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Group Discussions About This Book
May Discussion: At Home at the End of the World
By Monica · 1 post · 4 views
By Monica · 1 post · 4 views
last updated Apr 28, 2011 12:29pm
April Discussion: Columbine by Dave Cullen
By Monica · 3 posts · 11 views
By Monica · 3 posts · 11 views
last updated Apr 27, 2011 08:28am
What Members Thought
Wow. An absolutely crucial book in understanding this tragedy--one that seems to be repeating itself more and more. Written in a news writer's style, every word compels the reader to read more. What an economy of language. What poignance. Utterly essential to understanding not just this tragedy, but the darker side of human nature.
I know this book may not be for everyone but it was such an informative, compelling, and heartbreaking piece of work. It feels important.
As other reviewers here have pointed out the author has been covering this material for Salon for nine years. He destroys commonly held misconceptions about what happened that day, and frames it in a timeline that unfolds along with our understanding of what really happened and who the killers really were. Cullen is visceral but never sensational, and writes f...more
As other reviewers here have pointed out the author has been covering this material for Salon for nine years. He destroys commonly held misconceptions about what happened that day, and frames it in a timeline that unfolds along with our understanding of what really happened and who the killers really were. Cullen is visceral but never sensational, and writes f...more
This was a really amazing piece of investigative journalism on the whole timeline of the Columbine shootings.
I was less than a year out of High School when the attack happened, and can still remember sitting in the college cafeteria watching the news reports that day. But like most events, however dark, that don't directly affect you, I eventually stopped giving the events at Columbine much thought. So, the early reports, and the info in Michael Moore's movie were where my knowledge of what happ...more
I was less than a year out of High School when the attack happened, and can still remember sitting in the college cafeteria watching the news reports that day. But like most events, however dark, that don't directly affect you, I eventually stopped giving the events at Columbine much thought. So, the early reports, and the info in Michael Moore's movie were where my knowledge of what happ...more
The massacre at Columbine High School in 1999 is one of those moments in history that many of us look back on and remember exactly where we were when we first heard about the horrible events. Taking place at a time when cell phones were on the cusp of their ubiquity, the events were reported by eyewitnesses and students long before police made it into the building. This was the beginning of a hailstorm of rumors and conflicting reports amidst the deluge of media coverage that persisted for month...more
This outstanding nonfiction work is probably going to be the definitive book on the Columbine tragedy. The author alternates Dylan and Eric's background, the telling of the actual events and the survivor/parents views. Some people might be put off by the way the author moves from topic to topic but I am not entirely sure I could have read a straight retelling of the events without having to put the book down so I appreciated the "breaks".
The psychopath, Eric, reminded me of the psychopath in In Cold Blood. He was very similar to that guy. This book also talks about the community and how they were affected.
I must echo another reader’s sentiments that this is a book that I, too, will remember for a long time. Also like other readers, I am not typically a fan of non-fiction crime stories. Though, that said, I have read In Cold Blood and (some of) Helter Skelter – also books that I will remember for a long time. I have to say that I found Capote’s style and timbre to be more enjoyable than Cullen’s, but I’ll admit that that is more a matter of personal taste in writing style. Cullen seemed to be tryi...more
Cullen brings together thousands of pages of documents, witness interviews, survivor interviews, and other media for this fascinating book on the Columbine shootings. He dispels many myths (because almost everything you think you know about the Columbine shootings is wrong) while pointing out where those myths came from. I don't have any particular interest in school shootings or mass murders or true crime, but I found myself unable to put this book away (stayed up well past my bed time). At las...more
I absolutely loved this book. It was very informative and brought to light several inaccuracies I still believed. (They didn't go bowling the morning of the murders Michael Moore.) I actually had to re-watch Bowling for Columbine, just to see the footage of the shooters. Although I was disturbed by this book, I could not put it down. I recommend this to fans of true crime fiction or anyone who remembers this tragedy.
Some of it was really sad, and the parts about the killers themselves and their motives were fascinating. 3.5 stars.
Of course, this book is not for everyone. It's harrowing and heartbreaking---but also unbelievably fascinating. I could not believe how compelled I was by the story. So well written and reported, David Cullen! From the countless media stories I've read over the years, I thought I had an idea of what happened that day. I knew absolutely NOTHING. Many buzzwords around Columbine and its killers are merely myths. The back story behind the massacre, the investigation and the information "cover up" ma...more
Aug 11, 2009
Barbara
marked it as to-read
Jan 08, 2013
Natalie
marked it as to-read
