A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy is a 2016 memoir by Sue Klebold, the mother of Dylan Klebold.[2] Along with Eric Harris, Dylan was one of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. The book details the childhood and teenage years of her son, and what she says are signs she missed that Dylan was suffering from clinical depression. The book also examines her grieving process in dealing with the fallout of the massacre.[3]
A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
In his foreword to the book, author Andrew Solomon wrote, “The ultimate message of this book is terrifying: you may not know your own children, and worse yet, your children may be unknowable to you. The stranger you fear may be your own son or daughter.”[4] Sue Klebold donated all of her profits from the book to mental health charities.[5]
The book describes Dylan Klebold as he grew into a teenager and his behaviors in the time leading up to the massacre, as well as Sue Klebold's desire to leave public attention after the massacre occurred.[6] Sue Klebold faced negative attitudes towards herself and faced stresses on her own family. She did not believe Dylan Klebold willingly partook in the attack until she viewed the videotapes he made with Eric Harris.[7] She ultimately decided to promote suicide prevention.[5] As reviewer Rachel Shteir notes, the book “avoids details of the attack”.[6] The book also describes the various media-related controversies, including bullying, copycatting, and the effect of violence on U.S. culture.[7] Sue Klebold often states that her son was depressive instead of psychopathic, and that compared to Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold allowed some victims to flee, as well as killed fewer people.[7]
Release
Sue Klebold donated the revenue from the book to charities aiming to solve mental health problems.[8]
Reception
Meghan O'Rourke of The Guardian wrote that the book is "compelling as a grief memoir" and that "to read it is to be unforgettably drawn into the devastation she endured".[9] O'Rourke stated her belief that the "most haunting" aspect of the book is its inability to answer questions about why Dylan Klebold did what he did.[9]
Barbara Ellen of The Observer argued that it was a "brave, sad, self-castigating book" and that Sue Klebold never tried to "excuse her son's crimes". According to Ellen, the victims may not like Sue Klebold's rationalization that Dylan Klebold did not kill as many people as Eric Harris. She also noted that Sue Klebold focuses on mental health and "despite being anti-gun, she’s frustratingly non-committal about US gun laws."[7]
Susan Dominus of The New York Times wrote that "the book’s ultimate purpose is to serve as a cautionary tale, not an exoneration", and in addition she argued that the book was meant for the parents of the deceased victims.[5] According to Carlos Lozada of The Washington Post, the book shows the potential "warning signs" Sue Klebold missed as well as "an apology to the loved ones of the victims".[1] Rachel Shteir of The Boston Globe argued that the book could have given more information on Dylan's characteristics, and she concluded that "In ”A Mother’s Reckoning” there is much more suffering than understanding. Still there is some comfort in viewing this mother’s chronicle, as Solomon urges, as “a narrative of acceptance.’’"[6]
References
^ ab Lozada, Carlos (2016-02-13). "17 years after Columbine, the mother of one of the killers finally tells her story". The Washington Post. from the original on 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
^Carlston, Liz (February 12, 2016). "Columbine Shooter's Mother Writes a Book - Survivor's Reaction". HuffPost.
^Lysiak, Matthew (9 March 2016). "This Child Will Bring Me a Terrible Sorrow". slate.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
^ abc Dominus, Susan (2016-02-28). "'A Mother's Reckoning,' by Sue Klebold". The New York Times. from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
^ abc Shteir, Rachel (2016-02-17). "'A Mother's Reckoning' doesn't dig deep enough". The Boston Globe. from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
^ abcd Ellen, Barbara (2016-03-13). "A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of the Columbine Tragedy by Sue Klebold – review". The Observer. from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
^ Lenney, Dinah (2016-02-14). "In 'A Mother's Reckoning,' Sue Klebold tries to make sense of her son and Columbine". Los Angeles Times. from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
^ ab O'Rourke, Meghan (2016-04-14). "A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold review – why my son killed at Columbine". The Guardian. from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
External links
A Mother's Reckoning
Excerpt of said book
May 03, 2023
mother, reckoning, living, aftermath, tragedy, 2016, memoir, klebold, mother, dylan, klebold, along, with, eric, harris, dylan, perpetrators, columbine, high, school, massacre, 1999, book, details, childhood, teenage, years, what, says, signs, missed, that, dy. A Mother s Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy is a 2016 memoir by Sue Klebold the mother of Dylan Klebold 2 Along with Eric Harris Dylan was one of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 The book details the childhood and teenage years of her son and what she says are signs she missed that Dylan was suffering from clinical depression The book also examines her grieving process in dealing with the fallout of the massacre 3 A Mother s Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of TragedyFirst editionAuthorSue KleboldCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreMemoirPublished2016PublisherCrown PublishersPages305pp 1 ISBN978 1 101 90275 2 hardcover In his foreword to the book author Andrew Solomon wrote The ultimate message of this book is terrifying you may not know your own children and worse yet your children may be unknowable to you The stranger you fear may be your own son or daughter 4 Sue Klebold donated all of her profits from the book to mental health charities 5 Contents 1 Contents 2 Release 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksContents EditThe book describes Dylan Klebold as he grew into a teenager and his behaviors in the time leading up to the massacre as well as Sue Klebold s desire to leave public attention after the massacre occurred 6 Sue Klebold faced negative attitudes towards herself and faced stresses on her own family She did not believe Dylan Klebold willingly partook in the attack until she viewed the videotapes he made with Eric Harris 7 She ultimately decided to promote suicide prevention 5 As reviewer Rachel Shteir notes the book avoids details of the attack 6 The book also describes the various media related controversies including bullying copycatting and the effect of violence on U S culture 7 Sue Klebold often states that her son was depressive instead of psychopathic and that compared to Eric Harris Dylan Klebold allowed some victims to flee as well as killed fewer people 7 Release EditSue Klebold donated the revenue from the book to charities aiming to solve mental health problems 8 Reception EditMeghan O Rourke of The Guardian wrote that the book is compelling as a grief memoir and that to read it is to be unforgettably drawn into the devastation she endured 9 O Rourke stated her belief that the most haunting aspect of the book is its inability to answer questions about why Dylan Klebold did what he did 9 Barbara Ellen of The Observer argued that it was a brave sad self castigating book and that Sue Klebold never tried to excuse her son s crimes According to Ellen the victims may not like Sue Klebold s rationalization that Dylan Klebold did not kill as many people as Eric Harris She also noted that Sue Klebold focuses on mental health and despite being anti gun she s frustratingly non committal about US gun laws 7 Susan Dominus of The New York Times wrote that the book s ultimate purpose is to serve as a cautionary tale not an exoneration and in addition she argued that the book was meant for the parents of the deceased victims 5 According to Carlos Lozada of The Washington Post the book shows the potential warning signs Sue Klebold missed as well as an apology to the loved ones of the victims 1 Rachel Shteir of The Boston Globe argued that the book could have given more information on Dylan s characteristics and she concluded that In A Mother s Reckoning there is much more suffering than understanding Still there is some comfort in viewing this mother s chronicle as Solomon urges as a narrative of acceptance 6 References Edit a b Lozada Carlos 2016 02 13 17 years after Columbine the mother of one of the killers finally tells her story The Washington Post Archived from the original on 2017 12 07 Retrieved 2017 10 10 Carlston Liz February 12 2016 Columbine Shooter s Mother Writes a Book Survivor s Reaction HuffPost Klebold Sue 2016 A Mother s Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy New York City USA Crown Publishing Group p 145 ISBN 9781101902776 Retrieved 18 December 2020 Lysiak Matthew 9 March 2016 This Child Will Bring Me a Terrible Sorrow slate com Retrieved 26 July 2020 a b c Dominus Susan 2016 02 28 A Mother s Reckoning by Sue Klebold The New York Times Archived from the original on 2017 10 10 Retrieved 2017 10 10 a b c Shteir Rachel 2016 02 17 A Mother s Reckoning doesn t dig deep enough The Boston Globe Archived from the original on 2017 10 10 Retrieved 2017 10 10 a b c d Ellen Barbara 2016 03 13 A Mother s Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of the Columbine Tragedy by Sue Klebold review The Observer Archived from the original on 2017 10 14 Retrieved 2017 10 15 Lenney Dinah 2016 02 14 In A Mother s Reckoning Sue Klebold tries to make sense of her son and Columbine Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 2017 10 10 Retrieved 2017 10 10 a b O Rourke Meghan 2016 04 14 A Mother s Reckoning by Sue Klebold review why my son killed at Columbine The Guardian Archived from the original on 2017 10 14 Retrieved 2017 10 17 External links EditA Mother s Reckoning Excerpt of said book Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A Mother 27s Reckoning amp oldid 1151481996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
