My reading of the novel The Soloist has now come to an end leaving me with many emotions an opinions about the book .I hate to be a critic and analyze books because I think that every book has something unique about it and even if it seems good there is always room for improvement .This is because every reader will have a different opinion of the book. My idea is that a good book can always be better and therefore better can always be upgraded to best.
In the last set of chapters ( 23-31) my opinion of the book pretty much stayed the same as it as before .This ending of the book seemed to move at a faster passé for me though because in almost every chapter something stood out for me that made me think outside of the books pages . You know a book has really hooked your attention when your thoughts go further than just the plot.
First, one thing I really like about this book is that it really shows that there is always room for improvement and that a calibrate effort is better than one individuals thoughts. In chapter 23 when Lopez was going to give in to Nathanial’s weakness of taking his cart everywhere Casey Horan pointed out that it is time to help Nathanial get over his fear that he needs the cart for security. This little conversation in my opinion shows a life lesson. If you take things one step at a time and little by little get out of a bad habit you can attack it and win , but if keep giving in or trying to get it all at once , you will never be successful.
Next, in these set of chapters it wasn’t all fairy tale rainbows and butterflies which made me appreciate them a lot more. Lopez actually showed the reality and the dark side of Nathanial with his weaknesses that he still had to work on. For example the couple of times where Nathanial snapped out at Lopez really highlighted what his disease was like and what he had to live with. It reminded the readers that although there is all that improvement, everything is not better. Also, in these chapters Lopez admits and points out to us how Nathanial still writes on his walls and how he puts talcum powder on his face and calls himself Mr. White. This along with the shared opinions of a social worker at Lamp about Nathanial’s racial expressions and words he still publicly expresses, was enough to make Lopez second guess is positive feelings again .I felt pity for Lopez when he said “Is it possible that I bleary know Nathanial, that my perspective is blurred by both my own selfish desires and the fact that he is usually on his best behavior in my presence? The more I visit, the more I catch glimpse of this darker Nathanial.” This one quote shows a lot. It shows how peoples feelings can be easily let down but can be picked up just as fast as they are let down. It also finally states that Lopez is doing all this for Nathanial, but somewhere in this reasoning’s there is something there for himself also, whether it be satisfaction or just pride.
Also, I find the effort and time that Lopez puts into Nathanial amazing. Going back to Nathanial’s old life and walking in his actual footsteps takes a lot of dedication. The fact that Lopez was so dedicated really made him shine as a character in the book. Seeing the good in a character and really feelings like I met a truly kind hearted person, makes me want to read the book even more. Being the person I am and always inferring things made me see a sign of Nathanial’s disease when Lopez was looking at his records and grades. The way his grades plummeted in the spring semester but how he still managed to pass his end of the year solo performance with no problem, right away stood out as a sign of hardship in his life to me. A quote that really touched me on page 245 was when Lopez said “It’s like looking at a photograph taken moments before someone’s unexpected death. “ This definitely played on my emotions. It shows how tragic what happened to Nathanial was and how quickly even the thought of it can affect the others around him.
Last, I would like to make a general statement that although the end of the book wasn’t how most books end where everything works out perfectly, I think this way had more meaning. It was realistic and at the same time still put a smile on my face .I am proud of both Nathanial and Lopez .It seemed as if they both got something beneficial out of their experiences together. The book leaves me to think that Nathanial will live a happy life especially now that he has a place of his very own to live with his passion: His music studio.
· Jude my ideas
· Organization
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Forming a Closer Relationship
As I read further into The Soloist, I have come to feel as if I know Nathanial one on one as a person. Although he can sometimes be a little hard to read, after finding out a few more tid bids about his background, I am now able to connect with the character of Nathanial. In this review of chapters 13-22 I will talk about some key factors that really stood out to me and that I felt were major changes or important key ideas.
First , in chapter 14 Lopez says “ Not that I would ever diminish or romanticize a dreadful illness, but anticipating the possibility that this will forever be his life ,and looking for an excuse to leave him to his ways, I find myself what might sound like a strange question. Is he happy? “That one quote stroke up a major topic that was discuses in the rest of the chapter and in my opinion could stand as a question that would be a follow up on a theme of the book. This book has a person who has hardships coming his way left and right, but still manages to be happy. In most people’s eyes other than his, it cannot be understood why or how Nathanial is satisfied with how he lives life. This book makes you realize that it is on the person themselves to decide what will make them happy at the end of the day. In my opinion I do think Nathanial is a happy soul and even though he had to put up with his disease that he forcefully encountered, as long as he has his passion Nathanial will be satisfied. He does not care about the riches or the surroundings around him and that is what makes him different and makes Lopez ask the question I stated above. Because Lopez can somewhat see that Nathanial views things differently than many others, he sticks with him.
Next, in these chapters Nathanial’s family life and previous years were shared with us. He had a normal life, where everything was fine and well rounded, but once his father left them and went to California, Nathanial seemed to have been effected. He was too young when this happened to even realize why it all took place. He missed his dad and felt like he lost his mother because she took him and his sisters and moved them in with the new person she was seeing. The stress of losing her dad, feeling a lack of attention from his mom, and dealing with a new living environment that he didn’t even like, really added a lot of stress to Nathanial’s life. In my opinion, these family problems added to his hard life style and may be one of the reasons he lives how he does now. Although I know that his disorder is a big part of how he lives and I don’t blame the family splitting completely, I still think the burden that he put up with was unhealthy for him and had a long term effect. My idea seems to be supported by his teacher William Moon’s daughter in chapter 16 when she says to her father that "maybe Nathanial wanted to make Mr. Moon as proud of him as he was of his own daughter.” This shows that in the prime years of Nathanial’s life, he didn’t have a father figure to look up to or to impress with his great talents. This would take away some happiness form anyone’s life.
Last, the improvement that was shown throughout these chapters is amazing. Nathanial actually referred to Lamp as his place. Taking passion to anything other than his god Beethoven, his instruments or the tunnel was not heard of in the previous chunk of chapters. In my opinion seeing a little improvement doesn’t mean that things are all better, but if things are done one step at a time and fall into place, success will most likely come out of it. I can actually feel the excitement and vibe that Lopez probably got in his stomach when he witnessed Nathanial stand up for himself and say to James in chapter 19 “ I didn’t quit anything . This is my place. “At the end of part two of the book, Nathanial actually accepted a deal and is sleeping in his room, B-116, three times a week. For this we can thank Lopez for sticking by him.
In conclusion, these chapters always had something new coming for them whether it be a story, background knowledge, a success or a hardship. These chapters really made things in the book a lot more relatable for me allowing me to better connect with the book .
* check for : thoroughness, clarity, and thought out ideas
First , in chapter 14 Lopez says “ Not that I would ever diminish or romanticize a dreadful illness, but anticipating the possibility that this will forever be his life ,and looking for an excuse to leave him to his ways, I find myself what might sound like a strange question. Is he happy? “That one quote stroke up a major topic that was discuses in the rest of the chapter and in my opinion could stand as a question that would be a follow up on a theme of the book. This book has a person who has hardships coming his way left and right, but still manages to be happy. In most people’s eyes other than his, it cannot be understood why or how Nathanial is satisfied with how he lives life. This book makes you realize that it is on the person themselves to decide what will make them happy at the end of the day. In my opinion I do think Nathanial is a happy soul and even though he had to put up with his disease that he forcefully encountered, as long as he has his passion Nathanial will be satisfied. He does not care about the riches or the surroundings around him and that is what makes him different and makes Lopez ask the question I stated above. Because Lopez can somewhat see that Nathanial views things differently than many others, he sticks with him.
Next, in these chapters Nathanial’s family life and previous years were shared with us. He had a normal life, where everything was fine and well rounded, but once his father left them and went to California, Nathanial seemed to have been effected. He was too young when this happened to even realize why it all took place. He missed his dad and felt like he lost his mother because she took him and his sisters and moved them in with the new person she was seeing. The stress of losing her dad, feeling a lack of attention from his mom, and dealing with a new living environment that he didn’t even like, really added a lot of stress to Nathanial’s life. In my opinion, these family problems added to his hard life style and may be one of the reasons he lives how he does now. Although I know that his disorder is a big part of how he lives and I don’t blame the family splitting completely, I still think the burden that he put up with was unhealthy for him and had a long term effect. My idea seems to be supported by his teacher William Moon’s daughter in chapter 16 when she says to her father that "maybe Nathanial wanted to make Mr. Moon as proud of him as he was of his own daughter.” This shows that in the prime years of Nathanial’s life, he didn’t have a father figure to look up to or to impress with his great talents. This would take away some happiness form anyone’s life.
Last, the improvement that was shown throughout these chapters is amazing. Nathanial actually referred to Lamp as his place. Taking passion to anything other than his god Beethoven, his instruments or the tunnel was not heard of in the previous chunk of chapters. In my opinion seeing a little improvement doesn’t mean that things are all better, but if things are done one step at a time and fall into place, success will most likely come out of it. I can actually feel the excitement and vibe that Lopez probably got in his stomach when he witnessed Nathanial stand up for himself and say to James in chapter 19 “ I didn’t quit anything . This is my place. “At the end of part two of the book, Nathanial actually accepted a deal and is sleeping in his room, B-116, three times a week. For this we can thank Lopez for sticking by him.
In conclusion, these chapters always had something new coming for them whether it be a story, background knowledge, a success or a hardship. These chapters really made things in the book a lot more relatable for me allowing me to better connect with the book .
* check for : thoroughness, clarity, and thought out ideas
Friday, May 8, 2009
View Change of " The Soloist "
After reading my next chunk in The Soloist, in my opinion the book has changed a little and as I read, some curious questions about aspects other then Lopez's actual plot came into mind. Also, throughout these chapters (7 - 12) my emotions went up and down like a roller coaster. This set of chapters was really a page tuner for me and I can now say I am more into the book then I was when I first started, which is something I predicted. First, throughout out these chapters Lopez really inquires a lot about Nathanial and is determined to get help from every possible source he can get. He talks to several people about mental illnesses that pertain to Nathanial such as March, Rivia, Dr. Prchal, Calra Jacobs, and Dr.Alex Kopelowicz.This is physical proof of how much he truly cares about Nathanial, but sometimes his thoughts and words contradict his actions. Throughout these chapters he would say things about how he didn't want to be a care taker of Nathaniel and talks about how he cuts off family time for this case, even though it doesn't seem to be improving. Although some of the comments he makes lean a little toward the negative side, I firmly believe that he cares too much to truly mean this and back away from Nathanial. Other than having strong feelings about Lopez and his actions, the little events that happened to Nathanial throughout these chapters caused me to have different emotions. At some points I was nervous, sad, or at the edge of my seat. The first thing that had me feeling nervous was when the news that someone was jumped and in the hospital. Similar to how Lopez didn't want to call the hospital to see if it was Nathaniel was ok, I would have been reluctant about doing it too. I was very relieved to know that it wasn't him and he was safe. This made me want him to enter Lamp even more. I also felt embarrassed for Nathanial when he was on stage at Little Pedro Blue Bongo. I felt nervous for him and at the same time confident. He knows how to play very well, but when he messed up I think it was because of his nerves. Last, when Nathanial went to the rehearsal at the Disney Hall I felt his excitement. The Third Symphony was one of his passions and for him to be able to go and actually view it was definitely a privilege. When he wasn't going to go at first and almost changed his mind, I was actually heartbroken. One specific line that stood out to me was at the end of chapter 12 when Lopez said "I assume it was to prove his membership in the brotherhood." This really struck me as catchy. It summarized exactly what Nathanial seemed to have wanted all his life and what got taken away from him. It shows that everyone is connected in some way and are similar, but yet we are all unique in our own ways. Nathanial is part of the brotherhood at heart, but he is clearly different from the other musicians that he witnessed at the Disney Hall. My last point I will talk about is what Lopez writes for. I believe writes not only for himself and his happiness but to make the community aware of their surroundings and problems that happen in everyday life. His story is not only a great story line, but it also has a deeper meaning behind it. The fact that he is getting advice from other outside sources to see what their views are really sets a lesson for the readers of Lopez's work. In brief, I really think The Soloist is an entertaining book with actual meaning and feeling hidden behind the black and white lines.
* look for : tone , clarity, & well thought out points
* look for : tone , clarity, & well thought out points
Monday, May 4, 2009
Your Not Alone When You Have Your Passion
It is hard for me to have an overall opinion about the novel The Soloist considering the fact that I didn’t read a great amount of the book yet. Based on where I am so far (6 chapters in) I can say that I have mixed opinions about it. The topic of the book can be described with four “E’s “: entertaining, educational, emotional, and excellent. But on the other hand the pace of the book and the dull descriptions and details seem to bring my views of the book down a little. Unlike the last book we read, The Catcher in the Rye, this book isn’t just one big set of details, but there doesn’t seem to be a balance in between the two. I feel as if this book just gets to the point and does it in a cut and dry manner.
First, I like that I can relate both of the topics of the book to my life and my interests. I currently take a Psychology class which deals with mental diseases .One of the major charters of the book, Nathaniel, lost a lot of his success to schizophrenia. Also, his success and passion was in the field of music which clearly be directly related to all of us who attend GAMP.
Next, the way the book is written in first person appeals to me. Not just because it is in that form, but because the speaker of the book seems to have a kind, open heart while at the same time is determined and knows what he has to do to get things done. Reading Lopez’s thoughts and point of views can actually count as an inspiration since the way he goes about telling us the story is so positive considering the situation. The idea that a sophisticated journalist like Lopez set out to simply do a report on Nathaniel, but ended up actually caring about him and trying his best to look further into his life really touched my emotions. Also, I have great pity for Nathanael because he is a very talented person who had everything set out perfect for him. He went to Julliard and actually had the chance to pursue his passion for music, but that all got taken from him because of something that he couldn’t help. It makes you wonder, if there is a reason why the people who are out to do good and succeed, have these hardships.
In addition, I also not only admire the characteristics of Lopez so far, but I also think Nathanial is amazing as well. After all he has been through at such a young age such as losing his fiancée, his musical career, and becoming disconnected with his family, he still didn’t let his hopes down .He continued to pursue his love for music even if it meant playing a two string violin. I was extremely happy for him when he received the violin and the cello because the effects of this were a given; His heart was lifted.
The advice that was given throughout these few chapters to Lopez from the people he went to in order to inquire some help about how to handle Nathanial was 1 )for him to get Nathaniel to trust him and 2 ) to not treat the disease , but to treat the individual. This to me seemed to be very helpful advice especially because it was given to someone who was originally out to find more information on schizophrenia.
In brief, the first six chapters of the book weren’t bad. I am not as into it yet as I think I will be as I continue to read. This is a pattern that usually follows me when I read so I am not surprised. I can’t wait to find out more about Nathanial and how Lopez will help him!
When grading this we can focus on
- Clarity
- Explanations of my opinions
- Organization
First, I like that I can relate both of the topics of the book to my life and my interests. I currently take a Psychology class which deals with mental diseases .One of the major charters of the book, Nathaniel, lost a lot of his success to schizophrenia. Also, his success and passion was in the field of music which clearly be directly related to all of us who attend GAMP.
Next, the way the book is written in first person appeals to me. Not just because it is in that form, but because the speaker of the book seems to have a kind, open heart while at the same time is determined and knows what he has to do to get things done. Reading Lopez’s thoughts and point of views can actually count as an inspiration since the way he goes about telling us the story is so positive considering the situation. The idea that a sophisticated journalist like Lopez set out to simply do a report on Nathaniel, but ended up actually caring about him and trying his best to look further into his life really touched my emotions. Also, I have great pity for Nathanael because he is a very talented person who had everything set out perfect for him. He went to Julliard and actually had the chance to pursue his passion for music, but that all got taken from him because of something that he couldn’t help. It makes you wonder, if there is a reason why the people who are out to do good and succeed, have these hardships.
In addition, I also not only admire the characteristics of Lopez so far, but I also think Nathanial is amazing as well. After all he has been through at such a young age such as losing his fiancée, his musical career, and becoming disconnected with his family, he still didn’t let his hopes down .He continued to pursue his love for music even if it meant playing a two string violin. I was extremely happy for him when he received the violin and the cello because the effects of this were a given; His heart was lifted.
The advice that was given throughout these few chapters to Lopez from the people he went to in order to inquire some help about how to handle Nathanial was 1 )for him to get Nathaniel to trust him and 2 ) to not treat the disease , but to treat the individual. This to me seemed to be very helpful advice especially because it was given to someone who was originally out to find more information on schizophrenia.
In brief, the first six chapters of the book weren’t bad. I am not as into it yet as I think I will be as I continue to read. This is a pattern that usually follows me when I read so I am not surprised. I can’t wait to find out more about Nathanial and how Lopez will help him!
When grading this we can focus on
- Clarity
- Explanations of my opinions
- Organization
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