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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I recommend this book and the movie. The book was able to go over more stuff than a 2 hour movie had time for.
This is a quick, but good, read. If you've seen the movie, you know the story. I have renewed appreciation for people with a mental illness and those who try to help them.
I can't believe how quickly I finished this book.
As a music major, I really could feel the pain and anguish Nathaniel Ayers went through. However, I also enjoyed the love and passion he had for music.
Amazing read.❤
As a music major, I really could feel the pain and anguish Nathaniel Ayers went through. However, I also enjoyed the love and passion he had for music.
Amazing read.❤
An inspirational read. Makes me want to learn to play the strings!
This story makes me want to start playing my flute more frequently again. I remember how happy and satisfied I would feel when I played a piece really well, especially in front of a panel of judges during competitions. Also, I found a technical error in which part of a paragraph was repeated twice. I challenge other readers to find the error!
This book had such a profound impact on me; I finished it last night and was still awake at 5am.... Aside from the obvious story about Nathaniel and Lopez, it raises so many, many questions. The meeting between the two was a sheer stroke of luck for Nathaniel, the fact that Lopez is a writer was a sheer stroke of luck for Nathaniel and the tireless advocates for homelessness and mental health, the fact that the story takes place in a city with a phenomenal symphony orchestra was a sheer stroke of luck for everyone involved (including the musicians) - and so on. What if Lopez had met someone else? Is there value in focusing so much time, energy and money on one person, when there are thousands more literally next door? How jealous would I be if a loved one of mine were a different Nathaniel and I was seeing everything being done for this one? Since Nathaniel’s “progress” (and that’s a whole other topic here) is so limited - he is just as profoundly ill at the end as he is at the beginning - is it worth it? Who gets to judge if it’s worth it? And, being from a music background myself, the power of classical music to heal, free, balm - and cross boundaries between minds that are “normal” and those that are not - is at times, overwhelming. This one is going to stick with me for a long, long time.
SPOILER ALERT – I have to reveal something from the end of this book in my review.
I used to read Steve Lopez in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I no longer read that paper regularly and so I had not noticed his absence. Part of me believes it was fate that took him to Los Angeles.
Not only does Lopez do a world of good for himself and Mr. Ayres; Steve Lopez’ presence in LA has helped thousands of folks have a better understanding of mental illness. I consider myself to be somewhat educated on this subject, but Lopez certainly helped me.
Besides learning so much about the [b:saving grace|130916|The Saving Graces A Novel|Patricia Gaffney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171995451s/130916.jpg|126092] of music from Ayres and Lopez, I have to mention the change in the men’s relationship when Ayres asks to be called Mr. This was so powerful to me. Names are so important; so vital to our relationships with others. I was really moved by Ayres demand to be recognized as an individual, as an adult. Steve Lopez did a great job leading us to this revelation.
I am not sure how I feel about the upcoming movie, but I am so glad I got to read this book. I hope that Mr. Ayres and Mr. Lopez continue to have a good relationship with one another.
I used to read Steve Lopez in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I no longer read that paper regularly and so I had not noticed his absence. Part of me believes it was fate that took him to Los Angeles.
Not only does Lopez do a world of good for himself and Mr. Ayres; Steve Lopez’ presence in LA has helped thousands of folks have a better understanding of mental illness. I consider myself to be somewhat educated on this subject, but Lopez certainly helped me.
Besides learning so much about the [b:saving grace|130916|The Saving Graces A Novel|Patricia Gaffney|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171995451s/130916.jpg|126092] of music from Ayres and Lopez, I have to mention the change in the men’s relationship when Ayres asks to be called Mr. This was so powerful to me. Names are so important; so vital to our relationships with others. I was really moved by Ayres demand to be recognized as an individual, as an adult. Steve Lopez did a great job leading us to this revelation.
I am not sure how I feel about the upcoming movie, but I am so glad I got to read this book. I hope that Mr. Ayres and Mr. Lopez continue to have a good relationship with one another.
Fascinating, informative, bittersweet, inspiring and very human.
An honest look at mental illness, as seen through the eyes of LA Times columnist Steve Lopez. Lopez met homeless musician Nathaniel Ayers, and was intrigued by the story of how such a talented man ended up living on the streets. Lopez's growing friendship with Ayers led him to learn much more about music and mental illness, and to affect real change in how Los Angeles treats its neediest residents.
An interesting book on homelessness, mental illness and the desire to help