I'm sure everyone has had a book at one point in time that you just pick up because this little voice in the back of your head says 'Hey! This looks kinda interesting!' And I'm sure that 9 times out of ten it turns out to be a really good book. In my case, the book in question turned out to be something way different.
It's turning out to be phenomonal.
The book, simply titled 'Columbine', is an exploratory, ten-year-in-the-making story told by Dave Cullen, one of the first journalists to invade Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. Throughout the years, he has stayed in touch with the families of the victims, the survivors, the police, and many others who were involved and affected by the shooting. What he has recorded is amazing: insight into the motives of the killers (Eric was a classic psycopath; Dylan was a depressive who had talked of suicide for years), truths behind myths that still resound to this day (Cassie Bernell wasn't the martyr people have made her out to be. Another girl was asked if she believed in God. She said yes. Dylan let her live. Eric ducked under the touble where Cassie was, said "Peekaboo" and shot her before she could say a word), and how the aftermath has played out over the years.
What drew me to this book was the fact that it was written by a journalist, an award-winning one at that. And as soon as you open the book and read his prologue --- he keeps himself out of the story, refering to the press in third person --- it automatically makes you feel like this guy is serious. You know that this is truth he is sharing.
Also, I remember quite vividly Columbine. I was 14, still in 8th grade. And I remember how trench coats were no longer allowed at school. The outside doors had to remained locked at all times. And young men who had ever cuased so much as a peep of trouble at school were yanked aside and questioned for hours day in and day out. To see how this one event, many of it a myth (Eric and Dylan wore dusters, not trench coats, and were in no way associated with the Trench Coat Mafia) affected a small town hundreds of miles away is increadible.
Last but not least is Cullen's delievery. This book reads as well as any Dan Brown novel. I have found it nearly impossiable to put down. And when he details the actual shooting, step by step, I was so engrossed I was nearly late for work. Not only that, but I couldn't help but cry. The emotions were so raw, so real. It's just... amazing.
I highly recommend this book for anyone. The writing style really keeps this book from reading like a boring nonfiction, play-by-play true crime book. Just seeing a lot of the first hand accounts from victims and families of victims really drives home the reality of this tragedy, despite the fact that you may have been thousands of miles away. And finally learning the truth about what happened that day is what keeps you glued page after page.
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2 comments:
Rachel, I have heard very positive things about this book as well. I don't think I could read it...it's too real.
I did listen to an interview with Cullen and was very intrigued at his discovery's and portrayl of Dylan and Klebold, I think many people would be surprised at how different they were then how they were portrayed in the days following the attacks.
I agree. It was simply amazing to see how Eric and Dylan emerged in an air of fact instead of emotion. Eric was a classic psycopath. Dylan was depressive. But I think that is what frightens people most. There was no real reason behind the attacck. They weren't bullied. They weren't outcasts. this is just something they wanted to do. Completly random. And that is quite terrifying!
As far as the realism, the chapter on the actual shooting was quite graphic. But the rest of it was mostly fact-finding. So you might be able to check it out and simply skip that part. It really is an amazing book!
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