In Review: Columbine by Dave Cullen
One of the first big 'news' stories of my childhood was the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado. I remember I was in 8th grade listening to my teacher talk about an upcoming social studies test, when a teacher came in to tell her what was happening, although quietly in her ear, so we wouldn't hear. She had family in Littleton, and she was visibly upset, leaving that day and coming back the next day with newspaper articles and a TV broadcast to play in our class. We prayed for the victims and their families (I went to a private Catholic school) and then talked about what happened--two teenagers had come into the school and killed a number of people, mostly students.
This April was the 10th anniversary of the Columbine Massacre, and the book Columbine, by Dave Cullen, was published for the date. It is a very thorough and detailed journalistic work that explains the lives of those who were touched by it, a deep look into the two teenagers behind the shootings including motive, and the aftermath of the past 10 years on the community.
I read this book is just under a week, and I must say, it is a fascinating read. Cullen had been one of the initial reporters on the scene the day it happened, and has been putting piece by piece back together to create his intimate look into the shooting, including hundreds of interviews, and thousands upon thousands of pages of police reports. What you will read will astound you, especially since the media made it out to be a 'bullying, goth versus jock, rock-music teen meltdown'.
Not only did I learn the true motive and bottom line of politics surrounding this event, but I learned a lot about psychology from this book, too. I am so glad I read it, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Stay tuned f or my next book review: Havah, the Story of Eve, by Tosca Lee, later this week.
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