Crossroads: 1969

Cassell Faction Trilogy #1

by John W. Cassell

The year is 1969… a time when the youth of America is standing up to its elder rulers… when minorities are demanding their fair share of the American pie… a time when an eternal war fought for misbegotten motives and fueled by a continuous stream of some of the most outrageous lies ever fed to a people by its leadership over the previous eight years continues to gut an entire generation… a time when the old values, the old expectations, the old imperatives are knocked flat. Seen through the eyes of 21 year old college senior John Cassell, always out of money and soon to be out of college, it is a saga of coming of age… at a time when the younger generation accepted very little of the old yardsticks and Thou-Shalt-Nots which traditionally helped that process along. Based on a true story, and the stories of others, the book follows the young man into the year 1969 as he struggles with the decisions expected of him by elders and demanded of him by life. The story leads to a factory job in the pine barrens of his native New Jersey, thence overseas, to the stimulating atmosphere of a youthful community of international wanderers in Great Britain, to an Ireland torn by age old divisions, to France, whose gendarmerie remain brooding and vengeful in the wake of the bloody Sorbonne riots of the previous year, to the Spain of Generalíssimo Francisco Franco, and finally to the turbulence of North Africa. For those who remember those days as a young adult, the book should prove a nostalgic experience, for others it is a window on those times through the eyes of an obscure young American coming to appreciate the advantages and trying to overcome the obstacles of his youth. From whatever perspective it is read, however, it is one person’s story of the way it was… the good and the bad, the triumphs and the blunders, in one of the most amazing years of our recent history.

Genres: Amazon

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2005

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[John Cassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Joe Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have not quite finished this but it's good. Brings back many memories!