REVIEWS
"The Ballad of The Lost Dogs of East Nashville is a wonderfully written testament to what it means to be human in a broken yet hope-filled world. Thompson's characters come alive as they form a community that is a taste of heaven on earth. East Nashville is where we all live, between now and eternity, dwelling in the relationships we create..."
—Quentin Schultze, Professor of Communication Emeritus, Calvin University, author of You'll Shoot Your Eye Out! Life Lessons from the Movie 'A Christmas Story'
"A charming book with likable characters and a story that isn't rushing the reader along. If you're a Nashvillian, the scenery is familiar, and the accuracy of time and place is spot on. Thompson has created a cast of characters you start caring about as soon as the pages turn. That's because it seems likely that the author cares about them too. Maybe it's because I read the book during the holiday season, but "The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville" has all the feel-goodness of a timely holiday movie."
—Phil Madeira, Songwriter, Producer, Musician with Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, etc.
"Thompson did much more than create a fictional band on these pages; he invited you and me to join one. And any book that features Bono & the Beatles, a benefit concert & Bonnaroo, Bobs Dylan & Marley, and the Beatles & biscuits, is for me. Stevie Wonder famously sang, 'Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.' Thankfully for all of us JJT speaks it fluently."
—Rob Birks, Salvation Army Krock Center, San Diego
“The characters jump right off the page and into your heart. If you’re a fan of second-chance stories, this is for you! It’s all about the power of music to unite people from all backgrounds. A beautiful song of a story.”
—Sam Wade, Producer, Songwriter, and “Hadestown” band member.
“I found The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville invigorating and capable of not just entertaining me but also serving as a catalyst for how I might live in the new year.”
—Pastor Matt Staniz, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Philadelphia PA
“John Thompson spins a yarn here that covers a lot of my favorite themes: music, social movements, and the deep territory of the human heart. The story carried me along with intricately developed characters and musical descriptions only an insider could know. I’d say it was a page-turner if I had turned any pages, which I didn’t. I listened to the audio version, which I highly recommend.”
—Don Chaffer, Singer/Songwriter with the band Waterdeep & Professor of Music, Lipscomb University
“The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville by John Thompson is a rare treat of a novel--it is fun, wise, and inspiring. You'll love the characters and feel the Nashville setting. Lost Dogs is music to your ear and a bright light to your soul.”
—Bishop Todd Hunter, Author: What Jesus Intended
“The characters in this compelling story are people I’d love to hang with. This book sprang straight from the creative heart of the Nashville music scene. It’s multigenerational, multicultural, full of energy and pain and possibility. Best of all, it’s a page-turner. You fall in love with these folk and must find out what happens to them. A great read I want to revisit.”
—Gwen Moore
“The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville is the first book I've ever read that truly captures the core of the magic of East Nashville. Thompson has created unforgettable characters who perfectly match the various folks I have come to learn about, listen to, and fully appreciate in real life while living in East Nashville for almost 20 years. East Nashville is an epicenter of creativity that is more of the creative foundation of Nashville than any other part of Music City. This story is a wonderful example that gives outsiders a real picture of what has been going on here for over 25 years. It also provides a community blueprint for how the essence of what is loved most can be maintained and grow for the locals who refuse to leave (or get kicked out due to the ‘progress’ of a city growing faster than it is ready for). I can't recommend this book enough, and I'm excited to read it again and stay tuned with the magic that John Joseph Thompson will continue to create with everyone, young and old, who choose to make Nashville their home, too.”
—Chuck Beard, Metro Arts Nashville
“Like a few of the central characters in this book, singer-songwriter John J. Thompson may seem a bit tardy in offering his best gifts to the world. He’s an experienced storyteller and serial author, but The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville is his debut as a novelist. The timing is perfect, however. Thompson infuses a lifetime of unique challenges and experiences into a relatable story of redemption, personal reinvention, community, and music. This uplifting story of a band of unlikely local heroes works as entertainment, but stands ready to inspire anyone to overcome self-inflicted roadblocks in pursuit of whatever form their own art may take, at any stage of life. Among other things, this a musical fable about what makes America truly special. It may open your eyes to see beauty in unexpected places and family in unexpected people…" (Read the full review at IllinoisEntertainer.com)
—Jeff Elbel, Illinois Entertainer
“...the rock-n-roll fable we all need right now. We need to remember that our neighbors have a wealth of knowledge and stories that bind us together. While experiencing this book, I wanted to be in that garage, listening to friends from all walks make music. I found pieces of myself in several of the characters. It became real. I went “in”, and wanted to stay. What more do you want from a novel?"
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—Andy Zipf, Songwriter and Artist
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