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"The Old Man of Naukeag" With every turn of the page comes another adventure that implies "life is stranger than fiction" and as each tale unfolds, and there are many, The Old Man of Naukeag brings its reader effortlessly from here to there.

I liked it for its placidity, an interlude of relaxation between the alienation of the real world and my own fantasies.

Vita Paul

The Old man of Naukeag is a delightful and insightful blend of amusing anecdotes and colorful descriptions of the New England landscape. I have never been fortunate enough to visit the New England states, but after reading Paul's book, I feel as if I have. The felling of the ancient oak tree was sadly profound and makes us wonder if progress is worth all the effort. I am sure that each and every one of us has memories of a character that is akin to The Old Man. Someone who has lived long enough to have a subtle wisdom and a practical outlook on life that has had an impact on our own lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a look into past times. Jean Carver

"The Old Man"
I first came across the writings of Paul Ciccone Jr. last year when I read and reviewed his book, OH Brother. That review went on to become our top review of 2008 and Paul’s book was probably the most talked about. Like Mick Rooney, Paul’s writing definitely commands your full attention and is one that you will want to take time to read and mull over, rather than rush through it.

I knew his next book, The Old Man of Naukeag, would be just as good. And indeed it is, if not better. Paul writes in a style that’s hard to describe and unlike anything the traditional market could ever bring you. If anyone ever needed a prime example of a polished self-published... More > book and an author that isn’t afraid to take chances, then they should invest in a copy of either of Paul’s books.

I enjoy Paul’s writing because no matter what story he’s telling, there’s always some word gem hidden within the root of his theme that’s completely left up to the reader’s interpretation, phrases I’d find myself underlining or highlighting if I was reading a physical copy.

Paul’s words of wisdom aren’t anything new or anything you probably haven’t heard before, but his stories build upon such matter-of-fact advice and the author just crafts it in such a way that you can’t help but take notice. It’s a nice mix of wisdom and advice that radiates with Paul’s love of both words and life. The book itself is a collection of short stories that reminds me of sitting down with an elder to hear tales of yesterday. Drawn from personal experiences, each story offers the reader a taste of a certain place and time one might not have experienced, along with that feeling of home and warmth that each of us draws from some place or time that is special to us in our own way.

“Naukeag’s Old Man,” the first short story, embraces location: Ashburnham, Massachusetts and a lakehouse with a view. The author takes you on a journey, almost like a hike through the country, describing each tree and mountain almost poetically. I love the way the author concentrates on each minute detail, giving his setting not just the importance it deserves in regards to its inhabitants, but also the personal touch of why it’s important to him. The setting and place of our lives shapes us, and Paul just reminds us to slow down from time to time and take note of it. Commit a leaf to memory or a sound. Focus on the seasons and how they change where we are. In a chapter about embracing the past, Paul reminds us those changes are inevitable, and we must adapt to the times and to our settings.

Paul rounds out the book with a collection of works based primarily on family and written by family called “Tutt’s Tales.” There’s a letter to Ma and a few memories of Pa. Paul himself shares a story about his fondness for an old tree. It reminded me of some of the trees I used to climb where I grew up. There’s a poem about the rain from Maria. And one story that really stuck out at me is called “The Memoirs of a Seven Year Old.” It’s an odd title in that we wouldn’t think a child at that age would have much to write about and call it their memoirs, but listening to a child’s memories through their eyes might just astound you.

Once again, Paul Ciccone, Jr. impresses us with a book that’s like spending time looking through an old photo album. We are given the opportunity to remember things we forgot. We are able to look at others, and at ourselves. and observe how we have changed. And our heart is given the chance to revisit the past…a place and a time of yesterday that each of us holds dear in some way.

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"Re: Re: The Old Man" Tom Ciccone, on May 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm Said:

I think this book is not only a pleasure to read, but also holds an important message for each of us to take in our own quiet way – it appeals to all of us individually in different ways but is a universal reflection that really brings home the stuff that we all seem to forget all too often.

"The Old Man of Naukeag" This cannot really be called a preview, I have only read the preview but from what I have gathered there it is the kind of book one should take four hours undisturbed, and enjoy the tales through the eyes of an expert story teller, cry with him, laugh with him, and sometimes just wish he was there with you to share a steaming cup of coffee. Paul has the ability to grab one's attention to the point where you find yourself looking up from the written word to see if he isn't actually busy telling you the story himself in person. Well done Paul, I hope to acquire the book pretty soon.

Walter Muller.