The Great Fox Hunt

By: Bill Stokes

Narrated by: Johnny Mack

Length: 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

With a story from way back in such low-tech days that cows were milked by hand, you might have to hand-crank the car on cold mornings, and red fox families held forth across the rural landscape like a wild aristocracy.

The red fox, it would seem, as adaptable as a mouse, has more or less moved in with us. That could pose a mind-boggling question as to why, at one point in my life, did my blood run hot with the desire to do them in?

©1976 Bill Stokes (P)2017 Stokes Creative LLC

Fox and the hound I mean fox and the boy

A classic tale of a classic time. When boys worked the farms in the morning went to the one room schools and spent their days running through the woods not sitting inside playing video games and watching you tube...ah the good days. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The fox is smarter than you think!

This simple tale of a weekly winter fox hunt evokes nostalgia for a simpler time. The author starts with a short note of his own real encounters with foxes over the years. While he participated in fox hunts as a kid, they were never successful in outsmarting their quarry. It’s clear from the beginning that the author has a deep respect for wildlife and took joy in his non-destructive encounters with foxes, even if it was a mere glimpse.

The tale itself is about a group of teenage boys meeting every Saturday in the winter to hunt a wily fox. They meet up in a warm kitchen where someone’s older female relative takes pity on them, making sure they are full of good cooking before they rush off into the snow and ice. At first, I was concerned that I wouldn’t like this story much because I don’t particularly approve of fox hunting. However, this is not your traditional English fox hunt with horns and horses. And I will tell you upfront that the fox wins out the day.

OK, so the tale itself gave me some good chuckles. The main character telling the tale is honest in that they don’t often see the fox and that there are many times where the fox seems to be leading them on a merry chase, enjoying the game.

When one of the kids does finally see the fox, he’s in no position to shoot at it. Instead, he simply has to admire the wit and regalness of the fox as it lopes off. I also liked the reference to their regular farm chores and how tired they are.

I received a free copy of this book.

Narration: Johnny Mack was a good pick for this short story. He has a fine voice for a tale about teenage boys. During the humorous parts, there’s just a hunt of laugh hiding in the narrator’s voice.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Mr. Stokes is a Great Conjurer of Memories

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, everything I read recalls my own similar memories. This is Mr Stokes' talent, his forte. I recall times in my life so similar to his stories, it's uncanny!

What other book might you compare The Great Fox Hunt to and why?

I'm always comparing them to other works by Mr. Stokes. It is the case here, too.

What does Johnny Mack bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I will pay Johnny Mack what I feel is the best compliment as a listener: you don't notice his storytelling work! Which is to say he is perfect for this and other stories I have listened to by Bill Stokes! He IS the voice that I "hear" in my head. I'm not sure if my description succeeds, but...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's fifteen minutes long. I managed to listen in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for the opportunity to review it!

A review copy was gifted to me at no charge. In return, I am happy to provide an honest review. Also at no charge.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This author is consistently wonderful

What did you like best about this story?

This is is nostalgic tale that evokes fond memories of my childhood and hearing stories told by my grandparents. The narration is superb and I will listen to anything by this author, I think he could make anything enjoyable. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tricked By a Trickster

This was a fun story about growing up in rural America back in the days of fresh milk and homecooking. It seems that the red fox was a sort of commensal animal perhaps relying on humans for some foods by way of stealing chickens, etc...I suspect the parents knew this and humored the young men as they went on their established fox hunts knowing they would be outsmarted.

I liked the part of this story where he mentioned that perhaps the fox thought this a game whereas she would say "Ah,,,where shall i take them today." Well this was an awesome story and I thoroughly enjoy Bill Stoke's writing.

Johhny Mack's narration allows the listener to really envision this all taking place. He's bar none the perfect reader for this story.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great short!

A cute, funny story about boys hunting fox, or at least boys attempting to hunt fox. It seems the boys were out foxed lol. Great short story by Bill Stokes! Good performance by Johnny Mack.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

All the Foxes, Hansome and Red with Pointy Ears

I received a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was pretty good. For the most part it stuck to the plot of a fox hunt but it sort of went off on a tangent in the middle about the home life of the fox hunters, and I didn't quite understand why that was necessary, but the parts that were about the fox hunt were brilliant. I especially loved the part about looking into the living room of a fox family early on.