tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post7192766647353244924..comments2023-10-20T10:18:36.203-04:00Comments on You've GOTTA read this!: Columbine - Dave Cullen (Kindle)Sandy Nawrothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-48371892535477495192010-07-27T17:32:09.619-04:002010-07-27T17:32:09.619-04:00Wow...I have never wanted to read true crime books...Wow...I have never wanted to read true crime books before. Your review has certainly swayed me. I don't think any sane person can really truly understand how anyone can do such a thing (and worse). But hopefully this book would give me more of an idea...thanks!Honest Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939576356497415089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-13694163842615702762010-07-23T20:48:30.047-04:002010-07-23T20:48:30.047-04:00Cullen , who first reported on the story for the o...Cullen , who first reported on the story for the online magazine Salon, acknowledges in the book's source notes that thoughts he attributes to Klebold and Harris are conjecture gleaned from the record the pair left behind.<br /><br />Jeff Kass takes a more straightforward approach in "Columbine: A True Crime Story," working backward from the events of the fateful day.<br />The Denver Post<br /><br />Mr. Cullen insists that the killers enjoyed "far more friends than the average adolescent," with Harris in particular being a regular Casanova who "on the ultimate high school scorecard . . . outscored much of the football team." The author's footnotes do not reveal how he knows this; when I asked him about it while preparing this review, Mr. Cullen said he did not necessarily mean to imply that Harris was sexually active. But what else would such words mean?<br /><br />"Eric and Dylan never had any girlfriends," the more sober Mr. Kass writes, and were "probably virgins upon death."<br /> Wall Street Journalgmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14094059824216640956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-14338571171759754902010-07-21T11:26:46.129-04:002010-07-21T11:26:46.129-04:00Sandy, thanks so much for that. I really appreciat...Sandy, thanks so much for that. I really appreciate the kind words and the help spreading the word. <br /><br />I was four days from move-day when this posted, but just saw the link on Jenners' site. <br /><br />There's much more about the book and the tragedy on my <a href="http://davecullen.com/columbine.htm" rel="nofollow">Columbine</a> site. And for kids, I created a Students Page there, and several <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/davecullenwriter" rel="nofollow">videos</a>. (Some of them are designed for book clubs or classing, covering topics like the structure of the book, and my choice of characters.<br /><br />FYI, for schools and book clubs, I'm offering to skype in for 20-30 minutes this fall/summer.<br /><br />Thanks.Dave Cullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147629998855818290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-26691710726645942282010-07-19T20:14:34.852-04:002010-07-19T20:14:34.852-04:00OK, one more to add to the pile. All I can say is ...OK, one more to add to the pile. All I can say is THANK YOU. And I echo the rest.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623394887320093229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-5130212914527710452010-07-14T20:11:36.495-04:002010-07-14T20:11:36.495-04:00I have to take a deep breath before reading this b...I have to take a deep breath before reading this book, which is available in electronic format from the public library. Cullen's research on this book is first-rate, packed with so many details in the emotions and motives of the event.Matthttp://mattviews.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-40612832744826656472010-07-12T17:39:54.891-04:002010-07-12T17:39:54.891-04:00I've wanted to read this one for a while, but ...I've wanted to read this one for a while, but have put it off because I know it's going to be heavy. I remember being in college and sitting glued to the TV with my roommates. All of us are CO natives, and one of my roommates was from Denver. She had to make phone calls making sure friends who went to Columbine were safe. The whole situation will be forever in my mind.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06474584473012742915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-10416983235107936842010-07-12T10:17:29.717-04:002010-07-12T10:17:29.717-04:00Great review, Sandy! While I typically don't r...Great review, Sandy! While I typically don't read true crime I think this is one book I might be interested in because of their journals. I can't imagine what their entries must have been like and it is just so unbelievable that these kids did this.Ilianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026669671843769219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-47260909794322487212010-07-11T14:16:39.366-04:002010-07-11T14:16:39.366-04:00You were right, Sandy---this is one of your best r...You were right, Sandy---this is one of your best reviews ever, and it reaffirmed my desire to read this book. Thanks for a fabulous one!Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Bloghttp://www.thebookladysblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-32863869754878810672010-07-10T19:43:20.473-04:002010-07-10T19:43:20.473-04:00Well I don't have to tell you how much I loved...Well I don't have to tell you how much I loved this on audiobook (I know I've said so at least a dozen times). The book was mind-blowing. Not too long ago, I saw where one of the mothers of the boys finally gave an interview...I didn't get to read it (Good Housekeeping or something like that ran it), but I'd love to find it and read it....it was the first interview she's ever given.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04873109350235219509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-1602703160352576742010-07-09T06:51:40.591-04:002010-07-09T06:51:40.591-04:00The book sounds very compelling.
If you like Deb...The book sounds very compelling. <br /><br />If you like Debra Winger, and who doesn't, watch the 2005 made-for-TV movie "Dawn Anna". She's sensational in the title role. I can't tell you anything about it. Just watch it.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201860227400017841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-80258095250677294582010-07-09T00:11:12.695-04:002010-07-09T00:11:12.695-04:00Excellent review, Sandy. I don't recall where ...Excellent review, Sandy. I don't recall where I was or what I was doing at the time, but it all seemed so unreal, so "It Can't Happen Here." But of course it did and was tragic for all of the reasons you mention. This book does need to be read. Thank you.dshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616750784052488695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-86620278379840239622010-07-08T20:47:42.192-04:002010-07-08T20:47:42.192-04:00Sandy .... you did a wonderful job reviewing this....Sandy .... you did a wonderful job reviewing this. I read it about the same time you did but still haven't written my review. I will do my best not to repeat yours ... but you said so much of what I want to say. It was an incredibly well researched and written book and it did a brilliant job of sorting out all the myths that have sprung up around the shooting. Well done, my friend.Jennershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044537551139633301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-56217677781539727942010-07-08T16:29:39.462-04:002010-07-08T16:29:39.462-04:00Cullen did such a thorough job researching the fac...Cullen did such a thorough job researching the facts surrounding this event. I was blown away by the book and also a bit frustrated that answers were not as neat and tidy as I had been led to believe by the media stories. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 too. It is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739982274914536036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-4880338528675872512010-07-08T15:28:31.445-04:002010-07-08T15:28:31.445-04:00I was at work listening to the radio when news abo...I was at work listening to the radio when news about Columbine first came on. Like you, I'll never forget that day. I had brothers and sisters in high school and it was terrifying.<br /><br />When I traveled to Denver a couple of years ago for work, they took us to a restaurant in Littleton. When I realized why that name rang a bell, it brought tears to my eyes. It still haunts people out there.<br /><br />I need to read this book as well. Great review, Sandy!Literate Housewifehttp://literatehousewife.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-793992766253708162010-07-08T14:47:30.777-04:002010-07-08T14:47:30.777-04:00I was home from school, "sick," and saw ...I was home from school, "sick," and saw the entire thing play out on TV.<br /><br />I worked with a guy who graduated from Columbine, and he said every one at the school became a very close-knit group after what happened. They still all keep in touch with each other. Sometimes I wonder what those two guys would think if they knew what they did actually ended up bringing the people they apparently hated closer together.Heidenkindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-28038859475292135572010-07-08T13:22:04.758-04:002010-07-08T13:22:04.758-04:00Everyone says that this book is so good, and I am ...Everyone says that this book is so good, and I am kicking myself for not making time to read it when I had it checked out from the library. I've got to make more time! :)Alycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10919057159829023714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-11791821162166557662010-07-08T12:43:01.986-04:002010-07-08T12:43:01.986-04:00I honestly have no recollection of where I was or ...I honestly have no recollection of where I was or what I was doing for Columbine. I assume I would have been at work and back then everything wasn't as instant as it is now. I can tell you about Reagan's assassination, Challenger, OJ and 9-11 though. Didn't you say you read this book while you were on vacation? Such a dark topic to wrap your brain around. Your review gives strong reasons to read it. Of course I am sympathetic to the victims - but I always wondered about these boys' parents too. That might be worse than anything. Losing your child and knowing they took the lives of others. How do you live without blame and doubt? The entire event was so heartbreaking.The Bumbleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334162339045336577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-40892425102973395522010-07-08T12:26:19.609-04:002010-07-08T12:26:19.609-04:00It's so scary to think of what can happen to k...It's so scary to think of what can happen to kids in spite of good, loving parents. This sounds like such a disturbing book on many levels!rhapsodyinbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412748239010264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-50950484576774505552010-07-08T11:51:41.426-04:002010-07-08T11:51:41.426-04:00Thank you for the wonderfully written, thoughtful ...Thank you for the wonderfully written, thoughtful review. I think it would be interesting to read just to try to understand why this happened. How horrible and sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-30496468488117291822010-07-08T11:23:47.937-04:002010-07-08T11:23:47.937-04:00I totally agree - this one was totally fascinating...I totally agree - this one was totally fascinating. It kept me spellbound and even gave me nightmares. I've always wondered how the parents of the shooters could not have known what their boys were up to, and I think this book explains it in an honest and sensitive way. Great review of a great book!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344704891037668456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-59234545703916729012010-07-08T11:12:30.738-04:002010-07-08T11:12:30.738-04:00Great review! I hadn't paid too much attentio...Great review! I hadn't paid too much attention to this book but it does sound like a must-read.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128837662718618636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-13144247576453553442010-07-08T09:41:35.306-04:002010-07-08T09:41:35.306-04:00I have not read much in the true crime genre, but ...I have not read much in the true crime genre, but this book sounds very interesting, if only for the fact that it dispels so many rumors and gets into the psyche of the boys. I think I would really like to read this book. I bet that it would be a really gripping read. Fabulous review, Sandy!Zibileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857638467064749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-74940835169098035582010-07-08T09:10:37.766-04:002010-07-08T09:10:37.766-04:00We had just moved to Auburn and Vance was in middl...We had just moved to Auburn and Vance was in middle school when the shooting at Columbine took place. I remember being glued to my TV horrified and wanting nothing more than to hug my child and keep him close to me. I keep reading that this book is well written, but I'm just not sure I could handle it.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-31876265375422632472010-07-08T09:06:12.993-04:002010-07-08T09:06:12.993-04:00I typically avoid books about contemporary real li...I typically avoid books about contemporary real life tragedies as they are typically sensationalist stories which were published/filmed for nothing more than profit. But your review has really made me change my thinking on this book; it sounds like the author did the proper thing and went for truth!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13917705393662132891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124681312732868654.post-55789576395165263362010-07-08T08:58:32.418-04:002010-07-08T08:58:32.418-04:00I so want to read this book! Columbine actually ha...I so want to read this book! Columbine actually happened on my 30th birthday and I remember sitting by the television that evening just glued to it. I've heard that this book is just an amazing account.Julie P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459noreply@blogger.com