Memories of Cibola: Stories from New Mexico Villages [Paperback]

Abe M. Pena (Author), Curtus (Author), Mary Litchford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up

Let Abe Pena transport you to a Hispanic New Mexico village. There in San Mateo and in the nearby town of Grants, he introduces us to relatives and friends from his youth on his family's sheep ranch. His stories of their lives and experiences between the 1920s and the 1950s speak to such universal themes as coming of age, striking out on one's own, and joining family and neighbors to celebrate good times and to aid them in overcoming hardships.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A master storyteller, Pena captures the mood and the spirit of yester-year as he weaves his tales about the daily lives of Cíboleros. A variety of captivating photographs, some dating back to the turn of the century, and reproductions of correspondence are an added bonus. --New Mexico Magazine

2007 New Mexico Book Award Winner, New Mexico History Book This book was received the Turquoise Award for New Mexico History Book. --New Mexico Book awards, nmbookaward.com

In the villages we get up early. Old timers used to say, Nos levantamos con las gallinas. We get up with the chickens, the author writes. Residents and ex-residents of northwestern New Mexico will probably recognize, or even share, many of the names of those who settled the small town of San Mateo. In this, his second book, native-son Pena enriches and deepens the story of a band of pioneers who, in 1800, undertook the trek from the settlement of Albuquerque across wild country to occupy a land grant in what was essentially Indian country. With the help of the U.S. Army, the area designated as the Merced de Cevolleta was settled by its thirty grantees, and just about the time Seboyeta was becoming a center of growth, a few families, attracted by vast grasslands on the side of Mount Taylor, gradually developed both sheep and cattle ranches. This later exodus collected settlers from the new area to form the village of San Mateo, the origin of most of the tales in the new book. There's no quicker way into the heart of a culture than to hear it retold in the voice of someone who's been steeped in it since childhood, and former rancher and foreign service officer Pena has just that voice. Inserted throughout the book, stacks of photos back up his story to illustrate not only the life and times of the author, but chronicle a way of life and the changing environment that supports it. Any story that follows the development of a new community, from its first straggling pilgrims, through the establishment of schools, local government, and plans for work and recreation, is going to have its sorrows, its minor and major tragedies, and its petty squabbles, but on the whole this is a jolly book, and among its jolliest parts are the many dichos (pithy statements in traditional language, often rhymed) bandied about daily by the population and often quoted in the local news, a custom with Hispanic roots that creates laughter with a touch of wisdom and often a heavy dose of sa --ForeWord Magazine, May/June 2007 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Abe Pena ran the family ranch for many years before serving twelve years in Latin America in various foreign service positions. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press; 1st edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826317731
• ISBN-13: 978-0826317735
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,688,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pena Brings New Mexico Ancestors Into Focus Today., December 17, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memories of Cibola: Stories from New Mexico Villages (Paperback)

Abe Pena is my uncle(his wife, Viola, is my dad's sister). I have visited the ranch in Grants and seen the areas and heard some of the stories in Memories Of Cibloa. His gift to all of us in the family (and to any reader) is the detail in which he descrbes the times and traditons of his life and of Northern New Mexico in general. He is also able to describe New Mexican life early in this century in a way that relates to those interested in New Mexico and Southwestern life today. -Mike Cisneros

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting perspective, October 2, 2004

By 

E. McKenzie (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memories of Cibola: Stories from New Mexico Villages (Paperback)

Abe Pena has managed to clearly depict the unique culture of the Rio Puerco region. The language and customs have distinct but subtle differences from the rest. Few people can recognize the vast dichotomy among the Spanish speaking peoples of the world. New Mexico has spanish speaking sub-cultures within sub-cultures. The chisto's, dicho's and parables are wonderfully written and most importantly, saved for future generations. I was especially impressed with Mr. Pena's ability to include world events current to the era. It served as a reference and made the personal stories of loved ones more poignant. I hope Mr. Pena continues to record his memories for future publication.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good history lesson on NM Land Grants, west of the RG., November 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Memories of Cibola: Stories from New Mexico Villages (Paperback)

Abe is a reletive of mine and he did a very good job researching for the book. I was born and raised in Seboyeta, NM. This book was a good lesson for me on my recent past, and tought me some lessons on the history of the Spanish Land Grants in that area of New Mexico. It also brought back some very good memeories from my childhood. I am going to make sure my three sons read this book so they can learn about their ancestry. Very well done Abe ! Louie Jaramillo Jr.