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skyraptor_66's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best pieces of journalism I've read so far, which is hard to achieve when I've also been reading Krakauer. I highly recommend this as thorough, fascinating, and super readable while also dispelling the horde of myths surrounding Columbine.
heyjennajay's review against another edition
4.0
This was terrifying and gut-wrenching and I could not put it down.
abraid1014's review against another edition
3.0
I think I may be the only person who has not given this book 4 or 5 stars. I didn't dislike the book, but I felt like it could have been so much more.
I was only 10 when the "massacre" at Columbine occurred, so I don't remember a lot of it and I didn't know many of the details. As a result, I didn't hear any of the false stories, etc that were published directly after the attack.
I thought this book was very informative, but I feel as though it didn't present a lot of information. Cullen mentioned there were near 11,000 pages of police reports and witness testimonies from Columbine and the surrounding events, but I thought he presented the same bits of information several times through each "character". Actually, my biggest complaint about this book had to do with the information presented - there was actually very little information in the book, it was just told through the perspectives of several of the people involved. I don't know how many times Cullen mentioned the SAME destructive things Eric and Dylan did before "the massacre".
Really, what I took home from this book was that Eric and Dylan were really ineffective at killing people, parents get angry when their children die, and police suck. I already knew 2 of these 3 things, and I didn't need 400 pages to tell me that Eric and Dylan were ultimately unsuccessful in their massive annihilation of us zombies.
I was only 10 when the "massacre" at Columbine occurred, so I don't remember a lot of it and I didn't know many of the details. As a result, I didn't hear any of the false stories, etc that were published directly after the attack.
I thought this book was very informative, but I feel as though it didn't present a lot of information. Cullen mentioned there were near 11,000 pages of police reports and witness testimonies from Columbine and the surrounding events, but I thought he presented the same bits of information several times through each "character". Actually, my biggest complaint about this book had to do with the information presented - there was actually very little information in the book, it was just told through the perspectives of several of the people involved. I don't know how many times Cullen mentioned the SAME destructive things Eric and Dylan did before "the massacre".
Really, what I took home from this book was that Eric and Dylan were really ineffective at killing people, parents get angry when their children die, and police suck. I already knew 2 of these 3 things, and I didn't need 400 pages to tell me that Eric and Dylan were ultimately unsuccessful in their massive annihilation of us zombies.
thedubioushausfrau's review against another edition
4.0
I was in the 9th grade when Columbine occurred and it changed how I experienced certain aspects of school. I still remember what to do in case of lock down and i graduated 10 years ago.
What interested me the most was the examination of how the entire tragedy was treated by the media and the myths that came out it as a result of the media handling/mishandling of the event, the survivors and, the victims.
I didn't appreciate some of the assumptions that were made on the authors part regarding the inner thoughts of the killers during the shooting. Unless he was walking around inside their heads there is no way he could know their inner most thoughts as the events unfolded.
Other than that it was well written, well researched and an intense read.
What interested me the most was the examination of how the entire tragedy was treated by the media and the myths that came out it as a result of the media handling/mishandling of the event, the survivors and, the victims.
I didn't appreciate some of the assumptions that were made on the authors part regarding the inner thoughts of the killers during the shooting. Unless he was walking around inside their heads there is no way he could know their inner most thoughts as the events unfolded.
Other than that it was well written, well researched and an intense read.
jo_ellesw21's review against another edition
4.0
Was as devastating to read it as it was living through it. Answered some lingering questions for me.
asnyderk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
annaleawilson's review against another edition
3.0
This was a tough one to read, but has more detail than anything I’ve ever read or heard about the event. Maybe a bit too long, but packed full of detail.
gregarius's review against another edition
5.0
Dave Cullen was a reporter covering the shootings at Columbine High School during and after the incident. He continued to gather research for the next ten years, which produced this excellent book.
The book covers almost every angle on the story. It recounts the events of that day, but it also provides great insight into everything that led up to it for years before. He gives a strong picture of the killers, but also does a very good job describing the victims, survivors, and families of all. He starkly presents the facts, but also explains how the myths originated and gained hold in the public consciousness.
His writing style is very natural and easy to read. He bounces back and forth through time, which can sometimes be frustrating, but it was also effective. Although the book was clearly researched meticulously, it never feels dry. There are no pictures or 911 transcripts or diagrams in the book. I admit to being a little disappointed by that, but I understand that was not his intention. Including those types of things would have been sensational and exploitative, and that is obviously not the point of the book.
A really fascinating read about a terrible tragedy.
The book covers almost every angle on the story. It recounts the events of that day, but it also provides great insight into everything that led up to it for years before. He gives a strong picture of the killers, but also does a very good job describing the victims, survivors, and families of all. He starkly presents the facts, but also explains how the myths originated and gained hold in the public consciousness.
His writing style is very natural and easy to read. He bounces back and forth through time, which can sometimes be frustrating, but it was also effective. Although the book was clearly researched meticulously, it never feels dry. There are no pictures or 911 transcripts or diagrams in the book. I admit to being a little disappointed by that, but I understand that was not his intention. Including those types of things would have been sensational and exploitative, and that is obviously not the point of the book.
A really fascinating read about a terrible tragedy.