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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
I've read Rachel's Tears, and I still consider that the best Columbine Book, but that just focuses on her. This is the best book about the event in general I've ever read. I already knew alot about it, and am always correcting people when they repeat the long debunked myths about the tragedy, but I learned so much more in this book than all my previous research combined! It's the most in-depth look into it, and it's obvious Dave Cullen took his ten years of investigating seriously.
I highly recommend this book to both people who know alot about it, and those who don't know anything about it.
I highly recommend this book to both people who know alot about it, and those who don't know anything about it.
I obviously didn't 'like' the story or the reason for the book itself but the content was laid out really well and there is tons of data to back it up so I believe that this is as close to the truth as we will probably ever know. It also wasn't boring or like reading a report so my interest remained high. I cannot imagine the pain that the families and the community suffered and I hope I never know.
Thoroughly researched and, more importantly, gripping to read. I was a bit dumbfounded at the number of things we take for granted about the columbine massacre that are simply not true. The in-depth analysis of Eric Harris's possible psycopathy was incredibly enlightening, and shifts at least some of the responsibility away from alleged bullies (who may never have existed in the first place) and towards the multitude of adults (including professional therapists) who were duped by him. Dylan Klebold is actually the more tragic situation, since it is fairly obvious from a significant amount of his behavior that he was deeply depressed. Of course, this doesn't serve to excuse his horrific actions in following what was most likely Harris's plan, but it does teach a lesson moving forward for adults (parents, teachers, therapists) to be conscious and conscientious in the interactions with "troubled" children they encounter.
On both a sadder and more hopeful note, I was very moved by the struggles of the survivors, both those who ultimately couldn't get through the aftermath, and those who pushed through and exceeded everyone's expectations.
On both a sadder and more hopeful note, I was very moved by the struggles of the survivors, both those who ultimately couldn't get through the aftermath, and those who pushed through and exceeded everyone's expectations.
DNF
I struggled with this book. Parts of it were interesting, but I struggled to stay engaged with it. There was a lot of repetition, like Cullen didn't trust his reader to remember everything. Cullen really wants to stress that this was not a typical school shooting, but rather a failed bombing modeled on Timothy McVeigh's bombing of the Murrah building the year before. But he mentions over and over that Harris and Klebold's bombs failed, just in case we were still labouring under the misapprehension that this was a straightforward school shooting.
I also had a hard time with Cullen's writing in 1990's teen slang at times. I would have preferred that he write in his journalistic tone throughout. That is a minor critique, but it just took me out of the story at times and I found it distracting.
I wanted to like this and I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more. A lot of folks have loved this book, so it might just be me.
I struggled with this book. Parts of it were interesting, but I struggled to stay engaged with it. There was a lot of repetition, like Cullen didn't trust his reader to remember everything. Cullen really wants to stress that this was not a typical school shooting, but rather a failed bombing modeled on Timothy McVeigh's bombing of the Murrah building the year before. But he mentions over and over that Harris and Klebold's bombs failed, just in case we were still labouring under the misapprehension that this was a straightforward school shooting.
I also had a hard time with Cullen's writing in 1990's teen slang at times. I would have preferred that he write in his journalistic tone throughout. That is a minor critique, but it just took me out of the story at times and I found it distracting.
I wanted to like this and I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more. A lot of folks have loved this book, so it might just be me.
This is a truly brilliant, exhaustively researched, fascinating, easily-digestible piece of journalism. A five star book for me, for sure, and easily the best non-fiction I've read in quite some time. I'm currently having a hard time fully enjoying any of the five books I've got going now as they all pale in comparison. In the interest of full disclosure I should note that I do have a personal, albeit brief, connection to Columbine, having at one time been friends with the principal's son and having met Mr. D himself in his basement roughly six months after the massacre. That was definitely part of why I wanted to read this, but I also have a fascination with the human psyche and a intense desire to know what drives people to commit such heinous acts. I knew from the beginning that the idea of Dylan and Eric being "Gothic freaks seeking revenge" was ridiculous. I know too many freaks of all types, including Goth, for that to make any sense at all.
Considering the outpouring of immediate information (much, if not most of it false) concerning the massacre, I really appreciate Cullen's dedication in uncovering the truth. He put in ten years of research, coming through piles of evidence including journals, photos, videos, autopsy reports, etc. and interviewing anyone related to the event who would sit still long enough. (Most of his source information including crime scene photos, police documentation, and video clips can be seen at the book's related website.) He truly wanted to understand, to dispel rumors and myths, to present a fair, truthful, and mostly unopinionated account of what happened. (His own feelings on "why" are evident, but well supported and, really, I can't fault him for them leaking out, and not just because I happen to agree with him. I don't know that I'd want to read something someone researched for this long if they didn't have some kind of obvious emotional response.)
The format Cullen uses took a brief period of getting used to, but I really liked it in the end. He alternated chapter between those leading up to the massacre and those describing what happened after, including the investigation. It is carefully done so that it all comes to the same point by the end of the book. His writing style was excellent for me as well. I have read descriptions of the book that include he phrase "a non-fiction novel", and I think that is very apt. The story unfolds like fiction and is written so casually at times that it just flows along. Cullen utilities slang and casual structure to mirror that of the killers' own language, employing phases such as "this was going to be fucking bad-ass" (not an actual quote, but you get the idea). It gives the book a real human (and, at times, an appropriately teenage) voice that keeps it from being too stuffy or dry.
It is a size able book at over 400 pages, but I can't imagine anything being left out. Cullen investigates every aspect, including those victims the general public seems to have mostly ignored, including boys' parents and siblings, the principal, and the wife of the one teacher killed. He covers all the rumors, theories and myths, including the Trench Coat Mafia, the concept of the boys being vengeful losers, and the oft-heralded Cassie Bernall. He follows all the main characters up to the time of publication, leaving no one out.
This is an amazingly powerful book. It is no wonder Cullen is considered the foremost expert on the Columbine killings. I am very eager to see what he tackles next.
Considering the outpouring of immediate information (much, if not most of it false) concerning the massacre, I really appreciate Cullen's dedication in uncovering the truth. He put in ten years of research, coming through piles of evidence including journals, photos, videos, autopsy reports, etc. and interviewing anyone related to the event who would sit still long enough. (Most of his source information including crime scene photos, police documentation, and video clips can be seen at the book's related website.) He truly wanted to understand, to dispel rumors and myths, to present a fair, truthful, and mostly unopinionated account of what happened. (His own feelings on "why" are evident, but well supported and, really, I can't fault him for them leaking out, and not just because I happen to agree with him. I don't know that I'd want to read something someone researched for this long if they didn't have some kind of obvious emotional response.)
The format Cullen uses took a brief period of getting used to, but I really liked it in the end. He alternated chapter between those leading up to the massacre and those describing what happened after, including the investigation. It is carefully done so that it all comes to the same point by the end of the book. His writing style was excellent for me as well. I have read descriptions of the book that include he phrase "a non-fiction novel", and I think that is very apt. The story unfolds like fiction and is written so casually at times that it just flows along. Cullen utilities slang and casual structure to mirror that of the killers' own language, employing phases such as "this was going to be fucking bad-ass" (not an actual quote, but you get the idea). It gives the book a real human (and, at times, an appropriately teenage) voice that keeps it from being too stuffy or dry.
It is a size able book at over 400 pages, but I can't imagine anything being left out. Cullen investigates every aspect, including those victims the general public seems to have mostly ignored, including boys' parents and siblings, the principal, and the wife of the one teacher killed. He covers all the rumors, theories and myths, including the Trench Coat Mafia, the concept of the boys being vengeful losers, and the oft-heralded Cassie Bernall. He follows all the main characters up to the time of publication, leaving no one out.
This is an amazingly powerful book. It is no wonder Cullen is considered the foremost expert on the Columbine killings. I am very eager to see what he tackles next.
This is a beautifully written non-fiction novel about an event that struck terror into parents nation wide. I use the term novel because that is what a majority of the book reads as. The author creates a story from his research, making each character real for the reader. The book is also as impartial as one can get. The reader doesn't feel influenced to hate or pity the killers, nor do they feel influenced to judge the parents of the deceased.
50 States Reading Challenge: Colorado
This book is as close as I ever want to be to a mass shooting. It was a difficult book to read, partially because of the amount of vulgar language, but primarily because of the amount of pain it represents. Although I am from Colorado, this book shared multiple details that surprised me.
Learning more about Columbine helps one to understand the reasons why schools, students, teachers, gun laws, and even police procedures have changed since this event. A tragic event that shaped a generation and many generations to come.
This book is as close as I ever want to be to a mass shooting. It was a difficult book to read, partially because of the amount of vulgar language, but primarily because of the amount of pain it represents. Although I am from Colorado, this book shared multiple details that surprised me.
Learning more about Columbine helps one to understand the reasons why schools, students, teachers, gun laws, and even police procedures have changed since this event. A tragic event that shaped a generation and many generations to come.
I did not finish this book because I learned that the author had fallen for what he accuses others of doing in the book, believing things without all the facts.
Really interesting deep dive into the Columbine shooting. I learned a lot from this book but it’s definitely not my cup of tea. I cried a few times, and got sick to my stomach a little too. It further proves why we shouldn’t romanticize these guys (as some people do on tumblr apparently) and serial killers/mass murderers in general). This book debunked a bunch of theories and narratives surrounding the killers and did an amazing job at emphasizing the bravery of those who risked their lives to help others.