice from mentalhealth professionals. The soloist is a movie based on steve lopezs bookby the samename and is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who develops schizophrenia and becomes homeless in the movie, steve lopez robert downey, jr.
Steve lopez makes a deal with nathaniel which is nathaniel have to struggle on his music, then he will help nathaniel to suggest the mayor vilaragosa to help the homelessness, and the mayor vilaragosa contributed 50 millions dollars on steve lopez s suggestion. In 2009, the soloist was made into a movie starring robert. Based on a true story, its about what happens when steve lopez robert downey jr. Steve writes a column, so hes always on the prowl for human interest stories, and something about nathaniel piques his curiosity. Steve lopez is a newspaper columnist somewhat in the mold of mike royko or jimmy breslin. Times columnist steve lopez explains his encounter with nathaniel ayers, the brilliant street musician who has taken a turn for the worse due to the. Quotes from the book the soloist with the page number and who. The friendship is a feat that is brought upon steve one day by accident when.
Steve starts conversations that he hopes will get nate thinking that a roof over his head would be good. I picked up this book because i have a nathaniel in my life, and i hope every day that i can be the kind of friend steve lopez was. The novel, the soloist chapter 19 is talk about, as the book continues, lopez begins to struggle with the demands of nathaniel. The soloist movie tiein and millions of other books are available for instant access. As steve lopez wryly observes in the soloist, in music there is always. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music, is a work of nonfiction that charts the experience of the musician nathaniel ayers. A lost dream, and unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music. That is when he discovers nathaniel ayers, a mentally ill, homeless street musician who possesses extraordinary talent, even through his halfbroken instruments. The soloist by steve lopez book cover, description, publication history. Just after lopez writes a column explaining that the cello is ayerss true love, but he doesnt have one, wright cuts to a. Quotes from the book the soloist with the page number and. The soloist makes a compelling case for two things in increasingly short supply in the newspaper world today. Apr 23, 2009 the soloist makes a compelling case for two things in increasingly short supply in the newspaper world today. The one book, one philadelphia selection for 2009 is the soloist by steve lopez, which has also been made into a movie starring jamie foxx and robert downey jr.
This is the true story of journalist steve lopezs discovery of nathaniel ayers. The way he played the violin was intriguing to steve and thats when he knew he was good story. Article pdf available in bmj british medical journal 340feb10 2. The film depicts lopez as a single man whose life is somewhat of a struggle. Steve lopez is the author of several books, including the sunday macaroni club and the soloist. The free library asked me if id like to write something shorta few sentencesabout each of the musical works mentioned in the book, for materials they were putting together for this seventh annual. A moving story of a remarkable bond between a journalist in search of a story and a homeless, classically trained musiciandestined to be a major motion picture from. Steve lopez, the author and narrator of the soloist. A cleveland native who was among a handful of blacks enrolled in juilliard in the early.
The true story and friendship of steve lopez and nathaniel ayers is the soloist, a great read with page turning events. Steve couldnt sleep and checked into a hotel, still unable to rest. Lopez initially thinks of the man, named nathaniel ayers, as just a story idea. Francois duhamel s teve lopez is living a reality most journalists only. The soloist by steve lopez overdrive rakuten overdrive. Lopezs initial column on ayers drew wide attention, and eventually spawned many more, as lopez gradually became intimately involved in his subjects past and future. The doctor tells steve that nathaniels road to recovery is not going to be involving a text book treatment program, but a development of trust in steve and others to peruse his own recovery.
It is based on the true story of nathaniel ayers, a musician who developed schizophrenia and became homeless. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music, acknowledges that while he is fascinated by the homeless musician named nathaniel anthony ayers, weeks go by and i get distracted by other things, shoveling whatever i can find onto that empty space on the page 2. The work of steve lopez is awarded and he attempts to help the musician, but in his insanity, nathaniel does not want to change his lifestyle. A fathers search through americas mental health madness with selfeffacing humor, fastpaced yet. Quotes from the book the soloist with the page number and who said it. Lopez questions why so talented a musician is clearly homeless and reduced to his present circumstances. I also have a friend who studied piano at juilliard in the early 70s. Poignant and ultimately hopeful, the soloist is a beautifully told story of friendship and the redeeming power of music. The paperback edition of the soloist, which i read, has pictures of jamie foxx and.
Patience and perseverance are necessary for real change. Watch the soloist online stream full movie directv. Apr 24, 2009 if the soloist had a subtitle, it could well be my brothers keeper. When steve lopez saw nathaniel ayers playing his heart out on a twostring. The soloist directly recounts this unusual, ultimately heartwarming tale, but not before the author takes readers on a harrowing journey through the tougher elements of both mentalhealth treatment and the lower depths of downtown l. If the soloist had a subtitle, it could well be my brothers keeper. Lopez is described as a natural storyteller and his book tells of his discovery of nathaniel ayers, a former classical bass student at julliard, playing a two. Steve lopez makes a deal with nathaniel which is nathaniel have to struggle on his music, then he will help nathaniel to suggest the mayor vilaragosa to help the homelessness, and the mayor vilaragosa contributed 50 millions dollars. Jan 01, 2008 thank you steve lopez for reserving us a front row seat at this symphony in the big city in the soloist. In 2009, the soloist was made into a movie starring robert downey jr. Read the soloist by steve lopez and write about any topic of interest that discusses issues or characters within the book. Lopez meets nathaniel ayers jamie foxx, a homeless schizophrenic, playing his violin on the street.
The soloist by steve lopez essential propositions when we help others, it transforms us as well as the people we are helping. Apr 05, 2010 in the book, the narrator steve lopez is a journalist, husband, and father, who struggles to manage time between the three when he discovers the fascinating story of a homeless musician. The soloist begins when a reporter named steve lopez robert downey, jr. The soloist by lopez, steve and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Times columnist steve lopez wrote about a cellist named nathaniel ayers, who was schizophrenic and homeless. In chapters six through twelve steve meets with a doctor to try to figure out if there is something he can do about nathaniels condition.
Over time, steve lopez and nathaniel ayers form a bond, and lopez imagines that he might be able to change ayers life. Essential questions as you read the soloist or reflecting on what you already read consider these. The soloist stars jamie foxx as nathaniel ayers and robert downey jr as a fictionalised version of steve lopez. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music by steve lopez and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. While his city erupted in riots, during the 1960s, he worked on his music at the settlement school. The soloist by steve lopez, signed abebooks passion for books. Steve lopez joins nathaniel in skid row for a night. Sylvia nasar, author of a beautiful mind a heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful, read. When steve lopez sees nathaniel ayers playing his heart out on a tw.
The soloist by steve lopez is a wonderful book about the relationship between steve lopez and nathaniel ayers. By the books end, ayers has met cellist yoyo ma, a former classmate at juilliard. His marriage is on the rocks, and hes disillusioned with his job. I have lived in both places so the familiarity with the places was a bonus.
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