Chapter 9

So, my chapter nine blog was like super late. We're on chapter 11 now..so I would rather post for all that we've read so far instead of limiting to chapter 9.
On the plane i actually read a few pages into chapter 12. I had a lot of free time, :]
Chapter 11 was a bit confusing..I think it could have been meant to be confusing, just because the beginning is kind of a kidnapping. But even while it was confusing it was clarifying, in the sense that you kind of figure out what happens at the tree for real. Crazy Leper came back to school, which I was surprised at because wouldnt the school report him back to the army because they're so supportive of it? Or report him to a mental ward or something. For such a strict school I would assume he wouldn't stay there for very long.
Leper becomes kind of vital to the "courtcase" in chapter 11. He relays his information to everyone, and they don't notice how crazy he is because they are all focused on convicting Gene of something that really shouldn't matter in any of their lives. The event seems like it would become a smaller, if not even an event anymore, part of their lives because Finny comes back to school and is close to back to normal. Gene and finny have become even more connected it seems, even though Gene is kind of distancing himself from Finny.
But anyways, Leper kind of reveals what "really happened" to the group, but doesn't finish his conviction of Gene. Finny asumes the worst right away, and refuses to hear the rest. And when he falls down the marble stairs, breaking his leg again, the whole event at the tree just seems that much smaller to me. The focus really isn't the accident in the tree, it's focused on change. The change in relationships (Finny & Gene), the change in behavior (Leper), change in interest (Brinker), change in himself entirely (Gene)..all throughout their school years. I'm interested to read the end just so I can know how it changes the rest of their lives, because some of their changes are changes that we'll be going under..although I hope no one goes crazy like Leper.. We will all figure out whats more important to us in our school years. Like Brinker saw that his interest wasn't really in clubs and things for school. Our changes will have an effect on us also, and I'm wondering how the boys in the book deal with it just to get an idea.