What do you think?
Rate this book
Cassell Faction Trilogy #1
CROSSROADS: 1969
The true story of a young man's dreams and actions the year he graduated from college. The Vietnam War looms, the siren song of the Counterculture beckons. Rebuffed in effort to get financial aid for graduate school, the young man takes to the Road and a whole way of life opens up to him. A story of coming of age at a time when anything could happen.
- GenresAmazon
415 pages, Nook
First published October 14, 2005
12 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
John W. Cassell
29 books18 followersThe arts have always played a role in John Cassell's life. His mother was a fashion model, additionally finding self expression in oils and sculpture. His dad was one of the pioneers of television, supplemented as well by summer stock and radio. John's first job was as a radio personality. For twenty-five years he was a prosecutor with over 100 felony jury trials to his credit before focusing his attention as an author of over ten books and stories in various genres.
Cassell wrote most of his books while residing in the South Seas. His earliest works were portrayals of his years on the road both in the United States, Europe and North Africa. His later works are based on his law enforcement and political experiences. All, however, reflect the adventurous spirit and driving curiosity which served as the central animating forces in Cassell's life.
Cassell wrote most of his books while residing in the South Seas. His earliest works were portrayals of his years on the road both in the United States, Europe and North Africa. His later works are based on his law enforcement and political experiences. All, however, reflect the adventurous spirit and driving curiosity which served as the central animating forces in Cassell's life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 14, 2009
I approach this book almost with reverence. the entirely autobiographical events portrayed therein were taken from my diaries of forty years ago and turned into a book in 1976 upon my discharge from the military.
This is me forty years ago. Now as a crippled old man it is quite a thrill to become reacquainted with the young me in the year i threw caution to the winds and LIVED life to the full.
For others this book stands as a truthful account of the way it was in 1969...a year when American youth were breaking ranks...not following the ways of their elders. this book is a window on both the stupidity and wisdom that resulted...as well as some of the people one met on the road.
Young John Cassell was never the same after this adventure. The young man that resulted went on the road in America...living the life of the Counterculture. these adventures are documented in the partly novelesque-mostly diary SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS and AN AQUARIAN TRAGEDY and the full year Great American Novel of 1970: ODYSSEY: 1970.
This is me forty years ago. Now as a crippled old man it is quite a thrill to become reacquainted with the young me in the year i threw caution to the winds and LIVED life to the full.
For others this book stands as a truthful account of the way it was in 1969...a year when American youth were breaking ranks...not following the ways of their elders. this book is a window on both the stupidity and wisdom that resulted...as well as some of the people one met on the road.
Young John Cassell was never the same after this adventure. The young man that resulted went on the road in America...living the life of the Counterculture. these adventures are documented in the partly novelesque-mostly diary SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS and AN AQUARIAN TRAGEDY and the full year Great American Novel of 1970: ODYSSEY: 1970.
April 2, 2011
This is a true story. You should know that. Before the story begins, Cassell says it’s fiction, but it isn’t. It really happened as he describes. It’s important that you understand this because then the second half of the story will blow you away.
I say “the story,” but it felt to me like a succession of linked stories. So much happened to Cassell that year, more than happens to most of us in several years.
Cassell is a young man in 1969 (20 I think). The Vietnam War is going on, and he’s draft age. So he spends most of the year out of the country. He wasn’t a draft dodger because he hadn’t been drafted. But he wasn't around, and he didn't tell them.
He begins in the U.S., of course. His travels take him first to England, then other English-speaking countries. He has a story(s) to tell about each. That’s when I became interested.
But when he hooks up with a French guy (one of his mistakes that year, but it makes for a great story) and goes with him to his home in France, that’s when I started getting really, really interested in Cassell’s stories.
And when he goes to Spain, his stories were making me nervous as he describes his (what I felt were) foolish choices. I was so afraid he’d end up in a Spanish prison, I couldn’t stop reading until he got out of there.
Then Cassell goes to Morraco (OH MY GOD! as my high school niece would say). It was so interesting, so scary. I would have said “unbelievable” if I had read this when it was written (the 70s, when I was an uninformed [nice word for "ignorant"] teenager), but now I know better. Still, knowing that this is a true story made it so gripping I couldn’t put the book down until he was back in England, meaning I was reading W-A-A-A-Y past bedtime, meaning I fell asleep sitting up.
No, I’m not going to tell the story. Get the book.
I say “the story,” but it felt to me like a succession of linked stories. So much happened to Cassell that year, more than happens to most of us in several years.
Cassell is a young man in 1969 (20 I think). The Vietnam War is going on, and he’s draft age. So he spends most of the year out of the country. He wasn’t a draft dodger because he hadn’t been drafted. But he wasn't around, and he didn't tell them.
He begins in the U.S., of course. His travels take him first to England, then other English-speaking countries. He has a story(s) to tell about each. That’s when I became interested.
But when he hooks up with a French guy (one of his mistakes that year, but it makes for a great story) and goes with him to his home in France, that’s when I started getting really, really interested in Cassell’s stories.
And when he goes to Spain, his stories were making me nervous as he describes his (what I felt were) foolish choices. I was so afraid he’d end up in a Spanish prison, I couldn’t stop reading until he got out of there.
Then Cassell goes to Morraco (OH MY GOD! as my high school niece would say). It was so interesting, so scary. I would have said “unbelievable” if I had read this when it was written (the 70s, when I was an uninformed [nice word for "ignorant"] teenager), but now I know better. Still, knowing that this is a true story made it so gripping I couldn’t put the book down until he was back in England, meaning I was reading W-A-A-A-Y past bedtime, meaning I fell asleep sitting up.
No, I’m not going to tell the story. Get the book.
June 3, 2012
I received this book initially in Kindle format that was available for free on Amazon and it looked like an interesting read. As soon as I got reading it I was hooked. I also made friends with the author on Facebook and we have since been in touch with each other quite a bit.
John's travels throughout 1969 are really interesting and reading the book feels like John is sat there with you telling you the stories of his travels.
The only negative thing I would say about the book is the fact that in several places I was left wondering which stories were fact and which were fictional. This is probably because it is very easy to get to know the author in the way that the book is written and so you wonder which bits are the true John Cassell.
I would recommend anyone to take a read of this book. I am now looking forward to start reading Odyssey: 1970 - the next book in the series
John's travels throughout 1969 are really interesting and reading the book feels like John is sat there with you telling you the stories of his travels.
The only negative thing I would say about the book is the fact that in several places I was left wondering which stories were fact and which were fictional. This is probably because it is very easy to get to know the author in the way that the book is written and so you wonder which bits are the true John Cassell.
I would recommend anyone to take a read of this book. I am now looking forward to start reading Odyssey: 1970 - the next book in the series
October 11, 2010
This was so great & I read it pretty quickly. I love the author's humor and I loved the journey he took. The author is so cool that he gave me a copy. It was well worth the read.
April 2, 2012
Have not quite finished this but it's good. Brings back many memories!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews