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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Had to read this for work to prepare for discussion I'm doing in a few days after a screening of the film version of this Steve Lopez book about his befriending of a Los Angeles homeless man battling schizophrenia whilst also trying to delve into his love of music. I like the book more than the film--I have some serious issues with the movie--but the book still feels a bit light around the edges for me. I need to go read Lopez's columns to see if the book is just a fluffed up knock-off of what he wrote in the LA Times, but that's kind of what the book feels like to me. The story is pretty heartwarming in the pairs relationship and Nathaniel Ayers undelivered talent due to the schizophrenia that took him out of general society in the early 1970s. Okay. But, as I said, better than the movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx.
I like Lopez's writing style a lot and I think he did a good job portraying a mental illness through his own experience. I didn't know anything about schizophrenia before I began reading. I think I will view some of the homeless people I encounter in a different light now.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This novel proved to be not such a hit with the bookclub. We all agreed that it felt like a series of articles rather than a flowing novel. We also had the impression that a lot of the very complex issues dealt with in the book were only really skimmed over. There could have been a lot more depth to the book which would have engrossed us a little more.
I'm not sure if this was the librarians in the group but we thought that having an appendix with fulltext or references of the actual articles which created the base for this novel would have been interesting.
Most of the group felt very bored with the novel and would not recommend it to a friend. Overall we gave the book an average of 4 out of 10.
I'm not sure if this was the librarians in the group but we thought that having an appendix with fulltext or references of the actual articles which created the base for this novel would have been interesting.
Most of the group felt very bored with the novel and would not recommend it to a friend. Overall we gave the book an average of 4 out of 10.
I wanted so badly to like this book, because the premise really intrigued me. The reality is that the entire story centered around the egotistical Lopez trying to coerce his exploited “friend” into undergoing what he thought was the proper course of treatment, despite having no formal mental health training. And don’t get me started on all the HIPAA violations.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
This book is the worst. Steve Lopez is the worst. Do not read it. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 dollars.
I guess the story of a mentally ill guy with great musical talent just doesn't inspire sympathy in me. The story is narrated by a LA Times columnist and is half about his struggles to keep his job and come up with column ideas -- who cares? I cared even less about the homeless man he was trying to help who didn't seem to me to deserve the help.
I wish I could give it a 3.5. It was good - a look into the frustrations of mental illness.