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A review by leisurelyreading
Columbine by Dave Cullen
5.0
I put off writing this review for longer than usual because it’s so much harder to explain why I like something than why I don't. And I don’t think there is a single thing I didn’t like about this book.
Dave Cullen was very smart about his writing and research. This has been called a definitive account of Columbine for a reason. I originally read this as one of my picks for summer reading in high school around 2012. I loved it then as well. I will probably reread again in 2027 when the parent's depositions become public. Now, coming back with a more adult and nuanced eye I have even more appreciation for the writing. Cullen could have easily told the events which make up this story in chronological order and called it a day. It would have been very safe and easy, but hindered the storytelling. Instead, he splits the book into parts that reveal and explain the story in a way that keeps the readers attention and highlights different themes or lessons that came about because of this horrible event. You not only learn about what exactly happened that day, but the community impact, how the police reacted, the misconstructions in the press, and a look into Dylan and Eric's lead up into that fateful tragedy.
The writing was very detailed without coming across as a regurgitation of facts. A lot of this is due to Cullen focusing on the human stories. He portrays the complexities of the people effected and involved. Even the larger 'characters' of the community, religious organizations, media, and police were given that same attention to human complexity. There is pervasive confusion, anger, forgiveness, and sadness woven throughout. As much as we would like this to be a black and white closed book story it's not, and Cullen portrays that very well. Not everyone handled the situation perfectly. This was a first of its kind; I'm not sure there could be a perfect handling.
I highly recommend this book.
A few recommendations that might compliment this well (some more tangentially that others) include: [b:A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy|25937671|A Mother's Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy|Sue Klebold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453261078l/25937671._SY75_.jpg|45835034] by Sue Klebold (Dylan's mother), [b:The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry|12391521|The Psychopath Test A Journey Through the Madness Industry|Jon Ronson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364166270l/12391521._SX50_.jpg|14262366] by Jon Ronson, [b:The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty|11044200|The Science of Evil On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty|Simon Baron-Cohen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429875639l/11044200._SY75_.jpg|15964825] by Simon Baron-Cohen, We Are Columbine (2019) directed by Laura Farber, Bowling for Columbine (2002) directed by Michael Moore, Oklahoma City (2017) directed Barak Goodman.
Dave Cullen was very smart about his writing and research. This has been called a definitive account of Columbine for a reason. I originally read this as one of my picks for summer reading in high school around 2012. I loved it then as well. I will probably reread again in 2027 when the parent's depositions become public. Now, coming back with a more adult and nuanced eye I have even more appreciation for the writing. Cullen could have easily told the events which make up this story in chronological order and called it a day. It would have been very safe and easy, but hindered the storytelling. Instead, he splits the book into parts that reveal and explain the story in a way that keeps the readers attention and highlights different themes or lessons that came about because of this horrible event. You not only learn about what exactly happened that day, but the community impact, how the police reacted, the misconstructions in the press, and a look into Dylan and Eric's lead up into that fateful tragedy.
The writing was very detailed without coming across as a regurgitation of facts. A lot of this is due to Cullen focusing on the human stories. He portrays the complexities of the people effected and involved. Even the larger 'characters' of the community, religious organizations, media, and police were given that same attention to human complexity. There is pervasive confusion, anger, forgiveness, and sadness woven throughout. As much as we would like this to be a black and white closed book story it's not, and Cullen portrays that very well. Not everyone handled the situation perfectly. This was a first of its kind; I'm not sure there could be a perfect handling.
I highly recommend this book.
A few recommendations that might compliment this well (some more tangentially that others) include: [b:A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy|25937671|A Mother's Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy|Sue Klebold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453261078l/25937671._SY75_.jpg|45835034] by Sue Klebold (Dylan's mother), [b:The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry|12391521|The Psychopath Test A Journey Through the Madness Industry|Jon Ronson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364166270l/12391521._SX50_.jpg|14262366] by Jon Ronson, [b:The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty|11044200|The Science of Evil On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty|Simon Baron-Cohen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429875639l/11044200._SY75_.jpg|15964825] by Simon Baron-Cohen, We Are Columbine (2019) directed by Laura Farber, Bowling for Columbine (2002) directed by Michael Moore, Oklahoma City (2017) directed Barak Goodman.