Heart-Diamond - Hardcover

Shaw, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0929398084 ISBN 13: 9780929398082

Publisher: University of North Texas Press, 1990

Synopsis

Heart-Diamond describes the author’s experiences growing up on a working cattle ranch in Southeastern New Mexico. In a series of sketches that begins with an incident in her childhood and concludes with her return to the ranch after a lengthy absence, the book features various members of her family in settings and situations typical of daily life not only on the Heart-Diamond but on any small, family-operated ranch: rounding up cattle, fixing windmills, helping a heifer to calve. At the same time that the sketches celebrate western culture and the love that holds the family together, their touch is light and humorous.

As a book written from a woman’s point of view, Heart-Diamond offers some unique commentary on the “cowboy” way of life.

Greenwood describes growing up on a working cattle ranch in Southeastern New Mexico, beginning with an incident in her childhood and concluding with her return to the ranch after a lengthy absence. The book features various members of her family in settings and situations typical of daily life not only on the Heart-Diamond but on any small, family-operated ranch: rounding up cattle, fixing windmills, and helping a heifer to calve. Her humorous sketches celebrate western culture and the love that holds the family together.

About this title

From the Publisher:

"The most important features of the Heart-Diamond cannot be located on maps, of course, but reside in the memories and imaginations of its inhabitants. Nevertheless, it occupies a physical space in southeastern New Mexico between Carlsbad, home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns, a tourist attraction vital to the area's economy, and Artesia, home of the less famous but equally vital Bennie's Western Wear, purveyor of hats, boots, and jeans to the local ranchers, farmers, and cowboys. - Heart-Diamond

Heart-Diamond describes the author's experiences growing up on a working cattle ranch in southeastern New Mexico. In a series of sketches that begins with an incident in her childhood and concludes with her return to the ranch after a lengthy absence, the book features various members of her family in settings and situations typical of daily life not only on the Heart-Diamond but on any small, family-operated ranch: rounding up cattle, fixing windmills, helping a heifer to calve. At the same time that the sketches celebrate western culture and the love that holds the family together, their touch is light and humorous. Written from a woman's point of view, the reminiscences offer some unique commentary on the "cowboy" way of life, as well as exploring a history that is "still in progress and will continue to unfold for a long time...although the small rancher, like the small farmer, is an endangered species." As noted western writer Elmer Kelton observes in his introduction, "it is good that Kathy Greenwood has captured some of [the ranch lifestyle] for us to keep, to savor whenever we feel the need to renew acquaintance with our roots."

"Reading Kathy Greenwood's account of growing up on a small ranch in southeastern New Mexico, I kept wondering where she had heard the story of my life. From her ill-starred introduction into the fine art of milking a recalcitrant Jersey cow to her uneasy homecoming from graduate school, she kept reflecting incidents out of my own West Texas experience. In many ways she reflects the life of almost everyone-man or woman-who has grown up on a ranch.... She writes with a sparkle and a keen wit." - Elmer Kelton, "Introduction"

About the Author:

Kathy Greenwood, in addition to having grown up on the Heart-Diamond, is a former World Champion American Junior Rodeo Association All-Around Cowgirl, and holds a Ph.D. in English.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of North Texas Press
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0929398084
• ISBN 13: 9780929398082
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 175
• Illustrator: Greenwood Kathy L.