Jim Maher – author of Hemingway Man
Jim Maher is a father of three boys, looking for ways to get his stories out there into the world. He says:
I love writing, reading, hockey, video games, my lovely wife, and spending my days with my amazing sons as a stay-at-home dad.
You can find Jim’s website at Mahervolous Books.
Hemingway Man
Published: 28th April 2011
Sixteen-year-old Will has just lost his father. With no one else to guide him towards manhood, he follows the teachings of Ernest Hemingway:
1. Plant a tree.
2. Write a book.
3. Fight a bull
4. Have a son.
Good luck with that.
Hemingway Man is a coming-of-age novella with plenty of laughs and a gripping larger-than-life narrative. Will is an instantly likeable narrator as he embarks upon his “man quest”. But even Task 1 proves trickier than he’d expected…
Excerpt from Hemingway Man
Copyright Jim Maher 2011
“The problem is that you guys have about five billion kinds of fertilizer,” I said. “I just need to know which one is good for trees.”
Her customer service smile dropped so fast I looked for it on the floor. I almost laughed she changed so fast.
“Trees?” she asked.
“Yeah. Trees.”
“What kind of tree?”
“Douglas Fir.”
“People don’t usually just plant Douglas Fir trees. Maybe you want to start with something smaller, like a cactus or a potato.”
“A potato? What the hell is wrong with you? Why would I want to plant a potato? Where’s the challenge in a potato? No, thank you, Wanda, I don’t want to start with a cactus or a potato. I would just like to know what kind of fertilizer works best for trees.”
“For Douglas Fir trees.”
“Yes. For Douglas Fir trees.”
Wanda’s face was passive. I had no idea what was going on behind those milky grey eyes. My shoulder ached. I was nearly ready to shriek for my mum. Who cared if I was manly when I bought my gardening supplies, really? Who would even know?
No, I had to stay strong. Dad would have stuck it out with Wanda, but Dad might have also made his own fertilizer by eating too much bran and drinking some prune juice.
“Why Douglas Fir trees?” asked Wanda.
“Because then I can say that it’s my Douglas Fir tree. Isn’t that much more impressive than ‘my potato’ or ‘my cactus’? I can go out to my backyard in ten years and say ‘that’s my Douglas Fir tree.’ I like the sound of that. Can you help me or no?”
Wanda smiled a more genuine smile. Her teeth were showing this time, and judging from the number of gaps showing, Plants n’ Such didn’t offer a very good dental plan. It didn’t matter. She lit up with her real smile.
“You’re weird, kid,” she said. “But I like that. Take this one. That’ll help you with your Douglas Fir tree.”
She picked up a plain yellow bag that simply had ‘Pure Cow Manure’ stamped across the front. It smelled awful, but felt just right. She handed it out to me, and after a couple of awkward attempts of getting me to hold it on my free shoulder, offered to carry it up to the front for me. I grudgingly accepted the help, because if a man couldn’t ask for help to carry his crap, then what could he ask for?
Buying Hemingway Man
You can purchase the ebook Hemingway Man straight from Espresso Books for $2.99. This includes electronic editions of the book in .pdf, .epub and .mobi formats (compatible with all ebook readers). A .pdf file can be read on your computer.
You can also purchase Hemingway Man direct from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk if you prefer a Kindle-specific format. (Note, though, that our .mobi files can be easily read on a Kindle.)
Buy Hemingway Man from Amazon.com
Buy Hemingway Man from Amazon.co.uk
If you prefer a paper edition, you can buy Hemingway Man on Lulu (Espresso Books has no involvement with this edition):
Buy Hemingway Man on Lulu (paperback)
What Readers Are Saying
N. Leask writes:
Marvellously entertaining and emotional, Hemingway Man had me riveted throughout!
The enthralling story of Will Charles, a young man convinced that the only way to save his family following the death of his father is to take up the role of man of the house. His urgent struggle to find his manhood leads him to undertake four daunting, and perhaps slightly antiquated tasks set out by the epitome of manliness; Ernest Hemingway, as a formula for becoming a man.
Presented through the unconventional point of view of a truly unique character, Wills’ flat-out quest sends us spinning through a lively world filled with chaotic exploits, and vibrant characters. The story unfolds through a mad adolescent perspective to which we can all relate.
This is a touching story that maintains an uproarious sense of humour while never diminishing such a personal and moving subject as the loss of a father. It had me crying one moment, laughing out loud the next, and unceasingly absorbed from start to finish. It is a captivating and brilliant book, and an absolute pleasure to read.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hemingway Man is a touching coming of age story about a young man struggling to grow up fast only to realize these things can’t be rushed. Writing from the perspective of sixteen-year-old Will, the author provides insight into the experiences and emotional workings of a young man who has just lost his father.
Maher handles heavy subject matter with authenticity and a light hand, never patronizing the reader as he explores how Will copes with the loss of a loved one. As Will moves through a list of four requirements for manhood at a galloping rate, his misadventures capture our sympathy and entertain us throughout. Turns of phrase like “Spanish matadors were just about the manliest idiots on the face of the planet” (p. 37), and “adoptioneer” (p. 95), pepper Will’s struggles as Maher injects his writing with clever humour and endearing mishaps. An enjoyable read, for everyone in the family.
All I ask from a story is that it compel me to turn pages. Hemmingway Man does this. The first half of the story kept me going with morbid humor. Aptly placed dick-jokes in the midst of tragedy are endearing because of their honesty (and, of course, relevant to the theme of becoming a man). But it isn’t until the middle of the book that finding out what happens next becomes more important than food or sleep. The protagonist, Will, is brutally assaulted by a gang of prostitutes in a misguided attempt at chivalry. Will’s emotional and physical pain is then piled on in increasingly bizarre situations. I can’t remember the exact quote, but I think it’s “The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.” To some, like author Jim Maher, it’s both.