The Legend of Juggin Joe
Joseph Yakel
Lulu, 2005http://www.lulu.com/yakel/
Finer n' Frog Hair
Dialect is hard. Kevin Stevens notes that, with Mark Twain and a few other exceptions, dialect never really caught on in the American literary tradition the way it has here in Ireland. Joseph Yakel is one contemporary American author bent on buckin' that thare trend like a cowpoke tryin' a break him a yearling stallion. The Legend of Juggin Joe's first-person narrator announces, right on the first page, that this short all-ages novel about a jugband superstar is related in Country Speak.
I found this flavorful. The expressions and aphorisms were a distinctive addition to a fun, light-hearted yarn.
Eljin reached intah his field bag, an' pulled out two ole rubbery inner tubes. Answerin' Joe's quizzical look as tah why they needed inner tubes fer huntin, Eljin hatched the plan tah interduce flyin squirrels tah the area, courtesy ah his giant slingshot. Joe wuz quick 'nuff tah figgur out the rest, an' volunteered that Ruth Ann would give 'em a belly whomper of a hoot, were she tah somehow come unner 'tack by them flyin squirrels. (pgs. 26/7)
Juggin Joe was just the right length for a dialog piece, as well. In 121 pages, Yakel's unnamed "Stahry Teller" kindly relates the background of the Jeckel family and their upstate New York down-home holler of Westerlo. The tenth of eleven children, Juggin Joe Jeckel streaks into the story naked. Mind you he was only a toddler at the time. After many childhood adventures on the farm and riding his accidentally-discovered jug-playing talent to nationwide celebrity, he performs that same deed for "some pretentious snoot called Lawrence Kling Live." It's gentle good fun throughout with lots of color, music, laughs and even a few surprises.
Of particular merit: there are no villains in this book. If Michael Eisner of Disney got his evil formulaic mitts on Juggin Joe, he would add a cartoon nemesis to oppose Joe at every turn. Yakel's story does contain an established jug-playing champion called Bug-Eye, but rather than snorting cruelly in Eisner's image, Bug-Eye turns out to be a sound old gent. They gladly jam out duets with each other. Juggin Joe is pleasant and wholesome throughout.
But nobody belittles the beautiful "Sherniah Twang" in Critical Mick's presence and escapes, so allow me to point out two of Juggin Joe's bum notes.
Though praised by other reviewers, I consider Juggin Joe's cover to be its weakest component. Sure, it's Shrek-like and Joe deserves a Shrek-like audience, but computer-generated imagery did not feel right for a hillfolk tale. Plus, Lulu's low-grade Science Fiction titles are generally found between computer-generated covers. Yakel's work does not belong in the same category.
Cover aside, one point bugged me about the manner of the Jeckels and their country neighbors. Up in the shacks life revolves around front-porch banjo sessions, distilling moonshine, and eating animal hooves. These are stereotypes straight outta Cracker Barrel, even when approached with warmth. The lack of new and authentic biographical detail disappointed me, though in fairness young readers are not nearly so ornery and picky as mean old Critical Mick. They'll find the whole shootin' match of a tale new and delightful.
That's what I'm hoping anyway. The Legend of Juggin Joe is not only won the Critical Mick seal of approval, but opened my wallet as well. I've sent a copy of Juggin Joe south for my niece's birthday, certain that she'll get a belly whomper of a hoot outta Joe.
Read Critical Mick's interview with Joseph Yakel!
Imagine what a terrifying monster there would be if Stephen King wrote his next two-thousand pager in dialect! Nobody could defeat that.
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