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Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy | Sue Klebold
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Over the course of minutes, they would kill twelve students and a teacher and wound twenty-four others before taking their own lives. For the last sixteen years, Sue Klebold, Dylan s mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently? These are questions that Klebold has grappled with every day since the Columbine tragedy. In"A Mother s Reckoning," she chronicles with unflinching honesty her journey as a mother trying to come to terms with the incomprehensible. In the hope that the insights and understanding she has gained may help other families recognize when a child is in distress, she tells her story in full, drawing upon her personal journals, the videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and on countless interviews with mental health experts. Filled with hard-won wisdom and compassion, "A Mother s Reckoning"is a powerful and haunting book that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. And with fresh wounds from the recent Newtown and Charleston shootings, never has the need for understanding been more urgent. "All author profits from the book will be donated to research and to charitable organizations focusing on mental health issues." "
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review
Rissreads
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Pickpick

Whilst going through my read books list on Goodreads I realised I had missed these two books!
I loved both. The tagged book was obviously devastating, every mothers worst nightmare! I spent the whole book shaking my head in disbelief.
These precious days were essays on life, love and death. I enjoyed them all!

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TheRiehlDeal
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#AlphabetGame
#LetterM

A book on my TBR with a 92% pick rating on Litsy.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘ll check it out! 2y
12 likes1 comment
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Billie84
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Going to start this.

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Annie1215
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After being so moved by the brilliant book Columbine by Dave Cullen I was really interested in reading this perspective.

This quote early on really hit me. Such a perfect way to capture the feeling of grief, shame and confusion.

paperwitchs Dave Cullen has so many inaccuracies in his book that I more so suggest this one, Cullen even has outright lies in his :( 3y
AmyG I will never forget this woman and this book. We all believe we truly know our children and all they are involved in. She is as much a survivor as anyone. 3y
Annie1215 @paperwitchs I‘ve never heard this! Thanks for the comment. I‘ll be interested to hear the discrepancies 3y
See All 12 Comments
DebinHawaii I listened to this on audiobook & it shredded me. 💙😭 3y
jlhammar Such a good book. I read this one first and then Columbine. They pair so well. 3y
BookNAround This book was such a gut punch but so worthwhile reading. 3y
bthegood Just saying hi - haven't seen you for awhile on Litsy - 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks How are you sweetie? 💜 2y
Annie1215 @bthegood thanks for checking in ♥️ I‘m doing well and am back on Litsy after way too long 2y
Annie1215 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thanks for being so caring and checking in. Sorry for worrying anyone! I was settling in to my new home and enjoying some quality time with my family and friends paired with crazy work. I got caught up and fell way behind in my reading. Glad to be back! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Annie1215 I‘m happy to hear from you! Congratulations on your new home!! Do I have the updated address ?🏡❤️ 2y
bthegood @Annie1215 glad to hear from you and glad you were gone for good things (new home and family/friends). 2y
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kimmypete1
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Pickpick

What a powerful read. A much different look at Columbine, but I felt like she had so much to say that people need to hear.

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LeahBergen
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Damn. This is a gut wrenching read.

Amiable It is, isn‘t it ? I so admire Klebold for her willingness to open her family to scrutiny so others can learn how to potentially identify troubling signs in their own teenagers. 3y
GondorGirl I listened to the audiobook and it absolutely wrecked me. 3y
LeslieO I read Columbine. I would like to read this perspective. 3y
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BarbaraBB This must be so sad. 3y
LeahBergen @Amiable i admire her strength. She‘s so heartbreakingly honest about where she thinks she failed him. 3y
LeahBergen @GondorGirl Oof. 💔 3y
LeahBergen @LeslieO I read Columbine several years ago, too. 3y
LeahBergen @BarbaraBB It really is. 3y
TrishB I have Columbine and this one on the tbr. 3y
Suet624 I was so moved by this book. 3y
LeahBergen @TrishB Columbine was the definitive read for me but this one has such a heartbreaking perspective. 💔 3y
LeahBergen @Suet624 Me too! 3y
80 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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Rissa1
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Pickpick

A good start to my new year. Finished an emotionally tough read, got a cute picture of #atticus2016 , and 7 wild turkey's set of the doorbell cam.

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Rissa1
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First snowstorm of the year, you will find me reading and listening to my scanner app.

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Rissa1
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"For the first time I truly understood how 'heartbroken' had come to describe a sensation of terrible, terrible grief. The pain was actual, physical, as if my heart had been smashed to jagged fragments in my chest. 'Heartbroken' was no longer a metaphor, but a description."

Reggie Oof. 4y
AmyG I will never forget this woman and her story. Unimaginable. 4y
17 likes2 comments
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

A memoir of the mother of one of the Columbine shooters.
Eye-opening and honest. It was terrifying that she had no idea that her quiet, intelligent son was plotting such a rampage. There were no indications that Dylan was not just a regular teenager. I admire her post-Columbine crusade to raise awareness of mental illness and suicidality in teens. A must-read for parents.

AmyG This is one of those books I will never forget. 4y
Lovesbooks87 I read this after I read Columbine. I agree it is a must read. 4y
rockpools Wow. 4y
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
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LibraryCin
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Pickpick

Coming to terms with the aftermath took a long time. The son she knew and raised was not someone who could have done such a thing. Dylan hid his troubles well. Though the book started off well for me, and most of the book continued that way, the very end lagged a bit. Cont in comments...

LibraryCin Sue does work now, trying to help people see the signs of suicide and to be able to see the difference between normal teenage behaviour and potential suicidal behaviour – have to admit that that‘s where I wasn‘t quite as interested. 5y
10 likes1 stack add1 comment
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orphancovennerd
Pickpick

I don‘t agree with all her conclusions (particularly some abdication of personal responsibility on her part and a tendency to blame mental health issues for violence), but a heartbreaking, compelling and provocative read for those looking for further insight about Columbine.

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orphancovennerd

“When I hear about terrorists in the news, I think, ‘That‘s somebody‘s kid.‘ Columbine made me feel more connected to mankind than anything else possibly could have.” —Sue Klebold

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Lizpixie
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#AyUpAugust #Day1 #CryMeARiver Sue Klebold certainly had every reason to cry rivers of tears after her son & his friend killed so many at Columbine before killing themselves. Instead of losing herself in grief & regret, though she certainly felt both, she started a Suicide Prevention charity & toured the country giving talks about what she learnt from her tragedy. I certainly cried rivers reading this.😢

Cinfhen Such a moving memoir. I agree, the tears would not stop 😭😭😭 5y
Kalalalatja Such a powerful book! 5y
squirrelbrain I‘ve stacked so many books today already.... but this sounds well worth reading... thanks for posting! 😘 5y
Reviewsbylola This is such a heartfelt book. I admire Sue so much. 5y
kspenmoll She was so courageous to write her story.❤️ 5y
49 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Connster
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I started reading this on Sunday evening and have just finished, helped along by Alexa narrating a good chunk of it while I was stitching last night. How cool that you can have Alexa read to you and alternate between reading and listening! A fascinating read, which led me to Google even more about this tragedy, though I never will understand it.

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Lizpixie
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#MayMovieMagic #StarTrekSummerMay This recent read of mine is both Sue Klebolds #HighwayToHell & #AMatterOfPerspective In it, the mother of one of the Columbine killers, was drowning in guilt, anguish & grief until she made a decision to change the perspective & turn her tragedy into a positive by working with Suicide Prevention groups, Anti Bullying & trying to reach out to depressed kids & young adults, so Columbines hell never happens again. 🚫

Cinfhen Such a compelling memoir!! My heart broke for Sue 6y
AmyG An incredible story tha stays with me always. @cinfhen yes...my heart broke for her, too. (edited) 6y
Mdargusch Heartbreaking 💔 6y
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Itchyfeetreader I read this back to back with Columbine last year and found myself incredibly moved 6y
Megabooks I own this book but have not read it. I cannot imagine the depth of her grief and sadness. I‘m glad she has changed something deeply negative to positive. 🖖🏻 6y
gradcat I‘m with @megabooks I don‘t know how parents survive this kind of thing. 6y
65 likes6 comments
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jdiehr
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Pickpick

Wow.
Listening to Sue Klebold narrate her book was heavy, difficult and heart wrenching - yet I didn't want to stop.
What an important story about brain health and suicide. This was a mom who had no clue her son was suffering. When he did what he did at Columbine, he left behind a reeling family whose search for answers continues to this day.
It could have been any of us. Sue Klebold makes no excuses. She tells her story honestly and truthfully

KristenDuck My heart breaks for her. Always has. 6y
21 likes1 comment
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jdiehr
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Started this audio and am not even through the introduction - it's already heartbreaking.

On a happier note, I enjoyed these flowers on my #audiowalk this morning.

#litsywalkers

Kaye Pretty 6y
23 likes1 comment
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abookishbutterfly
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Columbine shooting is not an event we will #forget.


This is an important book for both parents & those looking to educate themselves on the details of the Columbine school shooting.

Full review: https://www.facebook.com/262384764521804/posts/270498187043795?sfns=mo

#springintoreading @vkois88 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

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Lizpixie
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Pickpick

I have the luxury of living in a country with strong gun laws so I probably will never know what it‘s like to live in fear after a mass shooting like Columbine. I do remember being unable to both fathom why the US is the way it is about guns, but also how the parents did not know. Reading this book has been very enlightening, plus raising boys of my own. My heart breaks for all involved. #NonFiction2019 #FromAnotherPointOfView #Pop19 #AboutAFamily

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I haven‘t read this one, I know it will be a tough read. 6y
CouronneDhiver I agree with your review completely ... very grateful to live in a place with fewer gun issues 6y
AnneFindsJoy Nicely said! I have had this on my list to read, but never seem to feel strong enough to tackle it - I live in the US with two boys at schools, and this topic saddens, terrifies, angers me! 6y
62 likes1 stack add3 comments
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abookishbutterfly
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Audiobooks Versus Physical Books: Is One Better Than the Other?

Every so often I see these statements which lead to debate in some of the book groups I am in: “Audiobooks don‘t count as books!” “Audiobooks are cheating” “You‘re not really a reader if you listen to audiobooks!”

First off, I don‘t agree. To read the rest of my thoughts on this, click here: https://www.facebook.com/262384764521804/posts/267786910648256?sfns=mo

TheWordJar Oh, I completely disagree! If you ask two people, “Have you read such-and-such book?” and one answers no and the other answers, “Well, I listened to the audiobook,” how is that equal?? People can be so illogical sometimes! 😡 Plus, as is the case with your tagged book and categories like memoirs, sometimes the audio is 10x better than the print version because of the narrator. #audiobooksforthewin #audiobooks4eva 6y
TheWordJar Sorry...my first comment may seem like I disagree with *you*...but I completely agree with you! I was disagreeing with the audiobook haters. I loved your post and thought you put it very nicely—people process info differently. 👏👏👏 6y
QueenJen Totally counts! 🥂📚 6y
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MidnightBookGirl I am a diehard fan of audiobooks! They count. They totally count. 6y
abookishbutterfly @TheWordJar Haha, I understand! 6y
abookishbutterfly @TheWordJar Is that a pug in your profile picture? 😍 I‘m a pug lover! I desperately want one! 6y
baes I totally count them! Even if you are just listening, you are still bringing those words to life with your imagination. I think audiobooks bring books alive even more so. I prefer reading along with the book, but places like car rides I just listen. You wouldn‘t tell children they haven‘t read a book just because an adult read to them. 6y
ShelleyBooksie I just cannot get into audiobooks - my attention drifts to much 6y
ShelleyBooksie How are you enjoying this book? 6y
abookishbutterfly @ShelleyBooksie I don‘t think it‘s possible to enjoy it. It very well-written and powerful. I mostly just cry while immersed in it. 6y
TheWordJar It is a pug! That‘s my Wally! He‘s 16.5 years old. When you get to his age, you have to count those half years! Pugs are the best dogs ever. Very loving, definitely goofy, and relatively low-maintenance. I‘d always endorse getting a pug! 6y
abookishbutterfly @TheWordJar ❤️ One day I will be a pug mama. It‘s just hard now, as we are in an apartment and we already have six ferrets. 😱 6y
76 likes12 comments
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Denisereads75
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Pickpick

This was a heartbreaking memoir to read on 20th Anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. My heartbreaks for Sue, who had no idea her son was capable of committing such a horrific crime. She recounts their family life and the days and months leading up and following the shooting. She ends the memoir with a focus on mental health. It is definitely an eye opener for parents. She encourages parents to search deeper and ask harder questions.

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Samplergal
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#nonfiction2019
Something I saw on Litsy

Finished! I love reading non fiction and have enjoyed this challenge completely. Thank you @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

IamIamIam That book was tough but even hard to listen to Sue Klebold read it! Congrats on finishing your Bingo card! 6y
wanderinglynn Congrats on your bingo board blackout! 👏🏻🎉🙌🏻🥳 6y
Soubhiville Ta da! You did it! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Suet624 Nice work!! 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yay for you!!!! That‘s great! Congratulations 🎉 6y
Addison_Reads Great job! 🎉🎉🎉 6y
AnneFindsJoy 🎉Woohoo 🎉🙌 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Greeeeaaat job!! 👊🏻♥️📚😎 6y
88 likes8 comments
review
Samplergal
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Pickpick

#ReadingUSA2019
Colorado

This was an excellent book written by one of the Columbine murder/suicide perpetrators. I am heartbroken for this mother and all the families that lost loved ones. She has come a long way from her disbelief that her child couldn‘t have to acceptance and working for suicide prevention. It‘s really written in a scientific, yet emotional way that simply will crush your soul.

Samplergal I love that she is now referring to mental illness as BRAIN HEALTH, which I will try to use in the future. A really important book. I am still not sure how I feel about the mother‘s writing this. So many thoughts about this. 6y
AmyG Some books make such an impression on a person that they never really leave you. This isnone of those books for me. 6y
Samplergal @AmyG I will think about this for such a long time. I‘ve always been one to realize it‘s not always the parents fault, working in special ed for 40 yrs. This reinforced the crush of losing a child and then, to have him responsible for all that he did. 💔 6y
See All 8 Comments
Suet624 I agree with @AmyG. 6y
AmyG @Suet624 Hi Sue 😘 6y
Suet624 @AmyG Hi Amy!! I find myself thinking of you often 😀💕 6y
AmyG @Suet624 awww. Hope you are well, my friend. 6y
Librarybelle This would be one to think about over and over again...I‘m sure it is a very emotional read 6y
103 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
KristenDuck
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Pickpick

This was a tough one.

Sue Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, who worked with a peer to take the lives of thirteen others on the haunting morning in April of 1999 at Columbine High School.

What honestly surprised me was how conscientious Sue had been as a mother and what a shock this truly was to her family as well.

I have always had sympathy directed towards her family and cannot even begin to imagine the strength it takes to carry on.

MoonWitch94 I have picked this up and read it in little bits bc it‘s just so hard to read. It breaks your heart. 6y
Aaronlisa I saw her Ted talk and I feel so much for her. I have thought about reading this one. 6y
wanderinglynn I too listened to her Ted talk. Heartbreaking. She has an incredible strength to not only survive but move forward as she has. 6y
See All 13 Comments
KristenDuck @MoonWitch94 it was incredibly hard to get through. I did her audio and can‘t believe she managed to record all that without choking up. 6y
KristenDuck @Aaronlisa you should definitely read it if you saw her Ted talk. 6y
KristenDuck @wanderinglynn it shows how strong people are. I just really feel awful when she describes family dinners and taking him to see college and watching movies together... it‘s tragic. For so many. 6y
Bookwm85forever I read this book. Makes you wonder if we ever truly know our children. 6y
KristenDuck @Bookwm85forever I thought that too. It‘s hard to fathom the idea that some people just have different natures. No matter the nurture. 6y
MoonWitch94 @KristenDuck The audiobook must be even harder!!! I don‘t know how she possibly did record it. Wow. 6y
EmilyM I have this and Columbine on my TBR ,but I've been putting them off. I live an hour away from where this happened, and it happened my first year of teaching high school. But I have heard that reading them together is very powerful. 6y
KristenDuck @EmilyM yes Columbine is on my TBR list now too. I‘m sorry this happened during your very first year - must have been hard :( 6y
EmilyM @KristenDuck Thanks 💖 ... 6y
83 likes4 stack adds13 comments
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Cinfhen
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#MarchIntoThe70s A memoir acknowledging her son‘s heinous act, making no excuses and accepting her hand in the tragedy yet a story of a mother‘s grief over the loss of her child, who will forever be seen as a monster. A difficult memoir to read and process.

TrishB Sounds very sad 😔💔 6y
CouronneDhiver I thought this one was very tasteful and compassionate, considering the subject matter 6y
AmyG This book has always stayed with me. Heartbreaking. 6y
Crazeedi 😪 6y
107 likes5 stack adds5 comments
review
Wife
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Pickpick

I can‘t imagine being in this mother‘s shoes. How painful it must have been to write about her feelings of guilt, shame, and grief. She fully acknowledges Dylan‘s crimes. The most frightening thing is that her son was the typical “moody at times” teen. She didn‘t discover that he was severely depressed/suicidal until after the tragedy. She talks about her current work with suicide prevention. It will be 20 years since Columbine this April. 🖤

Lovesbooks87 I can't imagine either. I read her book after reading Columbine. Wondering how she didn't see the signs and this book gave me so many answers. Absolutely heartbreaking! 6y
Wife @Lovesbooks87 I know! 💔And even if you‘ve got a handle on what‘s going on with your own kids, their classmates could be dangerous. So frightening. 6y
Ericalambbrown I heard her on Fresh Air. It was such a good interview. I think she‘s really brave to put herself out there to talk about this. I found it so valuable to hear her story. 💔 6y
See All 15 Comments
Wife @Ericalambbrown I will have to see if I can pull that interview up. Also, I just read that she did a TED talk. So I will look for that too. 6y
Wife @Ericalambbrown Thank you 🌹 6y
Ericalambbrown @Wife you‘re welcome! 6y
Tamra So sad. 6y
AmyG I read this and felt she could have been any of us. Do we really know everything going on in our children‘s lives? She seemed like a good Mom...like any of us believe we are. I will never forget her story. I can‘t imagine living in her shoes. 6y
Wife @AmyG Totally agree with you! 6y
Reviewsbylola It‘s scary how Dylan could be anyone‘s kid. I really feel for Sue Klebold. 6y
EmilyM I have this and Columbine on my TBR--I keep putting them off because it is such a hard situation for me. I live about an hour from Columbine, and it happened my first year of teaching. It shook me to my core when it happened. I can't believe it has been 20 years. 6y
kspenmoll Agree with you all; so glad I read this book. Honest & heartbreaking. And very very brave. @EmilyM @Reviewsbylola @Wife @AmyG @Tamra @Ericalambbrown @Lovesbooks87 6y
RadicalReader I really was informed when watching the movie for Columbine as well. Rented it from my local library called Columbine Understanding Why 6y
Suet624 I‘ll always remember this book. 6y
63 likes2 stack adds15 comments
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Canndor
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“Any dead child is some parents vanquished hope. (From the forward by Andrew Soloman)”

I am not going to rate this one because I honestly am not sure how I feel about it.
This ended up on my TBR from one of the podcasts I listen to but I can't remember now which one, so I decided to read it now for my #Booked2019 #relatedtoapodcast choice.
I am mostly happy to be done with it.
@Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen I understand your hesitation with this book. But my heart still aches for Sue. What she has/had to endure can not be measured or explained. 6y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lizpixie
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#BookMail Pt1 I‘m trying to make this year a #YearOfNonFiction not just for the challenges, but because sometimes it feels like my brain is turning to mush!🧠 This is the memoir of the mother of one of the Columbine killers. I‘ve read the book by Dave Cullen awhile ago, I‘ve always wondered how the parents coped with not just the death of their child, but the knowledge of the evil they had done & to bear the judgement & hatred of former friends.

JennyM This is a hard read, Liz, but also a good and important one. 6y
Lizpixie @JennyM I saw the TEDtalk she did on YouTube, she seemed so grounded & accepting of her part in what happened. It was only a short talk and I wanted to hear more. Can‘t be easy being her. 6y
AmyG This book. I will never forget her story. If you ever feel sorry for yourself.....read this. Sue survives the unimaginable with grace and dignity. 6y
Kalalalatja I listened to this, and it was heartbreaking, but really good 💔 6y
59 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Jas16
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A Monday off from work seems like the perfect time for an audiobook book walk. Since I don‘t have pets to post pictures of I decided to come visit the sea lions and snap a picture for @kaye I usually try to avoid Fisherman‘s Wharf but I am always happy to see these guys. Listening to tagged book which I never would have picked up without Litsy. #litsywalkers

JSW Hello my City by the bay! Gorgeous day here in Santa Cruz as well! 😘❤️ 6y
HardcoverHearts It‘s gorgeous in the East Bay, too. Unfortunately, I have a migraine today so I‘m not maximizing it. Too bad it didn‘t happen yesterday when the weather was so grey, rainy and cold. 6y
TiredLibrarian Great pic! 😊 Is the audiobook read by Sue Klebold? I thought the print book was great but emotionally wrenching, and I can't imagine her reading it. 6y
See All 14 Comments
alisiakae Aww!! I have such fond memories of Fisherman‘s Wharf. 6y
Jas16 @HardcoverHearts I hope you feel better soon. Migraines are the worst. At least it looks like we have a few days of sun ahead of us. 6y
HardcoverHearts @Jas16 Thank you! I‘m just glad to see someone enjoying the sunshine. 😉 6y
Jas16 @TiredLibrarian It is read by her. I am not quite half way through it yet but it definitely emotional. 6y
Jas16 @JSW @4thhouseontheleft It was the perfect morning for a long walk and nice to get there before it got too busy. 6y
Kaye Cool picture. Good job 👍🏼 6y
DarcysMom Great picture! I think your book would be a hard, but worthwhile listen. 6y
batsy The one right in front looks like it's posing for you 😁😁❤️ 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awwwww ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 6y
BethM Wow! 6y
76 likes14 comments
review
Bklover
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Pickpick

This is a devastating memoir written by the mother of one of the Columbine shooters. It is honest, revealing, and heartbreaking. I never want to read it again - I can‘t imagine having to live it. This book will stay with me for a long time.

RaimeyGallant Wow. Sounds intense. 6y
Bklover @RaimeyGallant It was, and I‘m having trouble deciding my next book. I‘m thinking I need something really light- maybe a cozy mystery!! 6y
TiredLibrarian @Bklover My heart broke for her. And being the mom, her view is so subjective; I think there was a lot she didn't see, willed herself not to see, or reinterpreted in ways more favorable to her son. But which of us wouldn't do the same? 6y
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LauraBeth This is one of those books that I want to read but I‘m scared to read. 6y
Bklover @TiredLibrarian I agree with you. Sometimes she was a bit over the top with her descriptions of how things were at home before the tragedy. How “normal” they were. I imagine that I would be the same way. I feel bad for her- I can close the book and shake off the sick feeling. This is her life. 6y
Bklover @LauraBeth I read Columbine by Dave Cullen and thought it was amazing. This one was good, but left me with that sick feeling. If you haven‘t read it yet, I think I would start with 6y
Reviewsbylola I really admire how open an honest Sue Klebold has been. She has been dealt such a tragic blow and has put herself out there to try to do some good and I commend her for that. I read this when it first came out and then listened to the audiobook last year. 6y
Bklover @Reviewsbylola I know- I would dearly love to give that woman a hug. Her bravery is amazing. I would probably be hiding under a rock. 6y
tracey38 These events are starting to stay with me more and more, it is just so sad. I don't know how they do it but the people who can love through that and make soomething of themselves are truly inspiring. 6y
Itchyfeetreader I read this last year and just noticed I never reviewed possibly because of just how tough yet moving a read it was . 6y
Lovesbooks87 I read this after reading Columbine. I wondered after reading Columbine how the parents didn't see what was happening. This was a powerful and eye opening read. 6y
131 likes11 stack adds11 comments
review
M0ther0fDrag0nz
Pickpick

I just started reading this book. When I picked it up, I hesitated because I was picturing it trying to excuse her son for his crimes. Instead it explains how a mother is grieving not only for her loss of her son in a physical sense but much deeper; she didn't know how much pain he was in. She continues to love him just as much as any parent. The emotional turmoil she went through is magnified when compared to the other parents.

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abookishbutterfly
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Just trying to get a nice picture of the new books I received as gifts.

Edgar Gets Ready For Bed by Jennifer Adams
Fierce Fairy Tales by Nikita Gill
A Mother‘s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

review
sophierayton
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Pickpick

This is an important and powerful book. As well as it being well written, it gets the tone right with a mixture of truth, reflection and compassion.

9 likes2 stack adds
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Cinfhen
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#NoFemmeber #NonFictionNovember

I read this memoir last year & it wrecked me. I thought it would be difficult to have any #sympathy for the mother of a mass murderer but I did, in boat loads! Sue writes “To the rest of the world, Dylan was a monster, but I had lost my child.” And that‘s the heart of this memoir. A parent can‘t really KNOW their child, as much as we would like to believe we can. And this “monster” was still her son.👇🏼

Cinfhen Thank you to my awesome co-host @Billypar for sharing his favorite female fronted bands 💕🙌🏻💄and don‘t forget to check out #WinterWonderland starting tomorrow with the fabulous @TrishB and Mr. TrishB 🖤 6y
Cinfhen And thanks to all who joined in and played along 💋💋💋💋 6y
Megabooks Great choice! This is on my shelf, but I haven‘t read it yet. The print is too small, but I‘ll see if I can get the ebook or audiobook. Thanks for reminding me! 💙💙 6y
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Lovesbooks87 I felt the same way. After reading Columbine I was like how did these parents not see this coming. When I saw she had written a book I had to read it. 6y
Cinfhen Definitely listen or read the ebook @Megabooks it‘s really heartbreaking and VERY insightful. I still want to read Columbine @Lovesbooks87 but the heft is putting me off!! (edited) 6y
CarolynM Thanks yet again @Cinfhen for such an interesting bunch of prompts. Sorry I was so uninspired all month. I loved your month of non fiction choices🙂 6y
Megabooks @Cinfhen @Lovesbooks87 I did the Columbine audiobook and loved it. That also gave me more #sympathy towards Dylan and more anger towards Eric. 6y
Kalalalatja I read both this and Columbine this year, and both were heartbreaking and amazing. I read Columbine in print, and even though it isn‘t really a page turner, I got through it so fast because of the way Cullen writes 👍 6y
Cinfhen Thanks @CarolynM Missed you this month 😘Hopefully @TrishB playlist will give u some motivation xx 6y
Cinfhen I‘m definitely going to try and pick up Columbine this new year @Kalalalatja @Megabooks and it‘s interesting that Eric‘s parents have remained pretty silent 🤔 6y
JennyM This book broke my heart A LOT. 6y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Well of the two of them, he seemed the most evil, so I wouldn‘t be dying to be questioned about how my son turned out that way. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
Cathythoughts I havnt read , but I think I would have sympathy for her too ♥️💔💔 6y
TrishB A great month of picks 😁 thanks to you and @Billypar 6y
Billypar I forgot about this one! Definitely want to check this out, as sad as it must be. I had a great time co-hosting this month ☺️ Looking forward @TrishB to #WinterWonderland!! ❄️☃️ 6y
Reviewsbylola I really admire Sue Klebold. She has put herself out there despite the negative reactions I‘m sure she received. 6y
Cinfhen Yes @Billypar @Reviewsbylola Sue is another victim in this tragedy. And it was fun co-hosting, Vinny!!! BTW Steph and the gang are back soon ( maybe April???) 6y
Reviewsbylola Yes, April!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 6y
Cinfhen I checked I have @vivastory for January @TheKidUpstairs for February @Lizpixie for March and my lovely Dargusch Girls @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi @Meredith3 and the awesome @Mdargusch for April!!!! 6y
vivastory I'm looking forward to it! I have a fun take on the challenges too! 6y
Suet624 I completely agree with you. May none of us ever find ourselves in her position. An important read. 6y
Meredith3 Loved this book, soooo terribly sad though 😓 6y
Cinfhen Can‘t wait to see what you have in store @vivastory 😍 6y
Cinfhen Hi @Meredith3 can‘t wait to have you back hosting ❤️Happy Holidays to you xx 6y
Cinfhen It‘s overwhelmingly sad @Suet624 because I‘m sure she was a good mother and that‘s the part that is hard to wrap your head around. It‘s natural to want to blame someone. 6y
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Amiable
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Pickpick

Sue Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the killers in the Columbine shooting on April 20, 1999. This is her attempt to describe what it's like to be the mother of a child who committed a horrible act, to give a portrait of her family, before and after the mass killing. It's her hope that it'll help someone see the signs of distress in their own child or help other parents who must face the wrong their children do. It's a powerful read.

Lovesbooks87 This was a really powerful read. I read this after I read Columbine. 6y
Amiable @Lovesbooks87 That's another well-written account--I highly recommend that one, too. 6y
Mirazzles This was a very powerful read. 6y
AmyG This book, this woman, will stay with me forever. I still can‘t bring myself to read Columbine. 6y
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WeeziesBooks
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1. Yes!
2. Pretty skewed towards fiction, tbh. Probably 98% fiction.
3. True crime and Indigenous stories
4. All Our Relations by Winona Duke
5. Yaaas.

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JennyM
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30 | #ABBAInAugust #DoesYourMotherKnow

Throwback to when my heart hurt reading this - if only Sue Klebold had known 💔

emilyhaldi Ugh. I haven‘t been able to bring myself to read this... someday maybe 🖤 6y
Cinfhen Ohhh 😢😢such a great choice for this prompt💔💔💔you have to read this @emilyhaldi as sad as it is it‘s also incredibly moving 6y
JennyM @Cinfhen @emilyhaldi yes it is a very moving read. I found it hard but glad I did read it. 6y
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Cathythoughts I‘ve never read this one either. I love moving reads... 💔 6y
TrishB Don‘t think I could read this one....way too real life sad.... 6y
wanderinglynn @TrishB I don‘t think I can read this either. But I did watch her Ted Talk. It is heartbreaking, but excellent. 6y
Mdargusch So gut wrenching! 💔 6y
Reviewsbylola Omg such a good pick! I‘ve read this twice now. I am just so in awe of Sue‘s strength and resilience. The whole thing is such a tragedy. 6y
Meredith3 Omg this is the PERFECT choice for the prompt. This book broke my heart 😿 6y
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KaitiWinchell
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Home with a sick kiddo 😷 that means cozy sweats, cinnamon sugar toast, and lots of reading.