Joe Peas Paperback – June 30, 2016

Enigmatic and diminutive Joe Peas doesn’t attract a lot of attention. Unless he opens his mouth to speak. It’s not just that unmistakable Italian accent, but the humor and wisdom that seems to simply flow from him. No one knows much about Joe, but the stories he bothers to share with others are memorable, often outrageous, and generally profound. What’s the deal with Joe Peas and his silly name?Joe Peas, has lived an extraordinary life, but no one really knows that. He’s lived in the U.S. since shortly after WWII, but rarely stayed in one place for long and never spoke of his past. Now painting houses for a living, his path unexpectedly crosses that of Dr. James King, one of the few physicians in town. Neither man realizes the impact this relationship will have on their lives or the lives of many others in the community.Falling into “Joe Peas” by Dr. Sam Newsome reminds me of the Mitford tales by Jan Karon. That outrageously popular series featured genuine characters that felt “normal” and natural in a small fictional town. “Joe Peas” takes us to the small town of King’s Mill, North Carolina, where life more resembles the simpler times of a bygone era; a time when children rode their bikes through the neighborhood and people had genuine respect for each other.This is not your average tale. If the pace of a mystery read could be considered a marathon, and the pace of an action novel could be considered a sprint, the pace of this gentle read could be seen as a relaxed walk in the countryside. Its natural flow is that rare quality of slowing down to enjoy the scenery; a reminder that it’s not so much the destination as it is the journey itself. In our over-scheduled, hyper-paced, challenging society, this is a nice reminder that there’s more to life than being in a hurry. To borrow a term from last century, there’s no “rat race” in King’s Mill. Life is simpler, calmer, and more tender.Many readers will appreciate the short chapters, perfect for those of us who feel the need to read in short bursts. Many readers will also appreciate the sweet and gentle style this novel adopts. The reader won’t find pages filled with adult language or steamy romance here. What they will find is a wealth of enchanting personalities within a charming read.I heartily recommend “Joe Peas” by Dr. Sam Newsome for those who enjoy a more pedantic pace to their stories; readers who appreciate a novel rich with charismatic characters in a sweet, heart-warming tale. This story of individuality, triumph through adversity, and recognizing the value of those who cross your path in life will leave the reader wanting more.

After working with Dr. Newsome and reading this book I just couldn't believe how talented he is as a writer. I don't know where he found the time really but, he did it and this book is just wonderful! Hats off to you Doc.

The little boy, nothing but skin and bones with scorched hair and tattered clothes, was discovered by the American soldiers in 1944. He didn’t know much English, but could say Joe (as in G.I. Joe) so that is what he called himself. The when pressed for his last name, he looked around the mess hall and saw his favorite food – black-eyed peas and responded “Peas”. As a child, he lived through war and re-invented himself.Fast forward many years. Joe Peas finds himself in a small American town extolling the pleasure of correctly painting houses. He schools the patrons of a local diner with his method of treating a house right to bring it back to a thing of beauty.That morning, one of the locals enjoying Joe’s antics was Dr. James King. He is a doctor in this small town of King’s Mill. He is as dedicated to healing and helping his town as Joe is dedicated to beautifying it one house at a time.Both men go on with their lives, Joe painting houses, Dr. King taking care of his family, the staff at his clinic and his patients. He runs a rehabilitation clinic that is barely making ends meet, but he loves what he is doing even though he is living life on the edge financially. Then there is the HOA in the community he lives in. The tyrant that heads the association delights in making sure the grass isn’t too long, the shutters are all painted the same color and the kids in the neighborhood don’t leave anything that resembles a toy within his sight. He “enforces” the rules by levying fines on the residents that have the audacity to not toe the line. His main focus seems to be on Dr. King – whom he assumes has deep pockets.Fate steps in to push Joe and the doctor together again. Joe lands in the rehab center just when Dr. King is about at his lowest point with both personal and professional difficulties. The man that grew from that tiny ragged child had seen and done many things in his life, and was determined to help his new friend and doctor. The problem is, Joe has secrets that he wants to keep and helping may expose things in his life he wants to keep hidden secret.Sam Newsome’s second novel, Joe Peas is a delightful tale of friendship, determination and the celebration of individuality. It was a light and quick book to read, but the characters had depth and emotions that pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. The bit of mystery surrounding the years between Joe’s childhood and when he showed up in the second chapter as a man of “advanced age” with “animated speech and gestures suggested he was very active” kept me guessing. The end was exceedingly satisfying.Joe Peas is the first book I’ve read by this award winning author. Newsome’s first book, Jackie won the Garcia Memorial Book Award in 2015. I expect many more awards and hope for many more books by this talented new voice.

Joe PeasBy Sam NewsomeJoe Peas is a complex man. The Italian itinerant house painter is much more than he seems. Mr. Newsome has taken what seems to be a simple story with a simple hero and turned it into a convincing and interesting character study of both Joe Peas and human nature.Although I found the introduction of new characters in almost every chapter in the first part of the book somewhat mystifying and confusing, I kept reading. Eventually, it all came together into a good story which made the reading effort very worthwhile. The characters are well developed, interesting and believable although some of the situations they found themselves in were hard to imagine.The author, being a medical doctor himself, brings in a lot of medical (and at times, legal) information, some of which, although informative, was too long and detracted from the story.I was disappointed towards the ending. It seemed as if the author was in a rush to tie up loose ends, some of which might have been better left for the reader to wonder about. The rush to finish the story left this reader with a dissatisfied feeling. The last part of the last chapter, however, brings the story back to the beginning and is a fitting way to end.i received this book for the purpose of an honest review.