About book Stone Song: A Novel Of The Life Of Crazy Horse (2006)
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley courtesy of Open Road.tBlevins’ novel traces the lift of Crazy Horse from young adult hood to his death. Unlike many writers, Blevins does not fall into the trap of making any one character or race too saintly or too demonized. tWhen the reader first meets Crazy Horse, he isn’t called Crazy Horse, but Curly. He is trying to find his place not only in his tribe but within himself. This first section of the novel is not quite a coming of age story but more of a feeling out who you are story, struggling to come to terms with not only a changing world, but what your duty in that world is.tThe rest of the book charts both Crazy Horse’s highs and lows. The focus is on Crazy Horse and the Lakota, and in many ways it is good that Blevins does not make the Battle of Little Bighorn a central piece of the novel. Would Crazy Horse really see the battle as meriting the same importance as white Americans? Doubtful.tPerhaps the weakest part of the novel is the development of the female characters, in particular the romantic interest of Black Buffalo Woman. Her motives and reasons do not seem to be really developed. How much of her behavior is based on cultural belief and how much due to her own desire is unclear. While this does occur, when combined with her limited page time, it makes it hard to know her character let alone really care what happens to her. The same is true of Black Shawl, and Crazy Horse’s third (or second, depending upon how you count) wife hardly gets any screen time. tThis weakness aside, the novel does an extremely good job of conveying the culture of the Lakota as well as the political maneuvering that occurred when the white American continued their Westward expansions (take over, chose your term). It is not a romanticized view of the West or of Native Americans and for that the book deserves much praise.
"Drum-on-His-Back and Crazy Horse had never heard anything like it. Instead of putting themselves on the side of great powers, the whites asked the powers to be on their side. Odd people, you could never understand them."A powerful biographical novel that puts the Native American Lakota beliefs and feelings front and center, as it should. I have trouble stomaching fiction, so I jumped at the opportunity to read a personable tale of Crazy Horse and the tragic slice of American History he lived in. As an outsider, I do not know about how true to Lakota beliefs Blevins remained, but I have the impression he did his homework, and loved the topic. Formatting issues aside, this is a beautiful and highly recommended book.
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THis is a fictional book aboutthe life of Crazy Horse. He was fairly secretive so alot of things are second had from others who survived him and some inference on Lakota mysticism. It dwells alot on that mysticism, what drove him to act the way he did, why he was The Strange Man, why he fought so hard and then came in to the reservation. I have read it 3 times and finished it again recently. I really enjoyed it this time through. It does have some adult scenes that the author ties to Crazy Horse's decison making. Ultimately it is a tragic story that leaves me fulfileld yet sad. I always feel the sad songs are the best, so this follows. It is a good read but not light, so give it the time it needs.
—Cam
