At the end of "The Soloist", I am very happy that this book is a nonfiction. While I don't remember any of the fiction books we've read this year having what I'd call a "happy ending", it's very relieving that the one book we read that deals with real life ends in a tone of hope.
No, Nathaniel is not cured; No, there is no quick fix for paranoid schizophrenia; and no, he didn't somehow regain all of his musical prowess. Yet somehow, this book lets me breathe easy while knowing that none of this is happened and likely impossible. Steve Lopez was an amazing friend to a man he had no business ever meeting, and for that he has made lives all the better. He has gained fame and fortune, and in turn more time with his family, due to his generosity in Nathaniel's case. Nathaniel has shown progress with his illness, has some contact with his family, has regained some of his musical talents, and has many reasons to believe in the people around him. It seems to me that the only thing that can happen from here is improvement.
In conclusion, "The Soloist" was a great book to end the year with. Hopefully Nathaniel continues to regain some of his old self, and I am very happy to have learned his story thanks to Mr. Lopez.
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