The Witch of Hebron

A World Made by Hand Novel

By: James Howard Kunstler

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In the sequel to his best-selling World Made by Hand, James Howard Kunstler expands on his vision of a post-oil society with a new novel about an America in which the electricity has flickered off, the Internet is a distant memory, and the government is little more than a rumor.

In the tiny hamlet of Union Grove, New York, travel is horse-drawn and farming is back at the center of life. But it’s no pastoral haven. Wars are fought over dwindling resources and illness is a constant presence. Bandits roam the countryside, preying on the weak, and a sinister cult threatens to shatter Union Grove’s fragile stability. Here is a novel that seamlessly weaves hot-button issues like the decline of oil and the perils of climate change into a compelling narrative of violence, religious hysteria, innocence lost, and love found—a cautionary tale with an optimistic heart.

Already a renowned social commentator and a best-selling novelist and nonfiction writer, Kunstler has recently attained even greater prominence in the global conversation about energy and the environment. In the last two years he has been the focus of a long profile in the New Yorker, the subject of a full-page essay in the New York Times Book Review, and his wildly popular blog and podcast have made him a sought-after speaker who gives dozens of lectures and scores of media interviews each year.

©2010 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A bit rushed and disjointed

I did enjoy this book but it's somewhat disappointing at the same time. It reads like a first draft of a book that could have been very good. About 2/3rds of the way in I was expecting all the disjointed plot lines to converge but that never really happens in any meaningful way. The original book did basically nothing to setup a sequel so I feel like this book suffers as a result.

Great read

This is book two of the World Made by Hand series. I am not yet aware of more in the "series" than these two but I am hoping the author will continue the stories of a small community in NE USA who survive and build a new economy of sorts after the USA has suffered bombing and plague and the government no longer exists. The characters are great, each portrayed as having unique strengths as well as great flaws. A little hint of the supernatural or is it? The author keeps the reader guessing. The gentle rolling narrative paints a picture which surprises with bold strokes of violence, love making and tension between good and evil. Loved it.

Enjoyed

Enjoyed the whole concept of this book
As it's a local area for me, it was fun to picture where they traveled and similarities in some names. Shushan is pronounced Shoooshun ( if anyone's interested)🙂

The Author has created a world worth living in.

This series and particularly this book in it offer less plot, character development or literary beauty than one would hope for. However, I love listening to this well read tale just to enjoy living in this moment of US history, or future rather. If one aspires to the return of simplicity, and of values, creativity at the cost of lost convenience, you may find your self enjoying the read just to be there, in that space for awhile.

Excellent series

Very comforting, enjoyable, and relaxing to listen to. Sure they may be an idealized version of an apocalyptic like event, but I hope we could eventually return to something like this if god forbid something bad happened. On my second listen of the series.

A very ding dang good book old son!

Kunstler’s characters are second to none and Meskimen’s narration is superb! I give both my highest recommendation.

Excellent Series!

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed this series about a year ago, listening to it now brings back all my fond memories of life in the little town of Union Grove. A wonderful, wonderful tale which follows the inhabitants through an entire year of post apocalyptic existence, beginning one summer and moving through the seasons to the following spring. Good to read them in order, but works okay out of order as well.

Very well written, very realistic. Excellent narration which effectively delivers the story in vibrant colors! Highly recommended…😌

Scary world I hope never happens, cannot put down!

Obviously I like this series, I've finished the 1st book and just read the 2nd book and have downloaded 3 & 4 from NC digital.
I love futuristic tales, whether they be a natural progression of people & knowledge or apocalyptic happenings. In early listening I was turned off by the 'humdrum" narrator's voice, but soon got used to it. I soon discovered that it was an interesting addition to a frightening world in which people found themselves.
I have to laugh, cause the big thing I take away from most sessions is hunger. LOL... his description of meals and food usually sounds yummy and healthy.
And... I take away a strange need to learn how to do things like, raise food in a garden, make wine and beer...search the woods for food, etc... There are so many people who would be helpless in an apocalyptic world.
I happily recommend this series!

Oliver Twist.... perhaps a slice of Le Miserable

Good. Unexpected cringe and honesty tests built in.

Read it. It is like every good book about humans in struggle... chaotic.

The characters grow and become enlivened.

Well done.... just bravo.

Top Five

Well written, nicely narrated but definitely not a light read due to the rich complexity of the characters.
This author is no phone it in hack, he grinds and has earned a spot in my top five!