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Columbine
by Dave Cullen (Goodreads Author)
by Dave Cullen (Goodreads Author)
Angela's review
bookshelves: colorado, non-fiction, history, library
Apr 07, 11
bookshelves: colorado, non-fiction, history, library
Recommended to Angela by:
Antof9
Read from March 20 to 28, 2011, read count: 1
This was a stunning documentary of the Columbine tragedy. The compassion for the families, all the families, was beautiful. I am disappointed in the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, not for the things they did, but for the things they hid.
I hope that no one ever has to go through something like this again, however, I am not idealistic enough to believe that hope will come to fruition.
I remember someone on the news from the school stating something like "it couldn't have been a clique thing, we don't have cliques at Columbine" -- so for years, when friends would ask that age old question "what clique were you in in high school?" my answer would be "I went to Columbine, we didn't have cliques" -- because how very stupid. I work in a Police Department now, and WE have cliques...of course Columbine had cliques, and I believed the stories the media put out...that Dylan and Eric were outcasts -- they didn't have friends and got bullied on a regular basis. Thanks to this book, I know better. They were not outcasts, they had lots of friends who never saw this coming (although I think with the power of hind sight they saw things, but don't we all), and they have family and friends who miss them. The fact that their suicides took out others is the saddest fact, and something I am sure their families are still trying to deal with.
I appreciate that Dave Cullen sifted through the facts to present a book that shows that Eric had some mental issues, and probably did for most of his life...but was skilled at hiding them, and that Dylan got caught up in the fury that Eric brought. I appreciate that Cullen showed the families in the best light possible, and showed compassion for how each person handled the situation. The tragedy at Columbine has made it that I never have to explain where my high school is, and while usually the ice-breaking question "where did you go to school?" gets conversations started, my answer usually stops conversations, even if I did go there 11 years before Eric and Dylan.
I think the biggest thing, is the tragedy showed that it really can happen anywhere. The Columbine area is not a small town, but sometimes it feels like it. This book breaks it down and shows that yes, mistakes were made, but there were some heroes made as well.
I scanned some of the pictures and newspaper clippings that I have saved in a scrapbook, you can take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26266384...
I hope that no one ever has to go through something like this again, however, I am not idealistic enough to believe that hope will come to fruition.
I remember someone on the news from the school stating something like "it couldn't have been a clique thing, we don't have cliques at Columbine" -- so for years, when friends would ask that age old question "what clique were you in in high school?" my answer would be "I went to Columbine, we didn't have cliques" -- because how very stupid. I work in a Police Department now, and WE have cliques...of course Columbine had cliques, and I believed the stories the media put out...that Dylan and Eric were outcasts -- they didn't have friends and got bullied on a regular basis. Thanks to this book, I know better. They were not outcasts, they had lots of friends who never saw this coming (although I think with the power of hind sight they saw things, but don't we all), and they have family and friends who miss them. The fact that their suicides took out others is the saddest fact, and something I am sure their families are still trying to deal with.
I appreciate that Dave Cullen sifted through the facts to present a book that shows that Eric had some mental issues, and probably did for most of his life...but was skilled at hiding them, and that Dylan got caught up in the fury that Eric brought. I appreciate that Cullen showed the families in the best light possible, and showed compassion for how each person handled the situation. The tragedy at Columbine has made it that I never have to explain where my high school is, and while usually the ice-breaking question "where did you go to school?" gets conversations started, my answer usually stops conversations, even if I did go there 11 years before Eric and Dylan.
I think the biggest thing, is the tragedy showed that it really can happen anywhere. The Columbine area is not a small town, but sometimes it feels like it. This book breaks it down and shows that yes, mistakes were made, but there were some heroes made as well.
I scanned some of the pictures and newspaper clippings that I have saved in a scrapbook, you can take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26266384...
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Reading Progress
| 03/20/2011 | page 6 |
|
1.0% | "I just started and it is a little surreal. I know the gym, I remember DeAngelis, he was a teacher and a coach when I was at Columbine. And I already have tears." |
| 03/21/2011 | page 26 |
|
6.0% | "The author has just mentioned The Columbine Lounge -- my aunt used to hang out there, and I wonder if she new Dave Saunders?? He also talks about the three schools built like industrial buildings (the other two were Bear Creek and Green Mountain) -- that is the school I remember, the one that didn't quite seem finished." |
| 03/23/2011 | page 91 |
|
22.0% | "The Klebold's lawyer just told them they would be hated...at the time my mom worked with one of the boy's aunts, and she told my mom the families were not really being allowed to grieve. Not right, despite what the odessa said it was not the families' fault." |
| 03/23/2011 | page 102 |
|
24.0% | "Mistakes were made...Mr Rohrbough should not have found out his son was one of the casualties by reading the newspaper." |
| 03/24/2011 | page 130 |
|
31.0% | "I didn't realize the churches played such a big roll...and despite what the author is saying right now, the kids I knew were done talking about it in fairly quick order..they just wanted to be tasted as they were before." |
| 03/24/2011 | page 156 |
|
37.0% | ""...Goths tended to be meek and pacifist; they had never been associated with violence, much less murder..."" |
| 03/24/2011 | page 157 |
|
38.0% | "First mention of the silver and blue (the school colors) support ribbons...i had a couple" 3 comments |
| 03/26/2011 | page 196 |
|
47.0% | "The memorial at Clement is mentioned...note to self, chines the pictures to post here. I don't think I have pictures of the crosses, I never made the trek up the hill." |
| 03/26/2011 | page 196 |
|
47.0% | "So apparently, she didn't say yes...I thought I had heard it was a different situation, and yes, I did. Seems that having a live girl there to tell about how she said yes, even as she was bleeding from 34!! wounds would be a better statement than a dead girl (who didn't get a chance to say anything) -- but then i don't really understand religion." |
| 03/26/2011 | page 268 |
|
64.0% | "Mr. Tonelli was one of Eric's teachers, and I do believe Mr. Tonelli was a 1988 graduate, like me." |
Comments (showing 1-3 of 3) (3 new)
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by
Antof9
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 22, 2011 08:22am
I'm sorry it's making you sad, but I'm also interested in your comments. I'm finding your status updates fascinating.
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I agree -- I thought the compassion of the author was amazing and beautiful ... and surprising.Looking forward to hearing what else you have to say about it.
