Steven Lopez book titled The Soloist gives a detailed story of the lives of Steve Lopez, a newspaper columnist and Nathaniel Ayers who is a homeless musical genius. The homeless musician attends Julliard’s but then drops out after some time because of his mental condition and as it turns out he suffers from schizophrenia. Upon meeting him, Lopez seems unsure of the eventual relationship between him and Ayers considering his career and the deplorable condition of Ayers now that he considers featuring him in his column. Perhaps it is because of his work ethics but then, their friendship turns out great because Lopez takes up caring about Ayers. Theirs becomes a mutual friendship because in the long run, they help each other become better persons.
It is not surprising that even when nothing good may have been expected of Ayers, Lopez acknowledges that as a friend, Ayers inspired him, challenged him and even sent him “in search of some truer sense of..” himself (Lopez 107). Nothing good may have been expected of their friendship and relationship but they both benefitted from each other. It is quite unfortunate that Ayers suffers from schizophrenia and that cost him his studies but regardless of that, he eventually gets something out of his music.
Theirs was not an easy friendship, but they had to contend with each other. Lopez faced challenges dealing with his friend but then he overcomes most of these challenges. In their unusual friendship Lopez was getting more weary both emotionally and physically because of Ayer’s character at some point. But then he does not lose hope in him and because Ayers makes an impression on him, he willingly takes up the challenges and accords him further help. It is not surprising that at one point Lopez acknowledges that “I've learned to accept him as he is, to expect constant backsliding, to prepare for the possibility that he could be homeless again or worse, and to see hope in small steps" (268). It simply means that he was keen on seeing him get better.
It turns out that music is a very powerful tool that can connect friend and foe. Under normal circumstances it is difficult to have friends out of these two main characters. Steve Lopez is an excellent journalist who passes for a highly achieved man. On the other hand, Ayers is a broke homeless man who has nothing to his name save for his violin and music. But it is that music that brings them together. It is through music that they get to meet and know each other, and this led to Ayers succeeding in life or better still, becoming a better person while Lopez gets to learn more about Ayers and his mental condition.
Through the book, Lopez humanizes homelessness and Schizophrenia much to his benefit and that of Ayers. The reader is also introduced to these two problems but then a solution is offered. It is clear that it is possible to help people suffering from mental conditions and the homeless too. Not that the lesson learned is so important but is one thing that cannot be ignored. The reader is able to see that there are things that are more fulfilling than personal happiness and achievements. Lopez may have been a successful journalist but his life becomes more fulfilling through his encounter with Ayers and the help he gives him.
Work Cited
Lopez, Steve. The Soloist. London: Transworld, 2010. Print
