Andy’s Comments (group member since Feb 11, 2018)

Andy’s comments from the Damage group.

Response to the questions:

1) Yeah, there relationship was pretty forced. I agree.

2) I agree.

3) Cool. That's how Connelly tried to write the series so points to him.

4) True.

5) What happened to this answer?

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

Awesome.

Question 1: I think it was doomed from the start. Bosch and Wish are such vastly different characters. Bosch is this solo one-man show whereas Wish wants to follow by the rules even if she sometimes breaks them. At the beginning of the book, you can tell that Bosch and Wish aren't going to get along. In the end, they do but that's because circumstances change. Besides, by the end of the book, Bosch wants Wish to turn herself in. If the man really loved her, wouldn't he spare her the embarrassment? Not Bosch. He's a man who goes by the book and his own code which is basically that no criminal goes free. "Everybody counts or nobody counts".

Question 2: Obviously Bosch is the guy alone, but I still agree with Mak: he could be "the guy with the girl" but only if he cleaned up his act. Whether Bosch likes it or not, he's alone. And only he can change that.

Question 3: I'm a huge Connelly fan and I've read almost the entire Bosch series so far so obviously I love Connelly's writing. He's so descriptive with regards to cop work. He's the most detailed detective writer I've ever read and I hope one day to be able to write crime novels as detailed as his.

Question 4: As the books progress, you soon learn that Bosch eats usually quite unhealthily (almost always takeout) but is still fit for a man his age. Connelly explains that Bosch is still in shape due to his mission which basically is Bosch finding justice for the victims of the criminals he puts away. Whether that helps with his diet, I don't know but the man never seems to make himself food from his own kitchen unless he really doesn't want to order takeout.

Plus, Bosch makes mistakes so the lack of sleep, in the end, does hurt him. But Bosch is a night owl and he seems to always have been this way. The man cares more about solving a case than sleep. Obviously, he sleeps but he ends up normally crashing so much so that's he been caught sleeping in his suit probably more than a few times by someone in the squad room.

Question 5: I know the answer to this question but I don't want to spoil the series for anyone so I'll try to answer it differently. Bosch's lost light so far in The Black Echo is hope. Hope for the victims. Bosch is constantly chasing lost light so he can provide justice for the victims of the murderers who took away their lives. Hope is what he is chasing but never hope for himself. The true lost light in the book is light from the Vietnam tunnels which Bosch wanted to figure out where the light actually came from. In that analogy, Bosch is chasing his own lost light. But to him, his lost light isn't the light that should be chased. It's the victims'.

Are you going to continue the series given the fact that you've already finished the second book?

WIth writes,

-Andy Ruffett

I'm glad you enjoyed the book. And I love your answers. Soon, I'll be writing mine.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

Michael Connelly

Hey, everyone.

So the questions regarding this book might be a bit different than you're used to with other books. Anyway, here we go.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

Question 1: What did you think of Harry Bosch and Eleanor Wish's relationship?

Question 2: Do you agree with Bosch on the whole Nighthawks analogy? Is he the guy alone or is he the guy with the girl?

Question 3: What did you think of the writing? Please note that this is Michael Connelly's first book so if you have read the rest of the series, what did you think of it? If you didn't, does this book stand alone or does it need other books to back it up?

Question 4: Bosch enjoys working nights and doesn't sleep very much. How do you think this impacts his mental ability to work on cases as a detective?

Question 5: The Black Echo is all about lost light, but Bosch's lost light in the book. Who or what is Bosch's lost light?

Well, I have to write that first off, I really enjoyed this book compared to the last one. Now, to the questions:

1) I don't think it's safe to write that her personality was bipolar. People don't normally enjoy being defined by their disabilities. It's a part of them whether they like it or not. Some (probably most with mental illnesses) honestly don't like to admit they have a mental illness like Jaime in the beginning. I think a better question is whether she was more herself manic or not manic. Her manic episodes were extreme and I believe she became more unlike herself when she was manic. When she was not manic, she was in a calmer state. For someone who is bipolar, I will write that mania makes you commit extreme actions with no caring of consequences. Some might argue that it brings out the creative side of you, but it also makes you reckless. Jaime proved that with her rapping and her constant focused attention on her self. Also, the less you sleep the more manic you become. So do I believe that Jamie's "natural" personality is bipolar? No, but I do believe that bipolar is a part of her.

2) Well, I think it sucks that she experienced all those side effects like loss of hair, bowel movements, and vomiting. It just made the life for Jaime more difficult. Of course, like any of the drugs, she got through it. I don't think it suppressed her authentic self except when she was in major depressive episodes. But the fact that she kept soldiering through despite the side effects proves her confidence in the medication. In other words, she wanted to get better even if the medication was possibly hurting her.

3) No, because bipolar is not like epilepsy or diabetes. Problems with the brain are vastly more complicated than other organs. The only reason anyone would wear a bracelet to inform people of their bipolar disorder is that they are warning others of their constant manic episodes. The bracelets are to protect the patient and not the passerbys. Honestly, I don't see why bipolar patients would wear such bracelets as a manic episode is not like turning on a tap. What would a non-manic person do when a bipolar patient experiences mania? It's not like they can just jam some needle into their brain and have them stop. Like, I wrote above, the brain is a whole different issue. The only way for a manic person to stop "seizing" is to realize they are manic and stop. But they have to WANT to stop. When someone goes into epileptic shock or requires more insulin, the bracelet they are wearing informs the one reading what needs to be done. There is no list of how to calm down a manic person. If anything, the person dealing with the one in the manic episode should go along with the mania and then shut it all down. Bring the one stuck out of reality back to reality. For example, if the one with the manic episode says that they believe pigs can fly, the non-manic would notify the manic person why that is not possible. I think the problem with Jamie's mania, in the beginning, is people went along with it like the rapping and so forth. If they had shut it down, Jaime might have seen the error of her ways sooner.

4) Well, she didn't get her period for a while because of Depakote. I don't know how bipolar as a woman was an advantage for her because it seemed from her writing that it took doctors a lot longer to understand women's trifles with bipolar than men's. But I agree with Manny that being a woman could have had her more victimized if it was not for her safety net of friends.

5) What I take away from this book is the fact that Jaime told her story and it makes me more comfortable to explain mine. Also, some of the manic episodes Jamie experienced I can relate to so it might make me think twice before I have a manic episode and how it has affected other people such as my friends and family and myself.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by David Chbosky

Sure thing, Allie.

Oliver is the kid in the class who's very rambunctious. He seemed to always enjoy hitting his desk.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

To be honest, I didn't like this book. I found it to be too simple and not an exciting read. But now, THE QUESTIONS:

1) Why do you think Mr. Daniels was able to view and help Ally differently than her previous teachers? Is it because he is younger, male, or versed in special education? Are there other factors?

It's because he saw the struggle Ally was going through and it probably highlighted some of his own struggles when he was a kid or it reminded him that once he finished his degree, he would be helping people like Ally on a regular basis so decided to give himself a headstart for their sake.

2) When selecting this book, I first searched for fictional books about adults with dyslexia but they were harder to find. Why do you think that is?

I think it's because dylexia is more introduced (like any other disability) when you're young rather than old. Therefore, there's a higher market for children with dylexia or for children who don't have dyslexia but know of it.

3) In addition to Ally's struggles with dyslexia, we see a lot of examples of other challenges that kids face. Which one stood out to you most?

Oliver. I loved Oliver. Would have been curious to read what his problem really was.

4) What is one message a person who has never had a learning difference could take away from this book?

That's it a struggle growing up.

5) How do you feel about the dynamics between Keisha, Albert, and Ally?

Not bad dynamics. Albert basically was a wimp until he stood his ground. I think I liked Keisha the best. However, Ally was pretty ballsy too.

With writes,

-Andy Rufett

Still waiting in line for mine in the library. Apparently I'm the third hold.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

I'm Andy Ruffett. Apparently I have bipolar, which I don't believe I have. I also have A.D.H.D. which I DO believe.

Anyway, I've had three mental breakdowns in my life and I thought we were only choosing books that are about some sort of DAMAGE so I'm happy that's not the case.

Nice to meet all of you.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

I guess I'll be informed when it is my turn? I feel like it will take a while.

Lol.

With writes,

-Andy Ruffett

P.S., still waiting for my copy at the library.