The Soloist - Chapters 7-12

Jennifer Tabasco 11-2
English III
Mr. Fiorini
May 8, 2009

The Soloist-Chapters 7-12

In my reading for Chapters Seven through Twelve, I can see Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayer's relationship progressively blooming into something that might last a lifetime. In Chapter 7, I thought that it was extremely interesting how Steve Lopez wanted to spend the night with Nathaniel in the Toy District section of Los Angeles, California. Personally, I believe that the main reason as to why Steve wanted to spend the night with Nathaniel was for Steve to receive a fuller understanding of who Nathaniel is and how he decides to spend his nights alone. Steve Lopez wanted to take a walk around in Nathaniel's shoes in order to live a night of poverty and helplessness, and he wanted to see through his eyes what Nathaniel's life has become over the past years. It's almost inspiring to me how someone, like Steve Lopez, who actually has a journalist career and family, would be willing to become a member of the homeless society for just one night. In the same way, Nathaniel has his own career: the musical performance that he gives each and every day in the same tunnel just off Skid Row. However, this musical career doesn't really allow Nathaniel to make any valuable money, but he doesn't seem to care if he has no money. Just as long as he's able to create music for the joy of pure entertainment, Nathaniel is satisfied with his life and himself.

So far, my favorite Chapter of The Soloist is definitely Chapter 12. I really admire how thoughtful and sincere Lopez is towards Nathaniel when he's talking to him about going to the Walt Disney Hall to see the Los Angeles Philharmonics rehearsal. "Maybe not, but more important, a columnist does not tell a paranoid schizophrenic what to do. Even if I could change his mind, what might we be in for at Disney Hall?"(107). Nathaniel's resistance to go to Disney Hall is because he is very anxious and worried about what will happen to his most valuable possession, which is his shopping cart. I think that Nathaniel wants to hold on to his shopping cart because he can call this shopping cart his own, and it's a piece of himself that he doesn't want to ever let go of. After finally persuading and conflicting with Nathaniel, both of the two main characters go to the Walt Disney Hall and watch the L.A. Philharmonics rehearse. "Although I hear some of his more obvious mistakes, I also know Nathaniel's sound is the baring of his soul, and that when he closes his eyes, as he's doing now, it's as if he's come to a clearing in a forest and found relief under an open sky."(115). This quote really struck me as being extremely powerful because it's so descriptive of how emotionally passionate Nathaniel is when he's playing the cello. The simile described here almost makes the reader feel as if Steve Lope is talking about you, the reader who lives this breath-taking experience as soon as Nathaniel starts to play. Another quote from The Soloist's Chapter 12 that I also find fascinating is "Nathaniel lifts the instrument to the crease between shoulder and chin. Disney Hall is empty when he begins playing, although in Nathaniel's mind, Beethoven might still be lingering in the shadows."(119). This additional quote struck me as well because it's just so intriguing to me how Steve Lopez binds together the pure genius of Nathaniel's musical talents to the musical spirit of Ludwig van Beethoven.

One more important idea that I would like to point out about The Soloist is from Chapter 11 on p. 97. "Maybe there's a bit of guilt involved. I'm here in one of the most beautiful and inspiring places in the world, and he's in the most wretched. The difference between us is luck." For this particular quote, I would have to disagree with this "luck" idea because I believe that both of them are placed in different places because they both have different passions in life, which has caused them to live in different areas of California. It has absolutely nothing to do with luck, because what if all of a sudden, Nathaniel found a thousand dollars out on Skid Row one day, and he decided to go find an apartment better than Steve's house? In my opinion, that would be considered as luck. I really want to ask Steve Lopez about why he writes about luck, and I really would want to know if luck has anything to do with the rest of the book.

In conclusion, Chapters Seven through Twelve are just the beginning of a long road ahead between Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez. For Chapters Thirteen through Twenty-two, I would really love to see what happens between Steve and Nathaniel, and will Nathaniel ever decide to move into the Lamp program? I can almost see Nathaniel's character waiting to blossom out to the reader for Chapters Thirteen through Twelve. This book just gets better and better because of the way Steve Lopez designed the writing of the book. Maybe, in the future, Nathaniel and Steve can co-write a book together as viewed from Nathaniel's perspective on this musical journey. That would definitely capture my eye from the geico.


For My Chapters 7-12 Post:
Tell me if there are enough developed ideas that make sense at least.
Tell me if anything is unclear or not stated correctly and if there are any grammatical mistakes.
Tell me if there is any idea that should have been expanded on.