Columbine by Dave Cullen - Starting September 3rd 2019

[Sarah Elizabeth]

"The tragedies keep coming. As we reel from the latest horror . . . " So begins a new epilogue, illustrating how Columbine became the template for nearly two decades of "spectacle murders." It is a false script, seized upon by a generation of new killers. In the wake of Newtown, Aurora, and Virginia Tech, the imperative to understand the crime that sparked this plague grows more urgent every year.

What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.

[Karen]

Don’t know who originally set up this BR. Are you still planning to read Columbine?

[HeatherH]

I’m picking it up from the library this weekend so I’ll be starting soon! But will be reading slowly as I’m working on a couple others too.

[Katie]

I’ve started it!! About 25% in so far.

Chapter 21

(view spoiler)[ I am enjoying this book so far... if you could say “enjoying this” with such a deep and heavy topic, but it’s well done. I had no idea how much planning went into this plan, and how much worse things could have been if things would have gone correctly. I was very surprised to hear about that at the beginning of the book. I remember being in high school when this happened and being totally shocked since it was one of the first school shootings I saw on the news.

I’m only 25% in and already so much information has been provided... I’m curious to see what else will be included. I’ve already learned so much. It’s a lot of factual information, but some pages have been tough for me to read. Hearing about the victim that laid outside in the snow for 28 hours just broke my heart. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Another thought... 25%

(view spoiler)[ Another thing that stood out to me at the beginning of the book, was how many friends and teachers noticed how things seemed a bit off with the shooters during the morning of the attack. Granted, it’s all in hindsight, but I think this could be a decent read for teachers or any coach, parent, or adult leader. It could help people realize they may have some weird gut feelings, intuitions, or notice things seem a little off and not be afraid to say something to an administrator, another teacher, another parent, etc.

As a teacher, I found this part of the book very interesting and it made me more aware to keep my eyes open and not to be afraid to say something to someone if I thought things seemed different or weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapters 32-40

(view spoiler)[ These chapters took off on a bit of a different direction for me. It was interesting to hear about the Erik and Dylan's past, especially their arrests with the van robbery. But the chapters about psychopaths and the science behind the minds were interesting, but a bit slow for me. I understand the reasoning behind the information in this book...I just wasn't expecting the book to go in this direction. However, it was interesting to the point where I might want to read a book just about the psychopathic mind.

I was curious where the book was going to go around the 20% mark, and I'm starting to get to the part that talks about the aftermath of the shooting and the anger and blaming that follows a tragedy like this. I think it will be an interesting perspective since I didn't hear about this part on the news, or if it was on the news, I wasn't old enough to understand the aftermath of something like this.

I'm still finding this book very informative and I'm glad I picked this one up. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 49

(view spoiler)[ I liked hearing Patrick's recovery story and how he was able to water ski again. I also didn't know the judge kept the transcripts closed or locked up until 2027 or 2028!! I had no idea! (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ I had no idea how many red flags there were leading up to the attack, and how many times this attack could have been stopped. It was tough to read about the search warrant that went forgotten, and I found it especially hard to read about 'who to blame.' I can't imagine what it be like to have a child go through this, and I completely understand the anger that followed the attack, but it was tough for me to read those chapters when the book went into those chapters...the police, the shooter's parents, the media, etc. It was very interesting to read about that, just a bit tough for me...

I really enjoyed getting to know more perspectives from the police, victims, community members, the victim's families, etc. This book opened my eyes to more than what I heard on the news when this all happened. I understand there could be other opinions/stories we're still missing, but I find this book worth reading and it taught me a lot more than I thought I new in regards to Columbine. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

This is a pretty large book, so I'm going to have to read this in bits and pieces at home. The topic, I confess, scares me. I flicked through some of the documents attached, and the story that was so graphic should have set alarm bells ringing. I really hope this isn't going to be a case of so many failures to prevent something.

[Karen]

Read up to ch5. Very readable style. The normality of the two students responsible is being stressed at the moment. Chilling just how much more serious the issue has become over the last twenty years.

[Katie]

Karen wrote: "Read up to ch5. Very readable style. The normality of the two students responsible is being stressed at the moment. Chilling just how much more serious the issue has become over the last twenty years."

I agree, Karen...Things are just so different now. People weren't on the "lookout" for a school shooter back then. And it was before 9/11 so even the red flags of "terrorist activity" were easily overlooked.

[Karen]

I’d be interested to see how different reactions are in different countries. I still find it hard to watch the growing news reports of such events and understand how people can be so reluctant to take preventative measures.

[Karen]

Up to ch9. I’m amazed at how so much appears to have been hidden in the initial period after the attack. Curious as to why.

[Karen]

Up to ch14. Tells the story quite dispassionately but the fear is evident.

[Karen]

Can’t believe it...my son has nicked this (my fault for leaving it downstairs). Might be a couple of days until I get it back!

[Karen]

Up to ch18. I am quite amazed at the seemingly obvious things that weren’t done with this situation.

[Karen]

Up to ch22. Tough couple of chapters to read. Hearing how so many sought to blame the parents shows how quick we are to lay blame on others. I do think there’s a sense of collective responsibility here.

[Katie]

Karen- I thought the same thing! I originally thought the first few chapters that talks about the actual shooting were going to be the toughest to read, and it was very hard to read, but these chapters where the community started blaming others made me more uncomfortable than I thought they would! Very heartbreaking and tough to read!

[Karen]

Up to ch31. Really can’t see how anyone could predict something of this scale. Certainly seem to have been warning signs, but I’m stunned by the talk of cover-ups and the extent to which the media coverage influenced reactions to this.

[Karen]

Katie wrote: "I’ve started it!! About 25% in so far.

Chapter 21

I am enjoying this book so far... if you could say “enjoying this” with such a deep and heavy topic, but it’s well done. I had no idea how muc..."

(view spoiler)[ I think so many lessons have been learned from this event. I can't imagine a body being left in the open like that now, and certainly not for so long. Perhaps it's the recognition that so many people now have the technology to record these events as they happen/the aftermath that has impacted on how we react to them. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Katie, up to ch50 and I have found the background to the students - particularly Eric - fascinating. The van incident and the subsequent focus on the mind of a psychopath highlights just how hard it could be to foresee such potential.

[Karen]

Finished...at long last. A complex read. Uncomfortable, but fascinating. Full review on home page.