end of book analysis

After finally finishing The Soloist my opinion for the most part changed throughout the book. At first I was eager to read it and then as I progressed it began to bore me. Then toward the end I really took a liking to it and learned to appreciate the much bigger picture that I seemed to be overlooking. I was for some time in the mindset that this book didn’t have much meaning except to talk about a reporters experience with a schizophrenic homeless man. Then, I began to see the bigger picture. This was how one person can completely change the way you look at life and the way you set your priorities. This is what Nathanial did for Steve.

Sometimes they need another person to believe in them before they’re confident to believe in themselves.

This was a quote taken from the book that really stood out to me. As we all know Nathanial was schizophrenic, and for a mentally ill person he came a long way without medicine with the help from Steve. When it got rocky and Lopez really though there was no getting through to Nathanial, he still stayed and helped Nathanial with everything he had. Even when Nathanial screamed to Lopez telling him never to come see him again Lopez still went back because he knew Nathanial needed that person that wouldn’t give up and believe in him.

I think another reason Lopez stuck it out so long was because Nathanial really made an impact and changed his life as well. I feel as though Lopez never put that much effort into anything as much as he did with Nathanial. We rarely read or hear about someone helping and caring about another person’s life as this book provided. It really made me realize that not everyone has it so well, but with a little help it’s possible to bring happiness to a once shattered life. This is definitely what Lopez did with Nathaniel. If it wasn’t for Lopez, Nathanial never would get off the streets and never be as happy with he music as he is now. Lopez was a blessing for Nathaniel, and as much as Nathaniel did not show it and had he outbreaks deep down he knew it. This is why in my opinion he became as successful as he did without medicine.