The Soloist
The Soloist by Steve Lopez is an excellent book and one that I would highly recommend, if you have time in your busy schedule, to pick up from your local library and read. In addition to the baked goods that are sold at the Home Page Cafe’ at the central library branch, we also sell this particular book. It was there that to pass the time (for sometime days at the cafe’ are slow) that I picked up the Soloist and could not stop reading.
The story revolves around journalist, Steve Lopez who one day while on his way to work at the Los Angeles Times he hears music being played by a homeless individual, Nathanial Anthony Ayers. Mr. Steve Lopez becomes a bit intrigued by this individual and, after Nathanial finishes, returns to his office at the LA Times and scribbles down on his notepad, Violin Man.
He had no idea at the time how much he would become involved in Nathanial’s life from that day on. Mr. Lopez eventually did a few pieces on Nathanial which became very popular, so much that his readers wanted to help and would often send him letters asking how Nathanial was doing and if he was taking his meds, and even started sending Nathanial instruments.
During the time that Mr. Lopez is receiving these instruments for Nathanial, the thoughy of where to keep them dawns on him, giving new instruments to a guy who is homeless is not exactly safe. Mr. Lopez comes up with a little scheme, in order for Nathanial to get the new instruments he has to come to this shelter, known as LAMP. Nathanial is a little reluctant at first but he agrees, though he does try to leave Lamp with the instruments at one point.
I enjoyed this book so much, because here you have a hardworking journalist working for a dying industry and trying to make a living, who at first wants nothing more then something to write about for his next deadline, but builds a tremendous friendship with this guy that changes his entire outlook on the problem of homelessness and himself as a journalist.
Steve Lopez is a very cool guy and is not stranger to Philadelphia, earlier this evening I had the pleassure of attending his author event at the Free Librairy’s main branch, and folks every room was packed. He opened up with saying that a lot has changed since he left philly, the Philadelphia Phillies are the World Champs, the Eagles may go to the Superbowl, and Vince Fumo may go to jail. His articles that use to appear in the Philadelphia Inquirer were not only controversal, but very-very good. Come to find out, Mr. Lopez wrote quite a few articles on this individual. I wish I had known about him earlier, but I want to be like Steve Lopez someday, he is an inspiration and why I look at journalism as a great career to get into.
There is, of course, much more to the story and to find out what happens next I encourage everyone to either buy it or check it out of your librairy, and please read it first before going to see the movie this April.
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Hi Peak – Lopez is amazing and certainly a good person to mold yourself after. His book “Third and Indiana” is one of the best descriptions of the struggles faced in Philadelphia and his collection of columns “Land of Giants” is a good look into the workings of the city in the 1980s and 90s. Keep up the great work – you’re an inspiration to all of us who write for a living!
Thanks Jeffrey, after reading “the Soloist” I was planning on reading “Land of Giants,” and “Third and Indiana.”