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deep_in_the_reads 's review for:
Columbine
by Dave Cullen
Dave Cullen looks at the Columbine Massacre from every possible angle a reader could want--and then some. From the media's exploitation/manipulation of the tragedy, to crash-courses in violent psychology, to story-like re-telling of the events from moment to moment, this book has everything. Depression, trauma, addiction, religious hysteria, martyr complex and more auxiliary issues are examined as well. It's an incredibly rich and detailed work. I'm of a generation that is desensitized to shootings--whenever I hear about one on the news, I think "oh, another one?" Books like this are increasingly important in a time where once-unbelievable massacres become increasingly mundane.
Because Cullen's analysis looks at the shooting from so many angles, odds are that most readers will be riveted at some sections, and a bit bored at others. Personally, the parts that gripped me the most were the parts covering the Basement Tapes and other mementos of the planning stage for the massacre, but I struggled with the sections about the complex legal battles that came about after the dust settled. But I have to respect the thorough research and commitment that went into putting this together, from the headline-catching harrowing scenes of the massacre to the nuts-and-bolts minutiae in between. Cullen also tackles every toxic myth that came about as a result of bad journalism and small-town gossip, which I have a lot of respect for. His look into Columbine is well-worth a read for anyone with even a passing interest in the subject.
Because Cullen's analysis looks at the shooting from so many angles, odds are that most readers will be riveted at some sections, and a bit bored at others. Personally, the parts that gripped me the most were the parts covering the Basement Tapes and other mementos of the planning stage for the massacre, but I struggled with the sections about the complex legal battles that came about after the dust settled. But I have to respect the thorough research and commitment that went into putting this together, from the headline-catching harrowing scenes of the massacre to the nuts-and-bolts minutiae in between. Cullen also tackles every toxic myth that came about as a result of bad journalism and small-town gossip, which I have a lot of respect for. His look into Columbine is well-worth a read for anyone with even a passing interest in the subject.