3 comments about A Dictionary of New Mexico & Southern Colorado.

1. Rubén Cobos' short but monumental "Dictionary of New Mexico and Southern Colorado Spanish" (1983) was a classic the day it was printed. If you have any interest in the Spanish-speaking cultures of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, this book is a great way to learn something about the dialect without plunging into a difficult linguistic study.

   Like Samuel Johnson's dictionary, Cobos's is a book you can sit down and read enjoyably. The entries are not just translations of Spanish words into English. Cobos traces their origin and (in most cases) illustrates their meaning by including them in sample sentences. For instance, "murre" (in standard Spanish, "muy"): "Esta muchita es murre gente" ('This child is very friendly'). Additionally, many words are also explained by the use of proverbs and folk-poems.

   Cobos also explains the cultural signficance of about a third of the words in the dictionary. For example, "pitarrilla": "Pitarrilla, f. [Obviously, the dictionary has great value not only (nor even primarily) for the linguist, but for the anthropologist and historian, as well. It is completely free of technical linguistic terminology and accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of standard Spanish. (I might emphasize that the book is a guide to local usage only and does not include standard Spanish words.) Although the pronunciation of the New Mexico/southern Colorado dialect is relatively standard, Cobos has taken care to indicate divergences where they exist (e.g., "raices" is pronounced "rái-ces", not "ra-íces"). He includes a short historical and linguistic introduction, tracing the four-hundred year evolution of the dialect. Finally, for a kick, at the start of each alphabetical section you'll find a short proverb -- "P. 'Pa pendejo no se necesita mestro' (To be a fool one needs no school)."

   A valuable book that sells for a good price. Five stars.




2. I recently wrote a book about the history of the towns of New Mexico's Sandia Mountains, and during that time I probably picked this book up two or three times every day.
   It is invaluable--loaded with obscure words that no normal Spanish-English dictionary would ever have. It's well-structured, nicely organized, clearly printed, thorough, and as complete as you would ever need it to be.
   In its way, it's a sort of linguistic and cultural history of New Mexico and southern Colorado, disguised as a dictionary. Leaf through it and glance at a few words and definitions, and you can't help but learn fascinating things about the people and the places that produced these terms.
   If you are a New Mexico student or scholar or writer, you really NEED to have this book. Your work will be incomplete without it.



3. For years, my wife and I had heard people in northern New Mexico speaking Spanish as described in this book, and we believed they were just not educated properly in correct Spanish grammar and vocabulary. Then I found this book. All the sudden, all the odd pronunciations, verb conjugations and vocabulary made sense. This Spanish evolved almost on its own since the 1500's!
   
   My wife, who is from Oaxaca, Mexico, constantly looks to me to interpret for her when we do business with Northern New Mexicans (who refer to themselves as "Españoles", not Hispanics)who speak this dialect of Spanish. Some time ago, we bought furniture from a sales-lady who referred to herself as an "Española". My wife was happy to be attended to in her native tongue, but when the sales lady asked for my wife's "licencia para arrear", I could tell she didn't have a clue. Thanks to this book, I was able to properly interpret it as "drivers license" (not "marriage license" as my wife was inclined to believe).
   
   From a practical standpoint, it's probably not of much use anywhere else in the world, but if you come to northern New Mexico, and you want to converse with the native Spanish-speakers, you'd better come armed with this book!

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5 comments about Soldier of Aquarius: 1969-1970.

1. One day, when the cultural wars are done and the human soul is freed, I'll be able to say with full conviction, "This is a great Day to live."
   
   SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS is a great place to step out into a new way of life, with a fascinating literary hero.
   
   As is obvious from my discussion topic (in the Amazon Shorts forum) toasting John Cassell's HELL'S QUEST: 1971, I've been reading this author's collection of novels for the past few months, following a surge in literary exploration which has caused that forum to evolve into a commentary on each of those novels, as well as into a seminar on novelists talking about their work and writing techniques, including how ghosts, poltergeists, and possession of an author by a quickened character are related concepts.
   
   For the past several years I've been reading mostly mystery novel series as I enjoy the literary depth and continuity there. I escape into novels so thoroughly that I go through a minor grieving process when I finish a good one. Being able to follow a character through several books is a boon to that type of psyche, and to an author like me who also writes books in series.
   
   Prior to becoming addicted to the unique voice of Cassell, I had made a study of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, reviewing each novel in that series, then moving into his two other mystery series. Through Spenser I enjoyed comparing the 70's to present day, and following various details of the evolution of cultural change beginning in the 70's then pushing heatedly through the 80's, 90's, and 00's.
   
   That craving led naturally, almost uncannily into Cassel's novels, which focus on the 1967-1973 seeding pivotal point of the huge number of philosophical, psychological, sociological changes which we're still sorting through today.
   
   My problem with some of The Literary Classics has always been that reading them depressed me. I was usually left at the end of a read feeling that the best next course of action would be to leap off a cliff. I was always disgusted that such amazing literary skill, such exquisite syntax, such blood-rich character development, such balsamic plot complexity was used to elevate either the artistry of ennui or of horrifying tragedy... concluding with, "Is that all there is?" or "Life is NOT a bowl full of cherries; it is The Pits of Terror and Torture." The GREAT GATSBY was one such. The wordsmithing and storytelling ability in that novel are almost insurpassable. Yet, I feel nothing but an empty, horrible depression when I get into that book or movie. Even so, Gatsby is one of my favorite examples of a truly good novel.
   
   Too many of the Classics, for me, are the perfect promotions for Prozac. Given a choice, I'd rather read Parker or Cassell and keep my natural chemistry intact.
   
   What I like about that pair is that both authors provide engrossing entertainment, then leave me as a reader with a feeling of being well grounded into reality, including the dark sides, yet ready to work even harder to get what I want out of life and to spark others to do the same with their lives, through my writing.
   
   When I read I seek a spirit lift. I get enough daily drains on my life force from reality. I can't see welcoming them into my mind when I'm wanting the regenerating factor of an escape into an enthralling world created in my mind by another healthy mind.
   
   Somewhat in contrast to all the above, I've been thoroughly drawn into the benefits of the Amazon Shorts program as a way to develop my readership, and to find additional authors I might want to explore. Through reading the short stories and nonfiction essays in the Shorts program, I've discovered that I can sometimes enjoy a "short" break from my usual diet of novels and series. The authors in the Amazon Shorts program are indeed impressive. If not for Amazon Shorts, I might not have discovered the author who has become my favorite, rivaling Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED.
   
   Who is John W. Cassell?
   
   I hope to find other authors whose books possess anywhere near that level of ability to enhance the soul. It'll be a while yet, before I've come to the conclusion of indulging this wallow into the works of a great author stepping out.
   
   I'm honored to say that my blurb has been included in this novel's publication, in good company with other authors raving SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS.
   
   Soon, I hope to be able to compose and post separate reviews on each of Cassell's novels available here on Amazon. Until then, I'll post this overview to stand in admiration of literature worth reading and rereading.
   
   Linda Shelnutt
   
   Morning Comes: the Pre Dawn Blues - Part 1
   I'm rereading my own novel available in a 10 part series of Amazon Shorts, MORNING COMES, which holds uncanny thematic parallels to some of John's books, especially AN AQUARIAN TRAGEDY, which I'm now reading, having now read all of the current Cassell collection.



2. One needn't read far along in this action-filled dramatisation of coming of age in America's counterculture of 1969-1970 before realising they are holding a soon-to-be classic in their hands.
   
   Written a scant six years after the fact, this book places the reader at the very centre of the action in 1969-1970,when the protagonist faces the end of a highly successful four years at university and now must decide what next.
   
   Whilst working through this decision, the young protagonist finds himself at the very knife edge of the war then afoot between old and young: the expectations of the older generation; the yearnings of the younger. What follows is a tempestuous two years of life in the counterculture. This is the counterculture of drugs, free love, war protests and anarchy that had this country as close to revolution as it would ever get.
   
   Within those two years are packed all the triumph and defeat one could ever hope to find as the young man's saga touches three continents and just about every emotion one couldst label. These two years are re-experienced as a flashback on an airline trip to Albuquerque in April of 1977. A trip with a very special, emotion-laden purpose...a purpose from which there is no going back. Indeed, the young man has only purchased a one-way ticket.
   
   Those days are long gone as a matter of history, but they come alive once more through the riveting writing ability of Mr. Cassell, a man whose talents as one of America's best storytellers are just beginning to achieve the recognition they have long deserved. Five Stars awarded by Perry Carver



3. SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS is a great place to step out into a new way of life, with a fascinating literary hero.
   
   As is obvious from my discussion topic (in the Amazon Shorts forum on the USA Amazon site) toasting John Cassell's HELL'S QUEST: 1971, I've been reading this author's collection of novels for several months, following a surge in literary exploration which has caused that forum to evolve into a commentary on each of those novels, as well as into a seminar on novelists talking about their work and writing techniques, including how ghosts, poltergeists, and possession of an author by a quickened character are related concepts.
   
   For the past several years I've been reading mostly mystery novel series as I enjoy the literary depth and continuity there. I escape into novels so thoroughly that I go through a minor grieving process when I finish a good one. Being able to follow a character through several books is a boon to that type of psyche, and to an author like me who also writes books in series.
   
   Prior to becoming addicted to the unique voice of Cassell, I had made a study of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, reviewing each novel in that series, then moving into his two other mystery series. Through Spenser I enjoyed comparing the 70's to present day, and following various details of the evolution of cultural change beginning in the 70's then pushing heatedly through the 80's, 90's, and 00's.
   
   That craving led naturally, almost uncannily into Cassel's novels, which focus on the 1967-1973 seeding pivotal point of the huge number of philosophical, psychological, sociological changes which we're still sorting through today.
   
   My problem with some of The Literary Classics has always been that reading them depressed me. I was usually left at the end of a read feeling that the best next course of action would be to leap off a cliff. I was always disgusted that such amazing literary skill, such exquisite syntax, such blood-rich character development, such balsamic plot complexity was used to elevate either the artistry of ennui or of horrifying tragedy... concluding with, "Is that all there is?" or "Life is NOT a bowl full of cherries; it is The Pits of Terror and Torture." The GREAT GATSBY was one such. The wordsmithing and storytelling ability in that novel are almost insurpassable. Yet, I feel nothing but an empty, horrible depression when I get into that book or movie. Even so, Gatsby is one of my favorite examples of a truly good novel.
   
   Too many of the Classics, for me, are the perfect promotions for Prozac. Given a choice, I'd rather read Cassell, Parker, and Jack Engelhard (THE BATHSHEBA DEADLINE, see my review) and keep my natural chemistry intact.
   
   What I like about those guys is that they provide engrossing entertainment, then leave me as a reader with a feeling of being well grounded into reality, including the dark sides, yet ready to work even harder to get what I want out of life and to spark others to do the same with their lives, through my writing.
   
   When I read I seek a spirit lift. I get enough daily drains on my life force from reality. I can't see welcoming them into my mind when I'm wanting the regenerating factor of an escape into an enthralling world created in my mind by another healthy mind.
   
   It'll be a while yet, before I've come to the conclusion of indulging this wallow into the works of a great author stepping out.
   
   I'm honored to say that my blurb has been included in this novel's publication, in good company with other authors raving SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS.
   
   Linda Shelnutt
   
   Shelnutt is the author of several Amazon Kindle books and Amazon Shorts, including Myrtle's Ultimate Mystery, Full Moon Rising (The Books of Gem), and Molasses Moon. Her trade paperback, The Rose and the Pyramid has become a collector's item, and is now available on Kindle The Rose and the Pyramid (The Books of Gem).



4. One needn't read far along in this action-filled dramatisation of coming of age in America's counterculture of 1969-1970 before realising they are holding a soon-to-be classic in their hands.
   
   Written a scant six years after the fact, this book places the reader at the very centre of the action in 1969-1970,when the protagonist faces the end of a highly successful four years at university and now must decide what next.
   
   Whilst working through this decision, the young protagonist finds himself at the very knife edge of the war then afoot between old and young: the expectations of the older generation; the yearnings of the younger. What follows is a tempestuous two years of life in the counterculture. This is the counterculture of drugs, free love, war protests and anarchy that had this country as close to revolution as it would ever get.
   
   Within those two years are packed all the triumph and defeat one could ever hope to find as the young man's saga touches three continents and just about every emotion one couldst label. These two years are re-experienced as a flashback on an airline trip to Albuquerque in April of 1977. A trip with a very special, emotion-laden purpose...a purpose from which there is no going back. Indeed, the young man has only purchased a one-way ticket.
   
   Those days are long gone as a matter of history, but they come alive once more through the riveting writing ability of Mr. Cassell, a man whose talents as one of America's best storytellers are just beginning to achieve the recognition they have long deserved. Five Stars awarded by Perry Carver



5. I have read this novel three times & will read it again.
   All of John Cassell's novels are superbly written. The stories
   are gripping & sure to please readers of all ages.
   If it were possible to earn a ten star rating this Novel deserves it!
   >
   Soldiers of Aquarius 1969-1970 was a return to a wonderful, yet painful era in American history. Cassell takes you back to the days of "Make Love Not War","Peace" and "Hell No We Won't Go!" You get to travel with him from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Albuerque, New Mexico, then on to California and back. Many times with little or no money, through hot desert country and freezing cold. He lets you taste starvation,arrest, torture,loneliness and the confusion of youths living in those wonderful, stormy and often frightening days.

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