I saw this book on a list online of 10 best books in an annual list, and as I am interested in how public tragedies affect communities, and also how individuals deal with horrible circumstances, I decided to get this book (on my Nook). Also, perhaps I was drawn to this book because a few years ago I worked with Jennifer Herbstritt on her book, "Leaving Virginia." I learned a lot about what the families of victims go through after such a public murder. (Her brother, Jeremy Herbstritt, was killed at Virginia Tech.)

I read "Columbine" steadily; it was difficult to put down, even given the topic. So many times, books about "big" events are nothing more than a rehashing of what has already been on the news; but like "The Great Deluge" by Douglas Brinkley gave me a more complete understanding of Hurricane Katrina, Dave Cullen has given us all a more complete and factual account of the events now known simply as "Columbine."

It is amazing to me to consider the time, effort, and skill involved in writing a book like this. Cullen brings so many things to light that the media either got wrong (and wouldn't let go of) or that the JeffCo government officials hid, lied about, or "misplaced."

Bottom line: there were definite warning signs; there were complaints and crimes before the shootings involving the killers, but one part of the criminal justice system did not know what the other was doing. There was a valiant effort made by the family of Brooks Brown, in the way of 15+ official complaints about one of the killers; there was a search warrant issued on the killer prior to the shootings (but it was never acted upon); there were so many many signs. Also, there was lying on the part of officials entrusted with getting to the truth. I can't imagine the frustration of the victims' families in the face of that mighty wall of "cover-your-you-know-what."

Also the girl named Cassie who "just said 'Yes.'" That never really happened, and the media spin and religious community taking off with that false story is a very interesting aspect of what happens with the media in their rush to get the most marketable story out. Cassie died and that was a tragedy and witnesses said that she had no time to say anything. Eric Harris was the epitome of a cold-blooded killer; with no remorse, and no conscience. There was another young woman who was asked if she believed in God, as she was riddled with bullets and begging God to let her live. Eric asked her if she believed in God, and though Dylan yelled, "shoot her, shoot her" Eric did not. How these two girls' stories became co-mingled should interest those with an interest in the media.

The scope of the crime, the year+ of planning, the obtaining of weapons (with the assistance of others), the journals and notes and lists… it was stunning to read about.

Equally stunning was the fact that the one adult who was killed, Dave Sanders beloved coach/teacher, was left struggling for life for three hours and it was four hours before his body was retrieved. The killers were only alive inside the building for about an hour. It was a terrible wrong done to this man, I think, that he was not given assistance to save his life.

Cullen describes things I never thought about, such as how the fire alarms were ear-splitting loud to make one run out of the building. They blared so loudly that one student said his ears felt like they were going to bleed. The alarms sounded for HOURS while the students were stuck in the building. The strobe lights continued for weeks afterward.

It was so sad to read about the injuries suffered by some of the students; from gunshot wounds that took away part of someone's brain (and yet he, who always dreamed of being valedictorian, went on to graduate from college eventually) to a young woman whose spinal cord was severed. The hidden story (as the date of the tragedy recedes from public memory), I think, is about the effect on these families, in every way. Cullen does a good job of letting us see what they are up against.

I appreciated the author's explanation of "psychopathy" as it did explain why Eric Harris was able to fool so many people, including his own parents. I felt more sympathy for them after I'd finished reading the book. Dylan Klebold, I had to wonder if he didn't perhaps have Aspergers, but that is just a lay person's attempt to figure things out, I suppose. He was described as being super smart, but very shy and not good at relating with other kids. He was also unrealistic in his expectations regarding a girl he like. It was a perfect storm of Dylan's weaknesses and need for acceptance and Eric's psychopathic strengths, I think. Until very close to the time of the shootings, Dylan was writing about his desire for love; Eric was all about death, suffering, and annihilation.

http://www.davecullen.com/columbine.htm Is the author's website and there is a lot of information there. I appreciated the careful documentation the author employed and I even found reading the chapter notes at the end of the book very insightful.

Dave Cullen spent 10 years working on this book. I think he has done Littleton, Colorado, the victims of Columbine, our whole country and anyone interested in preventing violence in schools, a great service. It is my hope that such an event will never happen again.