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A review by persnickety9
Columbine by Dave Cullen
3.0
I have mixed emotions about this book. The initial few chapters made me absolutely sick to my stomach. I considered not finishing it. After some quick research, though, I have found that this book may not be as accurate it was portrayed, and I do not agree with Cullen’s assertion that Harris was a psychopath and that Dylan was a hapless victim. After reading some of the transcripts of the Basement Tapes, as well as some of their journal entries, I unfortunately find Dylan as angry as Eric, if not more erratic. I think they were the yin to the other’s yang: Eric was composed, methodical, and also severely depressed from his constant moving and bullying; meanwhile, Dylan was young, erratic, and severely depressed from the bullying.
I don’t believe in this leader-follower narrative Cullen has relied on, especially after reading the transcripts. Dylan was reportedly excited and hollering during the shooting. Cullen omits many facts like these to drive his narrative as Eric as the leader.
I am also disheartened by how quickly he wrote off bullying when there are PLENTY of reports that bullying was common at Columbine. In particular, Harris was ridiculed for his clothing and chest anomaly, and Dylan was bullied for his stature and awkwardness. In the end, Cullen basically says that it wasn’t bullying, it was “conflict.”
What I found most disappointing was that Cullen eludes to other journalists and reports, only to admit in the last 20 pages of his 520 page book that he is the other journalist who wrote these reports! It seems sneaky and very one-sided. I wish he had truly gotten more evidence for his reasoning instead of citing himself and pretending other journalists felt the same. It feels fairly disingenuous.
Overall, I learned a lot more about the other victims, which was good. But I am disappointed in the book and often the flowery writing that made it feel less like a true case study and a series of magazine articles to keep 30 seconds of attention. Probably because that’s precisely what he did.
I don’t believe in this leader-follower narrative Cullen has relied on, especially after reading the transcripts. Dylan was reportedly excited and hollering during the shooting. Cullen omits many facts like these to drive his narrative as Eric as the leader.
I am also disheartened by how quickly he wrote off bullying when there are PLENTY of reports that bullying was common at Columbine. In particular, Harris was ridiculed for his clothing and chest anomaly, and Dylan was bullied for his stature and awkwardness. In the end, Cullen basically says that it wasn’t bullying, it was “conflict.”
What I found most disappointing was that Cullen eludes to other journalists and reports, only to admit in the last 20 pages of his 520 page book that he is the other journalist who wrote these reports! It seems sneaky and very one-sided. I wish he had truly gotten more evidence for his reasoning instead of citing himself and pretending other journalists felt the same. It feels fairly disingenuous.
Overall, I learned a lot more about the other victims, which was good. But I am disappointed in the book and often the flowery writing that made it feel less like a true case study and a series of magazine articles to keep 30 seconds of attention. Probably because that’s precisely what he did.