Reviews

A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold

jamiejmcnicol's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

lookatjimmy's review against another edition

4.0

Was quite conflicted and went back and forth while reading trying to decide whether or not this is meant to be like a mother trying to absolve themselves of any possible responsibility for the heinous actions of their child/make excuses for said child but, honestly, I think it’s just a mother trying to make sense of something that may never make sense to her and learn to live with it and be able to go on.

elllie_w's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.0

jepittman05's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

casper2769's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

fuzzyhead's review against another edition

5.0

Devastating but important. A must read for parents and mental health advocates alike.

_toni_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

3.25

While I knew Sue would be biased, I’m a believer that giving Eric Harris the label of psychopath is reckless as shit and reductive. I hate the “leader follower” narrative and this book soooort of leans into that theory. Dylan was just as monstrous during the shooting, so that theory never made sense to me. However, I can’t blame a grieving mother for latching onto whatever comfort she can find. She also is a little blind to her privilege as an upper middle class white woman living in the beautiful Colorado mountains.
With that being said, I do think this was heartbreaking and very compelling. It’s disturbing to learn about someone as publicly despised as Dylan Klebold from someone who loved him so. If only mental health wasn’t such a damn joke back in the 90s, he could have been helped. I genuinely hope her family has found some sense of peace. 
Definitely read this book instead of the embarrassing fanfiction bullshit that Dave Cullen wrote.

awhiting's review against another edition

4.0

I thought this book was fascinating. Why I gave it 4 stars: there's a lot of repetition and I know that some of it was needed but some of it could have been more concise.

I admire Her for writing this book, sharing her insights and also for donating the proceeds of the book.

Note: there are obvious trigger warnings needed for those with brain health issues especially suicidal thoughts.

ericat7's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

nderiley's review against another edition

5.0

Fascinating. Like the author, I had always assumed clear sociopathy, gross incompetence of parenting, or some sort of abuse as the only ways a person could be driven to murder. This book really drives home how unknowable we are to each other.