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Stoned: A Father and Son's Quest to Unlock the Secrets of Crazy Horse
FORTUITY, LOVE, AND ADVENTURE FORGE A PATH TO HEALING WHEN LIFE MEETS HISTORICAL FICTION
A father and son, whose lives were tattered by divorce and addiction, reunite and move to a new city to start over. They receive a strange inheritance from an unknown ancestor who died eighty years before-Valentine T. McGillycuddy-the first topographer of the Black Hills in South Dakota, a field surgeon during the Indian Wars, the first Indian Agent at Pine Ridge, and the self-proclaimed "Friend of Crazy Horse."
To collect on their inheritance, they learn they must climb the tallest peak in the Black Hills. Along their journey, father and son discover the West, themselves, their relationship with each other, and the secrets of Valentine McGillycuddy, that if told, will dramatically change our understanding of the life of Crazy Horse and American history.
Based on real life and seventeen years of historical research, all supported by personal and historical photos, Daniel Lee builds an emotional story that educates and stimulates the mind, and ultimately, warms the reader's heart. It will make you question history and give you hope for our young generation.
A father and son, whose lives were tattered by divorce and addiction, reunite and move to a new city to start over. They receive a strange inheritance from an unknown ancestor who died eighty years before-Valentine T. McGillycuddy-the first topographer of the Black Hills in South Dakota, a field surgeon during the Indian Wars, the first Indian Agent at Pine Ridge, and the self-proclaimed "Friend of Crazy Horse."
To collect on their inheritance, they learn they must climb the tallest peak in the Black Hills. Along their journey, father and son discover the West, themselves, their relationship with each other, and the secrets of Valentine McGillycuddy, that if told, will dramatically change our understanding of the life of Crazy Horse and American history.
Based on real life and seventeen years of historical research, all supported by personal and historical photos, Daniel Lee builds an emotional story that educates and stimulates the mind, and ultimately, warms the reader's heart. It will make you question history and give you hope for our young generation.
332 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2021
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 7, 2021
Thoroughly entertaining and provocative.
I visited the areas mentioned in this book about 10 years ago. It was great fun reading about the author and his son visiting and surmising what might have happened here or there. Within the first few pages, I was engaged in both stories -- the one about the author and his son and the fictional telling of what might have happened to Crazy Horse. Reading up on the author and his expertise in investigation gave this book an extra bit of intrigue for me.
Most great discoveries have begun with the question "What if?" Mr. Lee clearly outlines in his epilogue and letter to the reader how he came up with the premise in his book. There were parts of the story where the lines were blurred between fact and fiction, but to me, that made it all the more fun to read. Thought-provoking? It was. Emotional? Indeed. Fascinating? Got that too. Escapist? Check! The author asked, "What if?" I ask, "Why not?" spend a few hours with this book.
BTW, I bawled my eyes out a couple of times and laughed out loud several times. I dare readers to not fall in love with Dan and Brody. In places, the writing is simply beautiful and the imagery so well done it was like standing next to these men as they visited the places mentioned in the book.
Such a unique and well-done story. I've never read anything quite like it, so there is nothing I can think to compare it to, but it is one of my favorite books of the past couple of years.
I visited the areas mentioned in this book about 10 years ago. It was great fun reading about the author and his son visiting and surmising what might have happened here or there. Within the first few pages, I was engaged in both stories -- the one about the author and his son and the fictional telling of what might have happened to Crazy Horse. Reading up on the author and his expertise in investigation gave this book an extra bit of intrigue for me.
Most great discoveries have begun with the question "What if?" Mr. Lee clearly outlines in his epilogue and letter to the reader how he came up with the premise in his book. There were parts of the story where the lines were blurred between fact and fiction, but to me, that made it all the more fun to read. Thought-provoking? It was. Emotional? Indeed. Fascinating? Got that too. Escapist? Check! The author asked, "What if?" I ask, "Why not?" spend a few hours with this book.
BTW, I bawled my eyes out a couple of times and laughed out loud several times. I dare readers to not fall in love with Dan and Brody. In places, the writing is simply beautiful and the imagery so well done it was like standing next to these men as they visited the places mentioned in the book.
Such a unique and well-done story. I've never read anything quite like it, so there is nothing I can think to compare it to, but it is one of my favorite books of the past couple of years.
September 30, 2021
Of course I question the white man’s written history. He has lied and rewritten the facts in ways to no end just to suit his selfish means. But that doesn’t mean I am going to buy into a new history, or even consider what might have been, or happened, or did not. Crazy Horse is an iconic figure to many, including myself. A few years ago the writer Dan O’Brien published his fine book The Contract Surgeon which I consider to be the very best historical fiction regarding the connected lives of both Crazy Horse and the famed Indian Agent Valentine T. McGillycuddy. Much of what I read in Daniel Lee’s book is in step with O’Brien’s, except for the made-up stuff that appears to be real or lifted from the actual journals of Valentine T. McGillycuddy. But who knows? Creative license has been applied which causes me worry and doubt that the book is tainted. The evidence presented seems rational enough, and the historical writing is quite different from the parallel story of bonding between father and son. But I am not completely bought out by it all.
...it is not good that the whites do not obey the Christ’s teachings. If they did, they would not treat the Indians bad…
One thing this book does is constantly bring to light the injustices done to our Native Americans throughout our history even up to our current day. So much racial hatred, inequality, and thoughtlessness to swirl around the bowl twice and then some. Another aspect the book touches on is Lee’s son’s recovery from addiction, bad decisions, wrong forks in the road, and the determination it takes to overcome these obstacles some of us are faced with in this life. In some ways the book is about redemption and in others the untold lies and cruelties inflicted on our people whose only crime was their wish to be free. At times these two parallel stories fail to click on all cylinders.
...Believing Crazy Horse was unfairly arrested and destined to a prison in Florida, what if McGillycuddy, a man willing to lie if he believed the ends justified, chose to falsify Crazy Horse’s death?
The idea is not far-fetched, but surely there would be some forensic fact to come home to roost about the death and/or resurrection of Crazy Horse as the leader of the Ghost Dance. Historical fiction should have some basis in truth, and if not, then full disclosure of whatever is false and subsequently, in turns, unbelievable. Not the best writing here, and not even the greatest of stories regarding father and son, but my heart goes out to both men as they continue on in their heartfelt life journeys.
...it is not good that the whites do not obey the Christ’s teachings. If they did, they would not treat the Indians bad…
One thing this book does is constantly bring to light the injustices done to our Native Americans throughout our history even up to our current day. So much racial hatred, inequality, and thoughtlessness to swirl around the bowl twice and then some. Another aspect the book touches on is Lee’s son’s recovery from addiction, bad decisions, wrong forks in the road, and the determination it takes to overcome these obstacles some of us are faced with in this life. In some ways the book is about redemption and in others the untold lies and cruelties inflicted on our people whose only crime was their wish to be free. At times these two parallel stories fail to click on all cylinders.
...Believing Crazy Horse was unfairly arrested and destined to a prison in Florida, what if McGillycuddy, a man willing to lie if he believed the ends justified, chose to falsify Crazy Horse’s death?
The idea is not far-fetched, but surely there would be some forensic fact to come home to roost about the death and/or resurrection of Crazy Horse as the leader of the Ghost Dance. Historical fiction should have some basis in truth, and if not, then full disclosure of whatever is false and subsequently, in turns, unbelievable. Not the best writing here, and not even the greatest of stories regarding father and son, but my heart goes out to both men as they continue on in their heartfelt life journeys.
October 9, 2021
Heart wrenching true story of addiction, brokenness , forgiveness and unconditional love.
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2021
Clear your calendar off for the day, as you will not want to put this down. A true story of a man who had climbed to the top, and life’s unfortunate turn of events that brought his world crashing down. Now, nothing matters more than saving his son from the clutches of addiction, healing their relationship, and becoming the dad his son always needed.
It is beautifully and cleverly written. In a quest for healing and restarting, Dan and Brody set off on an adventure to unlock the secrets of their heritage, and the truth about Crazy Horse. There is so much untold history that they discover. Do the history books have it right about Crazy Horse? After reading it, Im not sure. It is so well written, and impossible to put down. In fact, I have read it twice.
This book will bring tears, sadness, laughter and hope. So well done! Cheers to Dan and Brody and to their futures!
I truly enjoyed this author, and I hope to see more from him in the future.
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2021
Clear your calendar off for the day, as you will not want to put this down. A true story of a man who had climbed to the top, and life’s unfortunate turn of events that brought his world crashing down. Now, nothing matters more than saving his son from the clutches of addiction, healing their relationship, and becoming the dad his son always needed.
It is beautifully and cleverly written. In a quest for healing and restarting, Dan and Brody set off on an adventure to unlock the secrets of their heritage, and the truth about Crazy Horse. There is so much untold history that they discover. Do the history books have it right about Crazy Horse? After reading it, Im not sure. It is so well written, and impossible to put down. In fact, I have read it twice.
This book will bring tears, sadness, laughter and hope. So well done! Cheers to Dan and Brody and to their futures!
I truly enjoyed this author, and I hope to see more from him in the future.
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October 19, 2021I just finished this book, and was drawn to the storyline being about the mystery of Crazy Horse. The life story of the author with his son was intimately told and touching.
October 9, 2021
Life is hard, marriage is hard, parenting the hardest. Dan is honest and determined to save his son and gives up everything to do it. You will be cheering for Dan and Brody to right wrongs and beat the odds.
October 8, 2021
I could not put this book down! I love when a book captivates my full attention.
September 13, 2021
This book engrossed me; I devoured it in a day. It reads like a suspense novel- one that breaks your heart with the honesty of real life struggles and the happiness you can find in the smallest of places. This book had me ravenously googling through history and the people who lived it. Brilliantly written and a must read.
September 29, 2021
This is an amazing book! It is so pertinent for today as it treats diversity, addiction, divorce, disjunctional families, and the importance of a father figure in a child’s life! It offers a new look at the death of Crazy Horse and is exceptionally well written. You will laugh! You will cry! You will never forget it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews