User blog comment:Cdc1998/A New Face at Bullworth: Part 9/@comment-26358727-20151111142928/@comment-26358727-20151112020950

Hey, don't worry about that. I love this story and I know I've gotten a little bit sloppy lately, but I also know how important feedback can be. Seeing as you'd just finished the chapter and I had a little bit of time before class this morning, I thought I'd get caught up again! ( :

I'm in no position to judge anyone - I think good people and bad people make good and bad decisions throughout their life, but I certainly think it says a lot to see someone give up a habit. Especially one that, as we see here through Michael, is actually closely associated with the peer group. I don't want to come across as a prude, and I won't say that it was stupid to do because we all make our choices, but I am proud of you for making the decision to quit. Even if it's not an addiction like some of the heavier drugs, it can be hard to give it up, but two years is a long time. Congratulations to fictional Charlie, but congratulations to you, as well!

Ha, well, I've never played San Andreas, but I commend your choice - I certainly think the song carries an atmosphere that you were trying to capture in Charlie's disappearance. It wasn't so much a "disappearance" as it was a brief adventure of self-discovery!

Oh, most certainly - having Charlie return here was the right choice in my opinion, too. The story is very much geared on Charlie's growth and development through the eyes of another character (almost an admirer, just as Nick was to Gatsby), and that's what I love so much about this story. It really holds true to F. Scott Fitzgerald's work. Especially considering Gatsby was, in essence, a reflection of himself and his own struggles. A very interesting approach, but very effective - especially in keeping the characters relatable.

I think further developing Charlie's relationship with Brandi will be a great route to go from here. While you're right, they have been at each others necks most of the time, I think the recent events have really changed both of them. Especially concerning their opinion on each other! It takes really drastic circumstances sometimes to truly appreciate how much people mean to us, and this is a great example of that. It's certainly a springboard into a renewed friendship there! ( :

Oh no! I didn't catch anything else while I was reading, but I'm glad that another comb through it helped you out. I know the feeling of writing way too late (or way too early, depending on how you look at it), but given those circumstances it was actually very well-written!