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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
When Columbine happened I was still a child and so I only had a vague recollection of what happened, two gunmen, drove to the edge by bullying, went on a rampage through their high school killing many. However, after reading this book I have realised there is a lot more to the event than that, particularly Cullen disproves the widely held notion that the killers were victims of bullying, instead providing evidence of depression and psychopathy. This is a big strength of the book how it debunks so many of the myths surrounding that day including the involvement of the 'Trenchcoat Mafia', and addresses how these myths got started.
The books is comprehensibly detailed and switches between the events of that tragic day, the years leading up to it and the police investigation and public recovery afterwards. Sources of information are clearly stated and easily checked for those who read non-fiction for reference rather than pleasure. Cullen does not shy away from the tough aspects of the events, how police and psychologists missed warning signs in the killers, how one victim was left to bleed to death by the SWAT team and how one victim's religious legacy comes from a simple confusion in the chaos. He also stays away from vilifying the killers and parents, showing that they were human not evil, which gave a more balanced view to the book.
David Cullen has a website that accompanies the book, which not only contains some of his information sources, but also has detailed resources for educators teaching Columbine as part of the curriculum. Although I would say the contents of the book was not appropriate for younger teens.
I got through the book in under a day as it is gripping, vivid and readable, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to know the truth about this tragedy, as well as those who like true crime books.
[Cross-posted from tomesofthesoul.blogspot.com]
The books is comprehensibly detailed and switches between the events of that tragic day, the years leading up to it and the police investigation and public recovery afterwards. Sources of information are clearly stated and easily checked for those who read non-fiction for reference rather than pleasure. Cullen does not shy away from the tough aspects of the events, how police and psychologists missed warning signs in the killers, how one victim was left to bleed to death by the SWAT team and how one victim's religious legacy comes from a simple confusion in the chaos. He also stays away from vilifying the killers and parents, showing that they were human not evil, which gave a more balanced view to the book.
David Cullen has a website that accompanies the book, which not only contains some of his information sources, but also has detailed resources for educators teaching Columbine as part of the curriculum. Although I would say the contents of the book was not appropriate for younger teens.
I got through the book in under a day as it is gripping, vivid and readable, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to know the truth about this tragedy, as well as those who like true crime books.
[Cross-posted from tomesofthesoul.blogspot.com]
The emotion in this book got to me, okay? Cullen does a really beautiful job of describing the tragedy and the reality of what happened without going into the gory details of their wounds, which can often come off as disrespectful.
I also really like how Cullen balanced the chapters following the murderers versus following the survivors, as it gave a really balanced view and scope of the whole thing.
I also really like how Cullen balanced the chapters following the murderers versus following the survivors, as it gave a really balanced view and scope of the whole thing.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
This is one intense book.
The details of events are thorough, the analysis of Klebold and Harris is thought-provoking and overall the book is written in an easy-to-read manner. I felt I was caught up in a current-event story and I could discuss the events with co-workers, friends, etc, but had to remind myself that I was the only one with this on my mind every day.
I grew up in/around the neighborhoods of Columbine, I know it well. With that being said, I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars because of the miss on some of the basic geographical facts/names that would have been easy to fact check (not obscure things, but locations of hospitals, and names of local agencies). These easy fixes make me question what else may have been missed. I was also irritated with the broad brush he painted the community, especially regarding religion, because I just don't see that strong of a religious influence in the area.
Some other weaknesses include a lack of maps or floorplans, and discussing or at least mentioning something about each victim, whether it was the killing of each victim instead of a broad brush across the library deaths or a small bit about who they were and what they were doing that day. The way the narrative goes forward and back is both captivating and frustrating with no apparent rhythm.
I would definitely recommend this book, if you are up for reliving April 1999 and it's aftermath.
The details of events are thorough, the analysis of Klebold and Harris is thought-provoking and overall the book is written in an easy-to-read manner. I felt I was caught up in a current-event story and I could discuss the events with co-workers, friends, etc, but had to remind myself that I was the only one with this on my mind every day.
I grew up in/around the neighborhoods of Columbine, I know it well. With that being said, I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars because of the miss on some of the basic geographical facts/names that would have been easy to fact check (not obscure things, but locations of hospitals, and names of local agencies). These easy fixes make me question what else may have been missed. I was also irritated with the broad brush he painted the community, especially regarding religion, because I just don't see that strong of a religious influence in the area.
Some other weaknesses include a lack of maps or floorplans, and discussing or at least mentioning something about each victim, whether it was the killing of each victim instead of a broad brush across the library deaths or a small bit about who they were and what they were doing that day. The way the narrative goes forward and back is both captivating and frustrating with no apparent rhythm.
I would definitely recommend this book, if you are up for reliving April 1999 and it's aftermath.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Very informative, well researched and presented in an entertaining way. Although spent a lot of time on non-sequesters I wasn’t too interested in
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Incredible! I learned so much about this event that I didn't know or had completely wrong, thanks to the several fallacies perpetuated by the media. It is presented in an interesting, readable, balanced way that shows all sides to the events. The author sifted through a stunning amount of material, between interviews, police reports, the killers' journals, and much, much more to glean as much truth as possible out of a story full of muddled facts, distortions, cover-ups and lies—some of which weren't even intentional.
I was shocked to discover just how much I didn't know, particularly concerning the multitude of failed bombs (can you imagine how many more people would have died? Horrifying!!) and the number of advance warnings which, had they been put together or acted on just a little differently, might have avoided the massacre altogether.
I very much appreciated the fact that after discussing it all to such lengths that the shootings almost seem "normal," Dave Cullen spends the next to last chapter giving a medically detailed description of the killers' final minutes (among the bodies of several classmates) that it completely reinforces the horror and tragedy of the event. You don't walk away desensitized.
I'd definitely read other books by Dave Cullen and have been recommending this one to everyone I know.
I was shocked to discover just how much I didn't know, particularly concerning the multitude of failed bombs (can you imagine how many more people would have died? Horrifying!!) and the number of advance warnings which, had they been put together or acted on just a little differently, might have avoided the massacre altogether.
I very much appreciated the fact that after discussing it all to such lengths that the shootings almost seem "normal," Dave Cullen spends the next to last chapter giving a medically detailed description of the killers' final minutes (among the bodies of several classmates) that it completely reinforces the horror and tragedy of the event. You don't walk away desensitized.
I'd definitely read other books by Dave Cullen and have been recommending this one to everyone I know.
