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crobi44's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
rketterer47's review against another edition
3.0
Listened on Audible. More like a 3.5... I thought the author did a great job presenting what happened 15 years ago, but I found myself getting a bit bored during several different parts of the story. Maybe it was because I feel like I've heard this story so many times or maybe it was the heavy focus on the Church, but nonetheless I thought it dragged on. Like I said, a great account of the events, but a little slow at times.
jay_the_hippie's review against another edition
5.0
This is what a nonfiction documentary should be. All the details collected and presented in an interesting and clarifying way.
I was aware of this event when it happened -- was in the Denver airport about 2 weeks after it happened -- but between grad school and a new baby I was isolated from most of the media coverage.
I'm going to look for some similar documentaries, but this is going to be a tough act to follow,
I was aware of this event when it happened -- was in the Denver airport about 2 weeks after it happened -- but between grad school and a new baby I was isolated from most of the media coverage.
I'm going to look for some similar documentaries, but this is going to be a tough act to follow,
jsmith0929's review against another edition
1.0
This book was written terribly with bad grammar AND in bad taste (calling a teenage girl “busty”, commenting on the attractiveness of a victim’s mom, and not to mention all the inaccuracies and lies). I think the author was trying to create a different take on Columbine by suggesting the shooters weren’t bullied. The problem with that is it’s a lie. I couldn’t finish it knowing I was being lied to and with the disgusting way the author talks about women and girls and romanticizes the shooters in a really uncomfortable way.
alyssaelaine93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Being exvangelical, I knew there were a lot of myths surrounding how Columbine has been portrayed. However, there were so many more pervasive incorrect assumptions than I would have ever guessed.
bethpeninger's review against another edition
5.0
This book was excellent. I saw another review in which someone questioned the need for this book in light of events like Virginia Tech. As someone who lives and lived in Colorado at the time of the Columbine event I can say that there is a great need for this book. It helped me see the whole picture rather than the one the media and Sheriff Stone painted. Dave Cullen did an outstanding job of giving us a 360 view. I loved this book because it answered questions that have been lingering, it put to rest untruths and brought out truth and it gave greater insight into the lives of the two boys who did it. It helps the reader to see that the fault doesn't lie with those still alive, namely the boys families, but the fault lies within the sick minds of the boys themselves. Thanks to Dave Cullen for writing this informative piece of work. To those of us in Colorado we needed a book life this to answer our questions and settle our unease...even all these years later.
donnaburtwistle's review against another edition
5.0
I have such strong memories of this event, and as a teacher of sociology, it is a topic that I regularly use to demonstrate psychology in teens. However, Dave Cullen's book has given me an entirely new perspective on the destruction of a high school and fifteen lives. Divided into time periods, Cullen's book provides not only intimate details of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold's actions and thoughts leading up to April 20, 1999, but of the people around them--victims and friends alike. To be honest, I am rarely drawn to non-fiction, but I could not put this book down. Cullen's journalism gained access to the infamous Basement tapes, police records, multiple interviews and media coverage. One does not doubt the validity of this book's revelations of the events at Columbine high school. Not only did this book quickly dispel the myths and stereotypes that permeated this tragedy, but provided unique insights into the personalities of Harris and Klebold. A fascinating read; highly recommended.
praetorian333's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read Spring 2022: I first read this for my MFA program back in 2010 and have thought of it often since then, so I figured it was time for a re-read. It was somehow easier to read this time around, even though I’m a parent. Probably somewhat numb to this type of situation by now.
Originally read Spring 2010: It seemed daunting, originally - over 400 pages in paperback?! The chapters are thankfully short - thankfully because I picked it up every time I had two seconds to spare, and could finish smallish portions of the book. Thankfully, because some sections are really hard to read. I had to squint through my tears several times, until I started putting the book down to cry several times. Powerful stuff. It as a tragedy, yes, but I think it says a lot about the writing if simple nonfiction, the retelling of facts, can bring me to tears.
We haven't had a class discussion of the book yet, but some of us talked about it while waiting for the teacher last week. One girl said it was one of the best books she's read, though it sounds strange to say that about such a horrible subject. I totally agree. Another girl said that she was glad the chapters were short, because they depressed her. I didn't necessarily agree with that. It's a sad tragedy, yes, but the book made me more paranoid (is that possible?!) than anything. These teenage boys had planned the attack for a year and a half! That is incredible, and unbelievably scary. They weren't bullied; they had friends, prom dates; they went to football games - they didn't hate jocks. The people explicitly named on the "Hate List" weren't even killed. This wasn't an impulsive killing by two boys pushed to the limit. This was a carefully calculated mass murder committed by two teenagers - one of whom was diagnosed a psychopath. It makes me antsy when I'm walking around campus and sitting in classrooms. I know it's paranoia, but it's not something to be disregarded, as shown by the Virginia Tech killer, and the other school shooters Cullen references in his book.
The book is very well-written and well-researched. Cullen includes big sections in the back about references, notes, drawings and notes from the killers, diagrams of the school and the crime scenes. His website has even more information about the tragedy and the case that followed. I remember hearing the media's spin on the case - that these boys were bullied, they targets jocks and blacks, they loved Hitler, and chose his birthday to commit the murders. All false. Cullen's book disproves them all, with significant evidence backing it up. He includes interviews with survivors, families, all who were affected.
Originally read Spring 2010: It seemed daunting, originally - over 400 pages in paperback?! The chapters are thankfully short - thankfully because I picked it up every time I had two seconds to spare, and could finish smallish portions of the book. Thankfully, because some sections are really hard to read. I had to squint through my tears several times, until I started putting the book down to cry several times. Powerful stuff. It as a tragedy, yes, but I think it says a lot about the writing if simple nonfiction, the retelling of facts, can bring me to tears.
We haven't had a class discussion of the book yet, but some of us talked about it while waiting for the teacher last week. One girl said it was one of the best books she's read, though it sounds strange to say that about such a horrible subject. I totally agree. Another girl said that she was glad the chapters were short, because they depressed her. I didn't necessarily agree with that. It's a sad tragedy, yes, but the book made me more paranoid (is that possible?!) than anything. These teenage boys had planned the attack for a year and a half! That is incredible, and unbelievably scary. They weren't bullied; they had friends, prom dates; they went to football games - they didn't hate jocks. The people explicitly named on the "Hate List" weren't even killed. This wasn't an impulsive killing by two boys pushed to the limit. This was a carefully calculated mass murder committed by two teenagers - one of whom was diagnosed a psychopath. It makes me antsy when I'm walking around campus and sitting in classrooms. I know it's paranoia, but it's not something to be disregarded, as shown by the Virginia Tech killer, and the other school shooters Cullen references in his book.
The book is very well-written and well-researched. Cullen includes big sections in the back about references, notes, drawings and notes from the killers, diagrams of the school and the crime scenes. His website has even more information about the tragedy and the case that followed. I remember hearing the media's spin on the case - that these boys were bullied, they targets jocks and blacks, they loved Hitler, and chose his birthday to commit the murders. All false. Cullen's book disproves them all, with significant evidence backing it up. He includes interviews with survivors, families, all who were affected.