Finally!

Hey guys,
I finally got my account to work, I'm not sure why it wasn't working before but now it is!
Just a heads up I'll be commenting on old posts!
Thanks,
Mary

Noelle vs. Nia

Hey ya'll. Don't want to post too much, just a few questions for this next section to spark a conversation;

1.) What do you think happened to Noelle? On page 365; "People wanted to use you?" "Someone did. Someone who shouldn't." "I'm sorry." ... It confused me...also with the cutting...Just fill me in on what you think of Noelle!

2.) Does anyone else really hate Nia right now? She storms in, "heart broken" because of Aaron and her breaking up, and then basically puts herself on top of him. Later on she says, "This was totally on my checklist. Me and Aaron never did anything like this" and "You won't be seeing me again" (351-353). She's so rude to Craig, and I really hope he never goes back to her.

Definitely team Noelle here :)

Ch. 28-33

In this part of the book, we start to see Craig getting better. And even though he may not see it, it's quite obvious. He's been sleeping, eating, making friends, getting rid of the old bad friends, and even finds himself a crush. In the beginning of the reading, there's a part; "And people know they're not in Kansas anymore" (253). At this point, I was wondering whether or not Craig was going to get better or if this hospital was going to help him at all. However, later on he has a conversation with his inner solder; "She likes you, boy, and if you can't tell that, you aren't going to be able to tell a rifle from a cap gun in this war. " "What war is that, again?" "The one you're fighting with your own head." "Right, how are we doing?" "You're making gains, solider, can't you see that?" (287). He is progressing, and with his new friend Noelle, things look brighter for Craig.

Questions: What did you guys think of this section in the reading? Especially with the whole issue with his friends (page 257-"Now you've decided to turn being mad into being depressed...trying to play the pity card...")? Aaron was so rude to him and made the whole thing seem like a joke, calling it the "loony bin" and making Craig look like the bad guy. Another thing-Do you like Noelle? Or do you think that she is just distracting Craig even more from "focusing on himself" and getting better?

Enjoying Life?

One part that really stuck out to me, was when Craig was talking with Humble. Humble was explaining to Craig why the other people are in the hospital like them. Craig enjoyed the conversation and laughs so much he said;
"I shouldn't be laughing at any of these people, neither should Humble, but maybe it's okay, somewhere, somehow, because we're enjoying life?" (247).
Never has Craig described life as something enjoyed until now. Discussing others problems similar to his, and laughing about them seemed to put him at ease and he enjoyed it. Maybe as his time progresses in the Hospital he'll learn that sometimes the hardships in life can be cured by laughs.

Craig's Lies-Picture!

Just thought I would post this because it reminds me of Craig a lot. He lies constantly to family, friends, and doctors, saying he doesn't hear voices in his head and that he's "okay" when obviously there is something seriously wrong. Just thought I would show you guys this, :)

Zoloft

At the end of chapter 13, Dr. Barney prescribes Craig with Zoloft and instructs him to get it right away. As soon as he started taking the medicine, improvements in his everyday life were showing. He was so astounded by the immediate results. He says, "I don't know how, but suddenly I feel good about my life- what the hell? I was a kid; I had plenty more to do; I'd been through some crap but I was learning from it" (Vizzini 98). The pills were effectively bringing Craig back to his old self. He began to feel functional and efficient again. In fact, he was so motivated by the results, that he began to thinking about talking to girls in school about his problem because he thought that would make him seem brave and sexy; he took pride in his struggle through his health issues. However, as the story progressed, Craig experienced some 'fake shifts.' When he ran out of his final bottle of Zoloft, he did not take anymore; he did not even request a new prescription from Dr. Barney. His motto was, "Okay, if I ever feel bad again, I'll remember how good it felt that night on the Brooklyn Bridge" (Vizzini 106). The pill's value had changed. Every since Nia told him pills were for wimps, it was over for him. He was done, and back to his normal self. I do not understand why he would let Nia's remark change his opinion about the drug that made him healthier. Why would he want to go back to being sick? Why does he let Nia's opinion dominate and control his own feelings? I think the decision to cease taking Zoloft was one of the worst things he could have done at that point of his life. I understand he is still in high school, and making decisions are hard because he is still immature, but why would he take something that helpful out of his life?

Reading II Reaction

This section we learned more in depth about Craig's problem. The new school he was accepted into stressed him out with the mountains of homework he was given. He was also tied up with his interest in Nia, who is in a relationship with Aaron. We also read about Craig's first "party" encounter, and the power sex, and drugs can have on a person, especially a teenager. "The papers piled up in my room, and every day whenI came home I looked at them and knew that I could handle them, that if i just opend that first one i'd be able to get through them all and get the assignment done. Instead i lay in bed and waited for Aaron to call" ( 94-95). He realized how easy it was to "party" and how hard it is "work". It may come easy for Aaron who can smoke and mess around all he wants and is still incredibly smart "Aaron, who ended up in eight out of my nine classes, fot an 100 on the start-of-school reading quiz" but it seems hard for Craig to realize that he can't always be as 'up-to-par' as his best friend ( Craig recieved a 70 on his quiz). He admires Aaron, he's older, does well in school; "he was smart fearless, with a flop of brown curly hair and the sort of glasse that made girls like him" (53). Craig's also jealous Aaron has Nia. Craig's expressed and attraction to Nia, and is jealous of Aaron ability of charisma towards girls.

Reading this section reminded me of the Beatles song, "Nowhere Man", so to spice up our blog a little;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BVzNfqP0U

Relating to Craig

Everything that you guys have said I agree with. The book is very straightforward yet still makes you think. I definitely have met kids like this in the past. Motivation is a hard thing to gain, and once you do, it's even harder to maintain. This poor kid worked so hard for something that he didn't realize would end up being the one thing that led to his downfall and destruction.

"Other kids did everything: they were on student government; they played sports; they volunteered" and he continues to list for a few more lines (96). Then he continues to saying, "I didn't do anything but school and Tae Bo...Why were the other kids doing better than me? Because they were better, that's why...I wasn't gifted" (96). I've felt this way before. I mean think about it-colleges and parents and teachers and everyone-they're always saying do as many extra things as possible! But sometimes I think how much can I handle? I've definitely had my break down days with work and stress and Craig is having the same issue that every day people have except amplified. I just thought it was worth pointing out that the kid doesn't need to be talked to like a child and so ignorantly at the shrink's. He has valid reason for feeling the way he does, he just needs to let it out in a better way. He needs a real friend who he can relate to.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story (Part 2)

First off, I agree with Maura that this passage was focused on Craig's depression, and his problem of being "lost in the crowd." I believe that some causes for Craig's depression are that he has no self-control and he doesn't know how to handle his talents and apply them to succeed.

Craig begins the passage with possessing the quality of self-control, but by the end of the section that seems to have disappeared. On page 55 is the first time Craig hangs out with Aaron, and the first time Aaron offers Craig pot. Craig describes the conversation he had with his mother when he was 10 about not doing drugs, then he goes on to explain that when Aaron offered it to him for the first time, he said no. Progressing through the section, after Aaron and Craig get accepted into Executive Pre-Professional High School, Craig goes over Aaron's house and they decide to have a party. As Craig walks in the door, Aaron holds out the "metal cigarette" to him and says, "Smoke. Celebrate. If anytime's the time, it's now." With that, Craig loses his self-control and smokes the pot with Aaron. This detail showed that Craig could not handle the pressures of the world and his peers and lacked the strength to keep his self-control.

Craig shows his desire to succeed when he is crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with Aaron. Aaron is going on and on about Nia and her perfection and Craig tunes him out. Craig is too busy pondering what it would be like to mean something in this world, and have a purpose. Craig says, "I was happy because someday I'd be walking across the bridge looking at this city, owning some piece of it, being valuable here" (Vizzini 87). This quote showed me that Craig isn't hopeless. He may seem hopeless, going through his depression, but if he has the desire to be successful and make his mark on the world then I believe he can do it.

Part 2 Ch. 7-12

This section gives us a lot of insight into why Craig is depressed. Chapter 7 starts with Craig saying,

"So why am I depressed? That's the million-dollar question, baby, the Tootsie Roll question; not even the owl knows the answer to that one. I don't know either. All I know is chronology" (49).

Craig continues to divulge the details of the beginning of his high school career, studying incessantly in 8th grade in order to get into Manhattans best high school, Executive Pre-Professional High School. Him and his best friend Aaron both get in, but while Craig spends year of his life studying only for the test to get a perfect score, Aaron wings it and still gets a perfect score. When he starts high school at Executive Pre-Professional, he finds himself struggling to keep up with the other kids as they are all exceptionally gifted in all areas. He falls significantly behind and feels that he is a failure because his grades are 'below average' and because he can't keep up with all of his peers extracurriculars. His best friend Aaron on the other hand is doing well at school without even trying that hard, and is dating the girl that Craig had a crush on, Nia.

I think these are the main reasons craig becomes depressed, and I think almost everyone can relate to Craig's feeling of inadequacy. There is so much pressure from society to do well in school in order to get into a top college and get a good job that pays the bills. However, if you are someone like Craig, who is intelligent but may get lost in the crowd because he isn't the 'top of the top' you may get lost in the crowd. This doesn't mean he isn't smart or capable, but he thinks he isn't because he sees all of his peers being able to handle things that he can't. He also feels social pressure, to handle drugs and drinking and girls in addition to school work, and he just can't balance it like all of his friends can. This book makes me wonder what society is doing to kids like Craig, completely capable yet now because of what society has done to him he has become depressed and may not be able to ever make anything of his life.

Reaction to Part I

First off, i am hooked. I really like this book, and Craig's story is interesting. He's a boy (our age? 16?) fighting with his life, and he doesn't know why. Looking at what Craig thinks about, and his interests, i think he has a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His OCD in this case would be that he likes things to be strucured, and done a certain way. One thing hes loves to do is play video games. Video games involve strategy and steps to win the game. Its somthing thats set up, and by following its tactic or steps the game is won. Every copy of that game is like that. Also, in his mind, he imagines a soldier being commanded; "Hey soldier, what's the matter? I can't sleep and I can't eat, sir!" (29). Every Soldier take's the command that they are ordered, and follow or reply in a certain way. Craig also finds peeing a simplicity, and mentions its simple step of "you do it and its done" (7). Peeing is somthing that doesnt require work, yet it has a certain way of being done. Finally, something i found huge, to whether or not Craig has OCD, is the maps. Craig love's maps, and mentioned in detail the streets of Manhattan (21-22). He even recalled when he was young and tried to hand-draw the map of Manhattan, and his mother said to him, "You can't just trace freehand. It's imposible!" (25). The complexity and structure of the maps were what caught Craigs attention to them. The video games, images of the soldier, peeing, and maps are all somthing that do, or are done a certain way. Playing the video game, obeying the commands, following the maps, peeing...there is only one "right way" to win the game, take the commands, pee, and to make a map a a particular place...Maybe as Craig grew up he realized life was not structured like a map, and followed the same way as everyone else, and that it's not "simple"? Maybe what happened "last fall" is what did it to him? Thoughts?
I also found a deffinition for OCD on http://www.thehealthcenter.info/adult-ocd/ocd-faq.htm

>When you have OCD, you have recurring, upsetting thoughts (called obsessions). You repeat doing the same thing, over and over again (called compulsions) to make the thoughts go away. You feel like you can't control or stop these thoughts or actions.

Also a type, relevant to Craig's condition

>Orderers: Orderers are focused on arranging things in the “right” way. Often, they must organize things in an exact, particular, or “perfect” way before beginning daily tasks. They become extremely distressed if their things are moved, touched, or rearranged.

I could go on and on about this, i find his story so interesting! To whoever suggested it, good idea for a book!

I agree with you about the Tentacles and Anchors. It is interesting how he categorizes different aspects of his life into those two words-He has such an open mind, he is just so afraid of failure that he keeps it closed. The section intrigued me, as well. Two specific parts in particular caught my eye.

Craig has conversations with himself in his mind that are sad, yet fascinating. He is pretending to be a soldier talking to his commander. "Get up there and fight, soldier! The enemy is there!" "The enemy is too strong. I can't fight them. They're too smart"..."So you're just going to give up?" "That's the plan" (29). He has no hope or faith in himself, putting that into a scenario. Another one is, "Are you still concentrating on the enemy, soldier?" "I don't think so." "Do you even know who the enemy is?" "I think...it's me" (45). <---that last part stuck out to me a lot. It is significant because it shows Craig's acknowledgment that he is his worst enemy and he is the only one who can really save himself. No shrink or friend or drug will ever be able to make him happy but himself.

Another part I found interesting was when he discussed different relationships with parents, friends, air, water, and food (32). I am still trying to figure out what this part may mean, for it seems significant although it confuses me. Do any of you have thoughts on that part of what we've read?

It's Kind of a Funny Story (Part 1)

In my opinion, Part 1 was really intriguing, beginning with the first sentence, "It's so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself" (Vizzini 3). After that sentence, I couldn't stop reading. I really want to know more about why Craig wants to kill himself and what got him to this point. He keeps referring to "the fall of last year" and I wonder what happened then. Two terms that he used with his shrink, Dr. Minerva, that I thought were interesting were Tentacles and Anchors. Craig says that "Tentacles are the evil tasks that invade my life" and "Anchors are things that occupy my mind and make me feel good temporarily" (Vizzini 14-15). I feel that these two terms sum up Craig's life, and what he is going through. Another random quote from the reading that I found interesting was on page 37 when Craig is discussing how much his mother does for him, and how many times he tells her he loves her. Craig says, "I think you run out of I love yous" (Vizzini 37).

Reading Sched.

Proposed Reading Schedule: 

12/8: 1-50

12/12: 50 - 120

12/14: 120-170

12/16: 170 - 220

12/20: 220 - 295

12/22: 295 - 345

1/3: 345-end! 

Thoughts?