Chapter18: Columbine

In chapter 18, Last Bus is all about the families surrounding the columbine victims. Although this is a very short chapter it talks about all of the sorrows and stress of the relatives. One sad event in particular is when the police tell all the parents that there will be one last bus that comes, all of them hoping that their child, brother or sister is on the bus. The buses were from the school to the sanctuary where all the parents could wait safely. The rest of the parents who hadn't reunited with their child were all waiting outside for their kids and when they went to the police to ask when the bus was coming they said there wasn't one. Many of the parents were mad and angry for the mis information because it wasn't fair to tell all of the parents that there was an additional bus when there wasn't one.

Although this is a very sad chapter, it brings out the courage and loyalty of the school principal Mr. D who stayed with all the parents until the very last one left. And along with the parents he was devastated when children did not return. Also it talks about Dave Sanders the teacher who was shot and how no one will tell his family about the events surrounding his injury or if he is dead at all.

This chapter was very hard to read because of how devastating it would be to have that happen to you as a parent. There were so many tragedies surrounding columbine. The book is still a good read, it is becoming a bit depressing though.

Chapter 17: Columbine

In chapter seventeen, it talks about the SWAT teams journey into the school. How they pursue down the hallways not knowing who might be at the end of every corner. When they enter into the library it is a massacre. Their are bodies and blood pools strewn around the room. They even claim that some students were still holding their pencils as they laid lifeless in the library. Upon entering they concluded that most of the kids had been dead for a little over four hours and whilst they were going around the library they found two bodies with injuries that stood out from the rest. They soon figured out that the bodies were Dylan and Eric, the killers. The boys after killing everyone in the library then took their own life by shooting themselves.

Although the library was full of death and sadness, the SWAT team however did find one girl alive, barely, but she did live. From a policeman's term- "twelve were cold, one warm." They also concluded that during the shooting in the library most of the kids had attempted to take cover underneath the tables unsuccessfully.

This chapter also covers Dylan's prom date, the one who gave him one of the guns that supplied to the shootings. Because of Robyn's fear to tell the police on how she gave Dylan the gun, she lied to the police messing up evidence in order to figure out the mystery of the killers.

Still, this book has been a very interesting read and I love learning about all of the things that happened on that sad April 20. The book is sometimes very frustrating and depressing but it is a really good book and I would definitely recommend it.

Chapter 16: Columbine

In chapter sixteen, Boy in the Window, Cullen talks about Patrick Ireland a boy who was in the library at the time that the killers attacked. When Ireland is in the library the boys bust in and start shooting, students get under tables and some even pretend to be dead. Ireland accounts for when the boys got to the table they harassed one of his friends for being black then shot him and his other friends. Ireland then tried to comfort his friends but then was shot once in the leg and then once in the head. Through the next few hours he was drifting in and out of consciousness and then finally chose to slowly crawl towards the window where he tried to jump out of. SWAT teams soon rushed toward him and tried to aid him and got him down from the window safely.
Overall, I am still really enjoying this book. The stories in this book are very sad but also heartwarming, like the story of Patrick Irelands courage to strive forward even though he was shot in the head.

Chapter 15: Columbine

In chapter 15, First Assumption talks about the stereotypes that the media put on the killers. Much of the information that the media brought to the public was false. They claimed that the boys were social outcasts and that they were retaliating against the school because they were bullied. However, both boys had friends, girls and were very well liked by their peers and were certainly not bullied. It also talks about how the boys got all of the information to make the bombs and how they acquired the weapons. Eric had built the bombs from an online website he found called The Anarchist's Cookbook, that gave formulas and such on how to make bombs. As for getting the weapons the boys had gotten an old enough friend from their work to go to the gun convention and buy them guns. Their friend however was under the impression the boys were using the guns just for hunting purposes and not one of the worst school shootings in history. The boys also got a gun from Dylan's prom date, deceiving her as well.

The chapters also talk about the boys parents reactions after the shootings and their way of dealing with the grief of what their children had done. Dylan's parents in comparison to Eric's were much more communicative and were willing to share information in their house. Unlike Eric's parents whom were much less communicative than Dylan's parents, they found a lot more evidence in Eric's room- including Eric's diary.

I have really enjoyed reading this book so far. It is an easy read however it is very enthralling. I really like learning about all of the true facts that happened and being up to date on the sad event. Knowing what really happened makes you so much more knowledgeable than if you do not read the book. It is truly an eye opening read.

Chapter 14: Columbine

Chapter fourteen- Hostage Standoff, talks about the situation between the boys and the cops. Where they are both at a standoff, the boys are on the roof of the school while the cops are near the front of the school, the boys and the cops then have a shoot-off and luckily no one is harmed. There are also rumor circling about some possible hostages and the SWAT team is pressured even more to figure out a way into the school without putting the students in danger. When the SWAT team enters the school they are in a whole new environment with no maps of the school they have to go in blind without knowing where the killers were in the school.

This chapter also talks about how the media begins to speculate. The news teams and such are starting to think about what is happening and get information from the victims. However the majority of their publishing is either wrong or from a news station point they could put students in danger if the killers had been watching when they aired victim footage. Thankfully, they were not.

Overall, this book is very interesting and I am looking forward to reading more into this book and finding out more facts about the incident.

Chapter 13: Columbine

In chapter Thirteen "1 Bleeding to Death" talks about the sign that was posted up on the second story of the science hallway. The signs purpose was to alert the medics that obviously someone was bleeding to death in the room, and that someone needed help. Sadly, Dave Sanders earlier described in the chapter "Dads" is the one bleeding to death. He spotted the killers in the middle of the hallway then was shot and had to crawl into the nearest classroom. Children had tried to aid them but knew that he was slowly dying.

The chapter also talks about the parents desperation while their kids are still in the school and also about parent-child reunions. It talks about Dave Sanders family and the troubles his wife is having with him not coming home the first night. She didn't sleep or eat, worried he might be dead however the police nor teachers would give her any news. Linda kept her mind on the little things like how she forgot to vacuum and other housework.

The research when the police talked to witnesses was very unreliable, many students were so traumatized that they had other ideas of what the killer looked like in their minds. Many kids thought there were more than two killers, which could be attributed for when the boys changed out of their trench coats making it seem like there were more than two.

The book so far has been really inthralling to read and I am enjoying every minuet of it. I love reading about all of the facts however hard it may be to realize what really went on and what happened.

Chapter 12: Columbine

In chapter twelve, The Perimeter talks about the police action when the first 911 calls were heard. The first to the scene was a deputy sheriff named Gardner, he and Eric had exchanged gunfire through the first hour until further police, firetrucks and SWAT teams arrived on the scene. When the firetruck got to the scene the police then took all of the living victims and put them behind the barrier of the firetruck. The reasoning for the chapters name is that with all of the police cars and firetrucks they built a surrounding around the school and hid all of the kids behind the cars and trucks for safety. Many of the survivors were traumatized from the shootings and their descriptions and number of the shooters were all very inaccurate. Police now account that the reason for the different number of shooters is that when the boys arrived in the trench coats they took them off in the school and had only wore them in the first place as a means of getting the weapons and bombs inside of the building. Overall, police did all they could to help the recent living victims however many of the dead victims were left outside bleeding and were left there for a while.

In my opinion the way the police went about dealing with the surviving victims was a good makeshift plan for the problems at hand. However, the police's way of going about the dead victims was terrible and should never be repeated, again the book is very interesting and I am actually reading avidly.

Chapter 11: Columbine

In chapter 11, Female Down, when the boys decided to proceed into school it was 11:19, where they meet up from their original fire stations that they had planned to shoot from, at all of the students escaping the school. Both boys then went to the highest point of the school shooting all pedestrians outside of the school, when people originally saw the damage they thought that it was a Senior prank and that the boys just had paintball guns. A couple boys ran toward them hoping to play along with their prank but soon they were mistaken watching one of their friends get shot then running quickly away from the shooters. Most of the kids in the yard that were getting fired at soon learned that playing dead was the best way to stay alive because they weren't getting shot at. There were also many survivors personal accounts of the boys first moments of shootings. Many claim that the boys said "This is awesome" and were getting all hyped up about the shootings. Also from the accounts it seems as if they boys had no mercy when dealing with all students and another person killed was just a drop in the bucket.

Overall these few chapters are very enthralling, lately I haven't been reading books that have enveloped me as much as this book has. I really enjoy reading this and even at times I have had to set the book down because the book at times can get very intense.

Chapter 10: Columbine

In chapter nine, Judgement, the title of this chapter is called Judgement named after the name that Dylan and Eric gave the day planned. The book goes over the boys events for the Morning before the shootings. That morning the boys got all of their things ready and then they went out to get something to eat. In the morning they got the gasoline and arsenal which then the boys were behind schedule because of their allotted "chill time" was too much time. The boys had to hurry and put the duffel bags in the school in the morning and then wait for them to detonate. They then waited for the bombs to go off and after about twenty minuets they realized that the bombs were not going to explode and their main course of maximum density had failed. Still trying to recover their lost time in waiting for the bombs they decided to "proceed on faith."

Chapter 9: Columbine

Chapter nine, Dads, talks about a loving coach and teacher Dave Sanders. This chapter goes into Dave's personal life talking about his kids and his love life. Dave Sanders and Mr. D the principal were good friends all through their time of working. He was the basketball and became very close to some of the teammates and the school of Columbine came to know him as the coach to many girls. He was very considerate of his players and he took their attitude and their dedication into consideration when picking starting players. It also talks about his personal life a little bit. He i married to a woman named Linda Lou, she is very nice and by Cullen's descriptions he cares deeply about linda. It states that Tuesday morning, his wife and he were very busy and did not get to give their routine morning goodbye kiss, something Linda Lou will remember forever.

Chapter 8: Columbine

In chapter eight, Maximum Density, it talks about how the boys planned to eliminate the students of Columbine. This chapter talks about how the boys finalized their plans and how they obtained the weapons and skills of crafting bombs. In crafting bombs Eric designed seven big bombs from the Anarchist Cookbook that he found online. Both boys had been avid about keeping the plan in motion, however the book lets the reader think that Eric was more passionate about the killing spree rather than Dylan.

The boys also talked about their plans in setting up the bombs, they had designed for the bombs to go off at 11:17 during the lunch period in the lunch room and in the hallways for the maximum density of kills. They then as people ran outside of the building from the cafeteria they planned to shoot all survivors. The bombs were planted in specific places around the school so that the second story of the building would collapse and therefore kill even more students, thankfully the bombs never actually detonated. The boys also planned their outfits for the shootings, Eric wore a white shirt that said Natural selection on it and Dylan wore a black shirt that had Wrath on it. Both boys wore trench coats into the school, but they only wore the trench coats so that they could successfully hide their bombs and they could carry their guns into school.

Also, the book talks a little bit about the boys Monday before the Tuesday shooting. Dave Cullen states that the boys had a very uneventful day and they attended bowling club and went along their schedules as usual, not creating any suspicion.

Columbine: Chapter Six

In chapter six "His Future", it talks about Dylan's prom experience, he takes his date Robyn and treats her so nicely. Everyone in the group accounts Dylan for being cheerful, nice and playful. He event talked about his future, going to Arizona with a friend who was going for Florida and also staying in touch with each other because they were all too good of a group of friends to let it go.

This chapter also talks about Eric's prom experience, although he did not go to prom he had his love interest, Susan over to hang out at his house and watch a few movies. From the books account Eric seemed cheerful and nice and even pecked Susan on the cheek when she left his house that night.

It also talked about after prom, where the adults held a function in the gym. It was a New York, New York themed gambling idea. Where all of the students went and gambled with fake money. The whole prom group went although they said the boys and girls mostly separated at the time and Eric joined the after prom group.

Reading about how both boys dealt with prom and how cheerful they were right before Tuesday seems really odd. I cant wait to read the rest of the book finding out about why the boys were so casual just days before they had planned to massacre the very school they had enjoyed many memories in and people that they shared the memories with.

Columbine: Chapter Three

In chapter three "Springtime", it talks about the way that the school looks. Up by the rockies in a small valley surrounded by lush green. It was spring so everything around the school is starting to bloom and along with spring was coming senioritis. It talks about columbines lunch system and how they have an open campus and how the boys would pack one of their cars with a slew of boys and then went to a fast food restaurant. Mr. D in this chapter talks about his love for running lunch duty, where he gets to talk to all of the students and he enjoys conversing with all of the students. Unlike many of the teachers who don't necessarily love lunch duty and make fun of Mr. D for liking it.

Also, this chapter talks about how there has been school shootings for the past, and that society had hoped that there would not be another high school shooting for a while. However, everyone all over the United States were wondering when the next outcast would strike.

Although this chapter was smaller than the others it still revealed a lot of information about the boys and Columbine high school in general. Also leaving a little foreshadowing in the end.

Columbine: Chapter Two

In chapter two, "Rebels" it describes the two boys Eric and Dylan. The two boys who committed the shootings. Cullen describes the boys fairly normally, they had friends, dates and didn't seem too aggressive. Eric was the the brain of the two and he smoked, drank and got with girls. He was cool and had lots of friends. He was a ladies man and although he did make really good grades and studied hard. Dylan was a lot like Eric, however he was also very different. Dylan was self-concious and noticeable less attractive than Eric. However Dylan was a lot smarter than Eric he still looked to Eric for approval on everything that he did. Dylan looked up to Eric and was a follower of him, even though they were in the same friend group. The book also talks about how prom was nearing and ironically Eric was the one without the date, he had put all his time and effort into getting Dylan a date.

The book also talks about how the two boys speak to each other. Eric leads the conversations, the more social one while Dylan is more taken back and withdrawn but he still enjoys in interesting conversation.

Listening to the descriptions of the boys really interests me, it really surprises me that they did that because the author describes them fairly normally. It is really interesting to read about how they were and the way they interacted with each other and others. I'm looking foreword to getting past the descriptive stuff in the book and really looking into the events that occurred on that sorrowful day.

The Last Song pgs. 1-13

I just recently decided to read the book The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I decided that I wanted to read it after a friend of mine had recommended it to me and I also have seen the movie before. I always hate watching the movie before reading the book because I feel that I cant make my own images for things and that I'm stuck with the ones in the movie. But, I heard this book was really good so I had to try it.

In the first chapter it talks about Ronnie, she is on the way to Georgia to visit her Dad with her brother. Her parents are divorced and from what I've read in the book so far the divorce was not a good one. Ronnie after her parents divorce took it very harshly. She turned to more dark clothes, and "is only friends with kids with at least 3 piercings" as her mom said. Also, in the book Ronnie tells her Dad that she is not playing the piano where I know is foreshadowing in the book because the piano us something that her dad and her share. The chapter also talks about how Ronnie has completely shut of her Dad and basically most of her life. Her grades plummeted and she didn't care about anything. She even got caught shoplifting. And she protests to her Mom during the entire car ride to Georgia about how she does not want to stay with her Dad. Although her Mom insists that she does go and basically forces her to.

The chapter also talks a little about Ronnie's brother Noah, who is very sweet and loves his Dad. He is like the common 9 year old hoping to get the approval of his father. Unlike Ronnie, Noah did not take the divorce out on the Dad and has been looking foreword to visit for a long time.

Overall, I really have enjoyed the book so far. Although it is not like the normal book choice that I would pick, I still really have enjoyed reading it. I like the way Sparks describes Ronnie, oddly enough, I like Ronnie's character even though she seems angry. I can't wait to read more into this book.

Breaking Dawn pgs. 145-164

Whenever I read Jacobs part I always feel very biased because I am an Edward fan. I just feel that Jacob whines about everything rather than doing something about it. In what I have read Jacob is running around the continent not listening to his pack and going off on his own. Jacob is hurt and torn because Bela ultimately chose Edward and married him. He is all by himself in the wilderness and refusing to phase back into his human form, staying a wolf. He ran away after he made a surprise appearance at Bela's wedding and made Bela's day. When Jacob runs away he tears his pack in two. The pack begins to fight amongst themselves creating more drama for the whole quilette community.

I really do not like Jacobs part, I think that his part is very boring and all he does is whine and talk about what he is missing out on. I really do not enjoy his part. But what I have noticed is that Jacob talks in a much more less formal way than Bela, he cusses alot more and has less care for other people.

Breaking Dawn pgs. 116-138

This is the final chapter to Bela's part one, the book consists of 3 parts; Part one:Bela, Part Two: Jacob and Part Three: Bela. In this chapter Bela is late on her period (no other way to phrase sorry) and she thinks that she may be pregnant but has no idea how it is possible. It was never known to any myth that vampires and humans could conceive children. The fear in Edwards eyes as Bela tells him the news, tells Bela that this is a very dangerous situation. Edward soon starts freaking out packing everything and getting the soonest ride back to Forks. When they get back to Forks Edward has Carlisle check out Bela. They soon realize that if it was a normal human baby that her pregnancy wouldn't be progressing as fast as it is, and that the baby is half vampire/ half human. At the rate that the pregnancy is going they will need to find a way of helping Bela because if they can't find a way to help her pregnancy she will die. The vamp/human baby will eventually kill her.

I like reading this chapter because it really "turns up the heat" in the book. The book really starts to get interesting at this point. Looking foreword to the book I am NOT looking foreword to reading the Jacob part, I think he is whiney. Anyway, this book is my favorite of the series and I always am interesting and enveloped in the book when I start reading.

Breaking Dawn pgs. 51-116

In these chapters it is mostly about Edward and Bela settling into the married life, them going on excursions, night swimming and other activities. Bela is busy all day with all of the activities that when it is time to have a romantic eventing she is always to tired to do anything and falls right asleep when they get back to the island cottage. Feeling that Edward is doing this on purpose she tells Edward that she is feeling more of a movie day and decides to stay in all day one day. At night then she is ready for romance and Edward has no choice but to give in.

Other than there struggles with romance Edward and Bela's relationship is thriving, they are deep in love and Bela wonders why she was ever even worried about getting married in the first place. While they are at the island Esme has workers at her island that clean their cottage. When one of the women workers sees Bela with Edward she yells, screaming in an ancient language and pointing to Edward. Edward later informs her that the women knew that he was a vampire and that the women thought that Edward was keeping Bela hostage as food and that he was tricking her. He also told Bela about more of the ancient myths of the island that the inhabitants believe.

I enjoyed rereading these chapters, they are very sensual so I did my best not to elaborate very much on the topic. But I do like these chapters, they are defiantly the read at night type. I do love these books and I am looking foreword to reading the rest. Whenever I read these books over I always notice something new and the book becomes that more interesting.