The Contract Surgeon

Rating:
Summary: An interesting portrayal of an indian warrior.
Review: Crazy Horse comes off noble and courageous as he probably was. The author did mix in episodes of the great warrior's cruelty that fell well within the category of atrocity. However, the treatment was not overly sentimental and told of the hostilities that existed between the tribes, who had been united to defeat the white man's ignoring of existing treaties.

The surgeon and his love for his wife offered an interesting juxtaposition to the harshness of frontier life. I found this book infomative and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: A literary feast for the senses.
Review: I met Dan O'Brien in 1975 when a common love for fine horses, bird dogs and all things wild had enticed each of us into the early advent of what the practical in heart prophisied to be the follies of misguided youth. Our paths crossed and ran parallel for about three years until our separate and multifaceted career paths dictated decisions leading us in different directions. Even though I had been able to follow his successes with the Perigine foundation through reports from common aquaintences, I had not, until recently, known how far Dan had progessed in his desire to become a respected author. THE CONTRACT SURGEON, a far cry from the short stories of his youth, is the combination of careful research, and an intimacy with the land that can only be expressed by someone whose livelihood is hinged upon the vitality of a place as hostile yet fragile as the ancient grasslands of North America. Dan's vibrant word pictures, painted through army surgeon Valentine McGillycuddy's recollections of his own youthful passion for the Great Plains and its inhabitants, create a sensory overload which compelled me to read the whole book in one setting. No contemporary author has driven me to that point in many years. If you have ever connected with the land, fine horseflesh and wild places, keep a bandanna handy. Same goes for the warrior who has wondered how you can hate yet respect and even love the enemy. For the dreamers and the politically correct, who need a reality check, this one is for you too.

A fine read, crafted by a man whose misguided youth has proved visionary, not misspent. My compliments to Dan and his own Dr. McGraw. Whoever he is.

Rating:
Summary: Unsentimental and Hard-hitting
Review: This is a well-written and exciting literary historical novel. O'Brien manages to steer clear of the cliches that are rampant in this genre by fully developing all of the novel's characters and creating dialogue that is never stilted or preachy. Above all, he presents a well-paced story set against the background of a complicated and humanistic take on the violent collision of two cultures that may not have been as different as we often think.

Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read in 2000!
Review: This is beautifully written historical fiction with some excellent medical scenes. I'm a librarian and I read everything and this was the best book I've read so far this year. Riveting medical drama, a lovely romance, and excellent historical details make this a terrific read. Highly recommended by me!

Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read in 2000!
Review: This is beautifully written historical fiction with some excellent medical scenes. I'm a librarian and I read everything and this was the best book I've read so far this year. Riveting medical drama, a lovely romance, and excellent historical details make this a terrific read. Highly recommended by me!