Author: Dave Cullen
Genre: True Crime, Standalone
Published: 2009
Personal Rating: 4.5/5 (excellent)
Yearly Count: 79
Dave Cullen spent 10 years researching and writing this book. After sifting through every report, article, interview, etc., he pieced together and produced this rendition of what happened on April 20, 1999 when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into their current high school and shot 13 people dead (not including themselves) and injured 23 others.
It's my understanding that controversy still lingers around the facts in this book. The actual reason why the boys chose this outrageous act of violence, were the boys bullied to a snapping point, and what was the status of their mental health remain to be a few of the areas of contention. Whether Cullen is 100% accurate or not, I thought it was extremely well written and read by Dan Leslie with class (no pun intended).
I want to read this one at some point. I'll have to be in the proper frame of mind for it. My daughter went to college with a girl who was there that day. She was very slightly injured on her trek out of the building. The thing I noticed and heard about from my daughter was how much it affected her life from that point on. Tragic indeed.
ReplyDeleteKay ~ Oh my. I am happy to hear that the girl continued with her education. :)
ReplyDeleteI learned an incredible amount of information that I never heard anything about before. I'm not surprised by that, though. Cullen did a fantastic job reporting something so horrific in the most professional manner.
I came really close to buying this book the other day - now I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteWow...an excellent rating from you, so that means I must read this one for sure!
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one but must admit that I'm a bit scared to. It is one of those things that you just can't imagine happening...and with my own children in and entering the school system it makes for a scary subject. I've read really good reviews for it though so I will read it at some point but like Kay I will have to be in the right frame of mind before I read it.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has seemed to enjoy this book, but for some reason, it seems like it would be too depressing for me??
ReplyDeleteI've had this on my reading list for quite a while. Not long ago I read The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb, which made me...I don't think interested is the right word, necessarily, but I'll use it for lack of a better term...in Columbine again. Sounds like this is definitely worth the read.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading this one of these days. I am glad you liked it so much, Joy.
ReplyDeleteBermudaonion ~ Don't pass it up the next time! :)
ReplyDeleteStaci ~ :) I tend to be partial to non-fiction, memoirs, realistic-fiction, genres in that realm, so I'm not surprised.
Samantha.1020 ~ It's definitely a scary subject. I am not one to pick up any ole book and be happy with it. I have to be in the right frame of mind, as well.
Bibliophile By the Sea ~ I didn't find it depressing. I did find it extremely interesting because I had such different facts. Mr. Joy knows all about it now, too, because I was constantly babbling about it. :)
Cassie ~ It was worth the read for me. I imagine you would think so, too.
Literary Feline ~ I did. I hope you find it worthwhile, as well.
I've been meaning to get to this book ever since it was first published. It hit the Barnes & Noble Discover list several months ago and piqued my interest once again. I think it'd be a great book for a book club discussion and I'm glad to see you gave it such a high rating, Joy.
ReplyDeleteLes ~ It's a worthy read. I don't think you would be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words on my book, and the encouragement, Thoughts of Joy.
ReplyDeleteI'm obviously not objective, but there is very little dispute about the facts, or the conclusions about the killers--if you talk to any of the law enforcement on the case, any of the psychologists brought in, or the vast majority of people who have covered or studied the case. There are a small number of highly vocal people who came to the bullying conclusion years before the killers' journals were released, and are sticking to that theory for some reason, in spite of the journals.
I was naively a bit surprised by the response of those people. They follow me around the web with google alerts, so I apologize if I bring them here.
I hope that helps.
For those undecided about what the book experience will be like, this short video summarizes the book, Columbine shooting and the killers’ motives in three minutes. And there's more info at my Columbine site.
Thanks. I'm really glad to hear from so many people interested in the book.
Dave
Dave Cullen ~ Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment. I appreciate your candor.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I believe you and found your book and facts to be very clear. However, it did help to understand why there are "highly vocal people" in the first place. What I don't understand is what do they gain for their stubbornness (for a lack of better words)? Why oppose what is written by the killers? Is it a matter of interpretation?
Also, thanks for the link. I watched the book trailer and found it to be excellent. Even though I listened to the audiobook checked out from the library, I still purchased the hardcover for my personal collection - great piece of work.
What are you working on now?