'Course, as yah might 'xpect, muh stahry, "The Legend of Juggin Joe", has received a consider'ble number ah perfessional reviews an' sech, makin' news ah which the author is right pleased an' thankful. The followin' are some ah the mentionables.
Bonafide Reviews:
1. Mary Schneider, Reviewer, The Muse Book Reviews:
"While the phonetic spellings littering the text made reading Juggin Joe a challenge, the story gems make mining the lines worthwhile. The flying squirrel attack alone makes Juggin Joe worth the read."
2. Viviane Crystal, Editor and Founder, Crystal Reviews:
"... this writer who has created a unique style of "country speak" dialogue and storytelling that is quaint and entertaining without the need for the raging dysfunctional status besetting so much of contemporary fiction."
3. Kristin Dreyer Kramer, Editor, Nights and Weekends:
" The Legend of Juggin Joe is a country-folk tall tale that mixes equal parts heart and humor to create a memorable story full of lovable characters. In fact, at times, Joe reminded me of Forrest Gump—a kind-hearted character who lived an extraordinary life and changed the world just by being himself... the book’s style makes the story come to life—and once you get used to it, you may just find yahself thinkin’ and talkin’ in countryspeak. I know I did."
4. Janie Franz, Reviewer, MyShelf:
"The Legend of Juggin Joe sometimes reads like Forest Gump meets The Dillards. It's funny. It's warm. It's full of mountainisms...The author has drawn on his own experiences with the people of upstate New York and his own fascination with the jug. He has written the book in what he calls "country speak," a phonetically-written dialect of the mountain people of the region...What is clear as spring water is that we sure haven't heard the last of Juggin Joe and his misadventures. We're all going to be waiting for the next installment, Mr. Yakel."
5. Tami Brady, Editor and Reviewer, TCM Reviews:
" Many of the situations written into this narrative are extremely amusing. Translating a lot of the text in order to actually understanding the story is often a humorous task in itself."
6. Lillian Brummet, Author of "Trash Talk":
"This book is certain to take you away from your reality, and into the shaded mountains where moonshine is made!"
7. Shane Collins, PODS Magazine:
"The Legend of Juggin Joe is a delightful book... laid out very nicely, with an editing job that would leave most P.O.D. authors in shame. It is creatively written entirely in "country-speak"...very humorous, the book is great for laugh and country lovers of all ages."
8. Kaye Trout, Founder/Editor, Kaye Trout Book Reviews:
"Are you a fan of Mark Twain? Do you enjoy reading books written in the vernacular of different cultures or regional areas? If you do, you just might want to try this little book."
9. Joe Fabel, Reviewer, Military Writers Society of America (MWSA):
"Juggin Joe" is a novel alive with the speech and actions of an important section of our country: the hard scrabble hills in the North-Eastern part of the United States...Pick up Joseph Yakel’s novel and discover the magic!"
10. W. H. "Bill" McDonald, President, Military Writers Society of America (MWSA):
"I have read several thousand books in the last few decades but I have never, ever, read anything that compares to what author Joseph Yakel has created. His very unique story and story telling style in his novel, “The Legend of Juggin Joe,” is truly a refreshing break from all the other books and stories I have read."
11. Idgie Threadgoode, Editor and Founder, Dew on the kudzu
"This story is written entirely in "hill speak"...it reads fairly close to the way I grew up talking so I just considered it Southern Phonics. It has plenty of hysterical sayings that I heard years ago and had forgotten. It was nice to see them brought out again."
12. Kaye Trout, reviewer for Midwest Book Reviews, review of The Legend of Juggin Joe
Certified News:
Interview with Kaye Trout, founder/editor of Kaye Trout Book Reviews
Interview with Mick Halpin, Editor of Critical Mick Reviews
"The Legend of Juggin Joe" author page listed on the PODS Store:
Juggin Joe Book Chapter Preview hosted by The Jonboat Journal, Steve Harrison-Proprietor Extraordinaire.
Juggin Joe Book Cover and Lulu Press website link are now featured on Bruce Brenner's excellent literary website, Vintage Paperbacks & Digests.
Cybergrass - The Internet's Bluegrass Music Magazine Since 1992", book article on "The Legend of Juggin Joe".
Interview in the January 2006 edition of SelfPublisher News, by Executive Editor, Milton Stern.
Juggin Joe cover artwork by graphic artist Jonathan Fesmire.
Juggin Joe Press Release in EzineArticles.com
"The Legend of Juggin Joe can be ordered online from Lulu Press or The Author's Bookshop, or purchased in Capitaland at Borders Books-Wolf Road, Borders Books - Clifton Park, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, or I Love Books, Inc. on Delaware Ave, Delmar.
