The Book: Columbine, by Dave Cullen
The Story: This is the true story of the attack on Columbine in 1999. I’m sure that everyone that was old enough to be in school remembers the day of the attack and the days following- all of these stories and rumors that surrounded the whole deal. This book’s main goal, I think, was to dispel a lot of these rumors and just tell the real story about what happened and who Eric and Dylan were.
Dave Cullen is a pretty incredible reporter and he admits that he was part of the media hubbub that surrounded the Columbine shootings, but unlike other reporters, he stuck it through to the end to get the real story. In this book, he not only spells out what happened that day but also the questions of “why?” and “how?” and all these other questions that have always floated around Columbine.
The book turns out to be not only reporting but also warning: This is what happened and this is what we can do for the future and this is how we can prevent another massacre like this.
What I Thought: First things first: it is a total semi-creepy fluke that I’m posting this on the anniversary of the massacre. It wasn’t until I was half done with the review that I noticed. So if that’s too morbid for you, come back and read the review tomorrow.
In the last year or so, I’ve read two fictional books that have really referenced the Columbine shootings. The Hour I First Believed is a book by Wally Lamb and is centered around a couple that works at Columbine and experiences the shootings and kind of the fallout of that in their lives. We Need To Talk About Kevin is a book told from the point of view of a mother of a kid who pulls off a (kind of) Columbine-style shooting. Both of these books were disturbing and hard to read at times. They also really piqued my curiosity about what really happened with Columbine, so of course I picked this one up when it came out in paperback.
I can honestly say that this is one of the most fascinating books that I’ve read in a long time. Part of that is just how I am morbid, morbid, morbid. I don’t have a weak stomach and there were parts of this that just made my stomach churn. I cannot believe that all of this happened. But further, and this is really a huge part of the focus of this book, I was shocked…. seriously shocked… at how the media was just ALL OVER this story and printing/broadcasting blatantly untrue items every single day. They knew in the first few days that the “Trench Coat Mafia” had nothing to do with anything, that the “She said Yes” girl never said “Yes,” that there was no targeting of minorities, that the shooters weren’t misfits, but had been to prom a couple days earlier… but they reported whatever they wanted anyway because it made a better story. For me, this is the part that had my jaw hanging open.
The author also goes into a lot of detail about Eric and Dylan’s histories and just how they ended up these kids who would think up and follow through with such an insane idea. I guess, for me, that has always been the question. How does this happen? How do kids with normal families that live in normal neighborhoods and go to normal schools end up with this arsenal of guns and this idea to kill everyone? Through their journals and videos, along with interviews with friends and family, experts were able to kind of break down their personalities and their “motives,” and for me that was just fascinating.
This could have been a dry, seriously disturbed book, but I really think that the author did an excellent job of balancing the gore and truly honoring the memory of the kids and teacher who died during the shootings. I was impressed with the balance that was struck here- the author makes you almost feel sorry for the boys, but never lets go of the fact that they made this decision and they are absolutely to blame. I think that after the attacks this balance is something that was totally absent and maybe it did truly take 10 years to be able to see the whole thing through those eyes.
Conclusion: This is not for the faint of heart. I think that it’s important though. It’s important for educators and parents and students and people who watch the news. I know I’ve talked to several people who couldn’t read a lot of it at once- but I say even if you have to keep coming back to it, it really is worth the read.
5 Comments
Thanks for the kind words on my book. I really do appreciate that. I still need to check out Wally Lamb’s book. (It’s been a crazy couple years, and I’m behind on everything.) Did you think it was worthwhile?
It sounds like you read the paperback version of mine, which has new material. I spent a lot of time on the new stuff, so I hope it’s OK to mention what I added:
— A 12-page afterword: “Forgiveness.” It includes startling new revelations on the killers’ parents. The purpose, though, was to look at three victims in very different places 11 years later, and how forgiving played a pivotal role in their grief. I discovered the secret meetings with the killers’ parents in the process.
— Actual journal pages from Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold.
— Book Club Discussion Questions (also available at Oprah.com).
— Diagram of Columbine High School and environs.
There’s lots more info at my Columbine site.
It’s also on Kindle, BTW, and a large-print version of the paperback is out, too.
Thanks again.
I think that Wally Lamb’s book was absolutely worthwhile. There was a part you mentioned in Columbine about a teacher that wedged herself into a cubby space until the SWAT team came in- Wally Lamb must have heard about this individual as well because in the book, that is the main character’s wife. Most of the story goes into kind of what post-tramatic shock looked like for their family. I was surprised, after reading your book, how close he actually came with a lot of the details. It is not only well written, but apparently well researched.
I didn’t realize that the “Forgiveness” part was not included in the original hardback. That was, for me, one of the more moving parts of the book.
Thanks for the comment.
Great review Jacki and that’s so cool that the author commented.
I really want to read this book now mainly to find out the truth. I actually bought “She Said Yes” when it came out because as a freshman when the shooting happened, I thought the faith Cassie had was amazing to say yes, but now I really want to know the true story behind everything.
On a Columbine related note, one of the schools nearby had a threat today that referenced the Columbine shooting.
Thanks, Jacki and Crystal.
BTW, I thought “She Said Yes” was a really moving and insightful book. The title and the material behind that were based on a misunderstanding, but most of the book is about Misty and Cassie’s experiences apart from that. For that, I think it is excellent.
I read “She Said Yes” when it came out too and I remember being kind of blown away just by Cassie’s struggle up to that point. You’re right, Dave, it still makes for a great story.
I feel like I read a similar book about Rachel Scott that was released around the same time in the “Christian Inspiration” category, but I don’t remember much about it.