Descent into Evil

I spent the summer reading many different types of books. "Lone Survivor", the story of a Navy Seal in Afghanistan, was a gripping read, and "Swapping Lives" a bit of fluff from Jane Green was escapist. I also zoomed through Green's "The Beach House" (more fluff) and "The Friday Night Knitting Club." (ugh)

I was about two chapters into more escapist fodder with Green's "The Other Woman" when my friend passed me her copies of "Waiter Rant" and "Columbine". I immediately picked up "Columbine" and began to read more about the horrific school shooting and the two teenagers who masterminded it.

What is it about "Columbine" that made me put "The Other Woman" aside and descend into this act of evil? Why would I, or anyone, want to know the intimate details of such a bloodbath. And with children, no less? Am I hoping to reassure myself that while this kind of thing happens "somewhere else", it wouldn't happen here? Or am I hoping to head off any kind of behavior in my own children, who seemed fascinated by The History Channel with its WWII documentaries and shows like "Lock n' load with R. Lee Ermey"?

Hmmmm.