A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jun 26, 2018 Beth Given rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's been about a generation since the Columbine tragedy, but I found Sue Klebold's memoir (published in 2015) to still be so relevant. Yes, this was an intense read for the obvious reasons; those reasons were why I hesitated on picking this up until now, when it was our book club pick for the month. But it turns out that the issues raised here are just so important! As a mom just embarking on the raising of teenagers, and as one who has been learning more about mental health in recent years, I It's been about a generation since the Columbine tragedy, but I found Sue Klebold's memoir (published in 2015) to still be so relevant. Yes, this was an intense read for the obvious reasons; those reasons were why I hesitated on picking this up until now, when it was our book club pick for the month. But it turns out that the issues raised here are just so important! As a mom just embarking on the raising of teenagers, and as one who has been learning more about mental health in recent years, I could hardly put this down. The writing was gripping and I took pages of notes.

One of the themes throughout the book is that parents are not always responsible for the actions of their children ... and that is terrifying. If parents can't really know their children and prevent this from happening, what control do we have over it happening again? Unfortunately, many shootings have happened since Columbine, and every time we all feel powerless to stop it. But we'd like to think that at least we're in control of at least our own little corner of America, or at least our own household. But are we? Really? Perhaps not.

Sue Klebold offers no easy solutions, nothing that could fit on a Facebook meme or a bumper sticker. She has thought long and hard about this, researched her own experiences and the literature, and become an advocate for those struggling with mental health issues (she calls it "brain health," and I like that; it makes it seem less imaginary and more physical). She does offer a few pieces of the puzzle: more help for those suffering from depression and anxiety, less tolerance for bullying,

In reading her story, Sue Klebold has become one of my heroes. It would be a tragedy to lose a child, but to lose a child and to know that he killed other people's children in cold blood -- it seems impossible to recover from that! Her courage to step into the limelight in spite of what people might think of her is astounding. She makes no apologies for Dylan; though she still has a deep love for her son, she does not excuse Dylan in the slightest. And while she has great self-compassion, she does not excuse herself for missing the signs. She admits that she's not sure she could have really done better than she did given the knowledge she had, but she is still so sorry for what happened and has dedicated her life to preventing further tragedy. I admired that she reached out with a personal note to each of the victims, her refusal to blame others. I admired the way she honestly spoke of her own grief and anxiety, exposing her most vulnerable thoughts to the world in writing.

For my friends wondering if this is a "clean read:" there's very minimal swearing (only maybe two or three profanities, and both are direct quotes from Dylan's journal, on the same page -- one of them is the f-word). No sex. But obviously there is a recounting of the violence that took place at Columbine. Others may warn you that this book is "disturbing" or "hard to read" but that is because of the uncomfortable issues raised and the topic itself. ...more

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Mar 19, 2016 Martha rated it really liked it

I had sworn I'd never read another article or book about Columbine, and then Sue Klebold wrote her book and I knew I'd read it. Hearing from the parents was one thing I thought I'd never get to read. The book was honest and incredibly painful, and I can't help but respect Sue Klebold for writing about what she has endured since April 1999. I've just read the last page of the book and there is much to think about. I may update this review later. ...more

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Mar 04, 2016 Michele rated it it was amazing

A very interesting and moving book. It doesn't explain the horror that happened but it does gives an insight to his family and the love of a mother for her child. Mrs. Klebold was very honest and open as difficult as it must have been. ...more

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Jan 14, 2017 rissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reading-challenge-2017, around-the-year-in-52-books

Week 28: - A non-fiction

A painful, heartbreaking read. But one that is mandatory if we are to truly understand "how" a massacre like Columbine happened and prevent another school shooting. Shedding light on brain health and its disorders, Sue Klebold writes so eloquently of her personal horrific experience and opens us readers up to being less judgmental of others.

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