|
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | 
 enlarge | Authors: Lopez, Steve
Creators: Read By: Hughes, William
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, Inc.
Category: Book
List Price: $60.00
Buy New: $37.42
You Save: $22.58 (38%)
New (12) Used (4) from $25.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 1988998
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 6
Pages: 6
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 1433215209
Dewey Decimal Number: 920
EAN: 9781433215209
ASIN: 1433215209
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new audiobook! Delivered direct from our US warehouse by Expedited (4-7 days) or Standard (usually 10-14 days but can be longer). Expedited shipping recommended for speedier delivery. Over 1 million satisfied customers
|
| Also Available In:
| • | Hardcover - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | Paperback - The Soloist (Movie Tie-In): A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | Hardcover - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series) | | • | Audio Cassette - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | Audio Cassette - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | Audio CD - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | CD-ROM - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music | | • | Kindle Edition - The Soloist | | • | Audio Download - The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music (Unabridged) |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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 DreamWorks, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
The Soloist: A Lost Dream....Steve Lopez September 29, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Very well written. My husband and I have both read this book. I have given two copies of this book as gifts and the recipients have also expressed their appreciation for the book. The two gift recipients, my husband and I are are musicians and have a deep appreciation for the depth of this story.
A remarkable tale of mental illness and friendship September 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A long title gives a good summary of what's inside. Lopez, a long time columnist for the LA Times, happens upon a homeless man playing a violin with only two strings, and is moved by the man's obvious talent. Thinking this man's story could be a good column, Lopez embarks on a journey to uncover the soloist's identity, and in the process, becomes a friend to Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, who once studied at the Cleveland Music Settlement and Juilliard, only to be derailed by the onset of schizophrenia in young adulthood.
Ayers' story is fascinating and heartbreaking - the desertion of his father, the alienation from the rest of his family as he rebels against hospitalization and the mind-numbing medications of the 1970s - but the love of music keeps Ayers alive and fighting to hold on to his patch of Skid Row. Lopez's articles spur an outpouring of gifts for Ayers - violins and a cello from generous donors, and offers for help from local mental health outfits; before long, Lopez is learning much from various psychiatrists and social workers about Nathaniel's disease and finding ways to cajole the soloist back into contact with the world.
It is a long process, and the book spans two years of encouraging steps forward and frustrating backsliding, but Lopez and the gifted musician from Cleveland both gain so much. For Lopez, especially, the relationship opens the door to greater insight and compassion for Ayers and for others like him. It's a touching story of an ongoing and complicated struggle, and one that sheds light on the shadowy world of the mentally ill.
Realistic Portrayal of the Realities September 16, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I heard about this book in the NAMI "Advocate" magazine. I was NOT disappointed a bit--this is a realistic portrayal of life as a supporter of an individual living with chronic and persistent mental illness. I've been a professional in mental health services for more than 12 years, and one of the most difficult realizations to come to is that you can't do it for someone else...you can't wish for it hard enough, run interference long enough, or care enough to "fix" what we as loved ones perceive as "problems." We must be careful of our value judgments. Nathaniel is a man to be admired because he never gave up. Mr. Lopez's involvement in his life gave him something we all need--a human connection--and both benefited in the long run.
 May work for a Newspaper human interest piece... September 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Not so much in book form -- On second thought, I take that back, I think it could be a very compelling story, that's undoubtedly why they're making a movie out of it, right? -- BUT, personally I didn't find Mr. Lopez to be a very compelling writer.
I'm sure plenty other people have gone over all the odds and ends of the book, and I'm sure it's safe to say they did it better than I could do -- but the fact of the matter is(at least in my case), here is this very weighty subject matter and the writing feels as empty as a drum, Mr Lopez simply got lucky and stumbled upon a story that even if you are a second rate writer, you would most likely have success--seems it deserves better -- three stars, ah well...
Moolight Sonatas, Madness, and Mercy....... September 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Soloist is a poignant journey into the harsh world of a brilliant and talented homeless musician whose story will pluck at your heartstrings.
Through the very compassionate and capable voice of Steve Lopez, the reader is led into a world of stunning surprises and shocking insights into the very real domain of mental illness and homelessness where doors are opened and scenes displayed with unrefined veracity.
This novel seems to beg to be read as a clever work of fiction...however it is far from fictional!
This is a true story of amazing strength and of the careful 'baby steps' required to navigate the delicate emotions that continually thunder inside the heads of the mentally ill... and to walk beside a man of enormous talent who is also afflicted with schizophrenia; living on the streets of Skid Row while creating beautiful music for all around him to hear.
Nathaniel Ayers once had a brilliant career ahead of him in the music world and was a stand-out student at Julliard.
Everything changed as his slow descent into mental illness evolved and one day he found himself on the outside desperately seeking the comfort of the euphonious chords that sweetly sooth the scattered thoughts of his present-day schizophrenia.
Nathaniel worships Beethoven as he pushes his shopping cart full of instruments and his survival cache through the streets and tunnels in the slums of downtown Los Angeles.
The chance meeting of Nataniel Ayers and Steve Lopez is what makes this startling story and the friendship that is formed fills the novel with charity, empathy and grace.
This novel will change how you look at the mentally ill and homeless around you forever....Mr. Lopez has helped to shine a bright and fresh light on the 'stigma' of what we call madness.
With true compassion, we see how delicate the path to well-being can be and learn the deeper meaning of "There but for the grace of God go I"
Thank you Mr. Lopez...you really DID make a difference!
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
