From Atmosphere Press
Released June 4, 2024
This book has many themes, including what it takes to solve mysteries about a lost friend. There are plenty of other moments from my life, before and after high school, both hilarious and dead-serious, along with details of their historical and cultural backdrop. After reading, you will know such things as: how adolescents at boarding school viewed the Cuban Missile Crisis; why Girl Scouts are not welcome at Selective Service physicals; why it’s hard to find the best little whorehouse in Texas; how to test the aerobatic characteristics of Ferris wheels; and why driving a 1948 Plymouth prematurely ended my flying career. There’s also the uncensored citation accompanying my medal for heroic armed action in subarctic Alaska that the Defense Department forgot to deliver. And of course, scenes from here in the Ozarks… (The cover photo is the 1939 Chevy sitting near one of our creeks.)
The subtitle, A Real-life Memoir Adventure, refers to the revealing experience of memoir-writing as I reviewed my own life while searching for answers about how my best college friend lost his sight. Here’s the public description.
Written as a tribute to the unusual, older student he befriended in college, this “real-life memoir adventure” retraces the author’s life as he searches for clues about the horrific crash that blinded his friend many years before they met.
The story weaves keen observation, nostalgia, and humor in its portrayal of Jim Beeson, a colorfully complex character from small-town Kansas who overcame adversity and loss to become an outspoken advocate for the blind in Houston. Even though Beeson and Hirsh differed in age, background, and education, Beeson’s outgoing personality and unlikely mentorship had a lifelong positive impact beyond simply teaching the author about mechanics when they overhauled a 1954 Ford.
Touching on issues of blindness and resilience in the face of tragedy, My Search for Jazzbo Jones includes vivid recollections of personal history and the JFK assassination, civil rights, the Vietnam draft, and even an encounter with Cuba’s Che Guevara. After more than a decade of online detective work, Hirsh ultimately delivers far more raw facts than he ever expected about that fiery wreck on a Wichita racetrack.
Early Reviews
“Ethan Hirsh has given us a soulfully rich and vivid memoir… inspirational and beautifully written, capturing the essence of a deep friendship and the exhaustive search to find answers.” –Dr. David W. Carter, author of Mayday Over Wichita
“Author Ethan Hirsh has crafted an immersive journey through the complexities of friendship, resilience, and the quest for truth… This loving tribute to Jim Beeson resonates deeply as he navigates layers of memory, history, and personal reflection with a great command, weaving the stories together to form a bigger picture of this unique personality. The vivid descriptions of Beeson’s life and the author’s own experiences offered a poignant exploration of overcoming adversity and finding purpose, showing readers how they too can take inspiration from the lives and strengths of others. …. Overall, My Search for Jazzbo Jones is a highly recommended read for fans of biographical writing that celebrates triumph over adversity and unique lives that are lived to the full.” – Readers’ Favorite
“Throughout the memoir, Hirsh’s writing is infused with warmth, humor, and authenticity. His deep respect and admiration for Jim Beeson shine through, making My Search for Jazzbo Jones a salutary tribute to a remarkable friend and a celebration of the power of friendship. …. Rich storytelling, vivid imagery, and heartfelt reflections permeate Ethan Hirsh’s memoir. Through his experiences and observations, Hirsh paints a detailed portrait of his friend Jim Beeson and their unique relationship. …. From poignant moments of introspection to lighthearted anecdotes about their adventures together, the narrative is as multifaceted as the characters themselves.” – The Book Commentary
“…a memoir that is at once gripping, expansive, and replete with both personal experiences and vision and bigger-picture thinking. …. …deserves a place in any library collection strong in memoirs of blindness, adaptation, friendship, and growth.” – Midwest Book Review
“…the author’s writing and research prowess shine through on every page… …. The memoir expertly balances the personal with the historical…” – Kirkus Reviews
To purchase:
Amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com
Paperback – $19.99
ISBN: 978-8-89132-219-6
Size: 8.5” x 5.5”
Pages: 406
Hardcover – $28.99
ISBN: 979-8-89132-289-9
Size: 8.5” x 5.5”
Pages: 406
Ebook – $9.99
File Size – 13795 KB
From Green Mountain Farm Press (2019)
Fifty years after doing a college thesis comparing Kafka’s short story The Metamorphosis and Ionesco’s play Rhinoceros, Ethan Hirsh takes a lively look at how the two works have withstood the test of time, with surprising results from around the world– new adaptations, new media, and other reasons for their ongoing and growing popularity, including the disturbing developments in politics.
The author’s original thesis from 1967 is included in its entirety and endures as a valid and entertaining work of literary criticism, analyzing how the two writers used the device of physical transformation to achieve their parallel goals. Hirsh supplements his recent research with a “Coda for Conservation” that examines the dire plight of endangered rhinos in the wild. All sale proceeds (after bookseller commissions) are pledged to support rhino conservation.
Paperback – $15.00
ISBN: 978-0-9997402-2-4
Size: 9” x 6”
Pages: 116
Ebook – $4.99
ISBN: 978-0-9997402-3-1
To purchase: Amazon.com
To purchase: barnesandnoble.com
About the Author
After composing his first story at age 5, Ethan Hirsh was asked how he managed to write so well. “Simple,” he said. “I just follow my pencil.” He’s considered himself a writer ever since and enjoyed making writing and editing the key ingredients of a 34-year career in corporate communications. He is also an accomplished photographer and has birthed several hundred poems. Hirsh and his wife, artist JoEl Vogt, split their time between a residence in Mission, Kansas and their nature preserve in the Missouri Ozarks.
