Green Witch Hardcover – 1 Mar. 2010

Bought because I'd enjoyed the first one. This was also an engaging read, however I wanted it to be a little longer. Unsure what age this was aimed at.

It's a not-so-futuristic world where civilization has crumbled and books have been destroyed, and one girl is changing everything in her own quiet way. "Green Witch" is a sequel to Alice Hoffman's novella "Green Angel," and it's written in the same quietly poetic style, filled with leaves, stones, doves ashes and glimmering lights. The only downside:a totally implausible clash with the Horde.After losing her family, Green has devoted herself to two things -- growing plants in her magically flourishing garden, and making paper tinged with celery, spices, ashes, roses and other things. With that paper, she makes books to replace the ones the Horde has burned, and fills them with people's memories and knowledge.And Green travels to the women called the Enchanted, who are labelled witches by other people -- she wants to learn of their histories and immortalize their stories in her books. But her own story is unfinished, ever since the boy she fell in love with, Diamond, left to find his family. And when she sees a photograph of Diamond riding with the horde, she sets out to learn if he has joined their enemies, or is a prisoner of them."Green Witch" is a haiku of a novella -- a delicate prose poem that's saturated in dreamlike imagery and magical realism. Hoffman devotes this brief story to wrapping up Green's personal story, and showing how the world is coping after "that day" -- the story is left open-ended, but it's obvious that Hoffman is tying off all the subplots.And her writing, while technically prose, drips with poetry from every page. Her prose full of moonlight, paper, leaves, roses and spices, and the story drifts along in a way that makes the months of Green's life feel almost like a dream. The story itself is rather simple and straightforward, but it's tangled up in musings about the power of stories and love, and the hints of what is ahead for humanity as it recovers from "that day."The one problem? The whole clash between Green and the Horde -- and especially the pat result of it -- stretches plausibility to the point of snapping. So the entire army conveniently groups in one place?Green's story was left unfinished in "Green Angel," and here she's grown into a full-grown, self-sufficient woman who occupies her own niche in her community. She's also still in love with Diamond, although her doubts about whether he's joined the Horde never really feel convincing. And Hoffman sprinkles the story with other brief, glimmering characters -- Diamond, a trio of tragic "witches," the Finder, and Green's little village."Green Witch" is a crystalline little sequel to "Green Angel," and while the climax is pretty unbelievable, its beauty is enough to sweep you away.

Even though Green is better off than right after the great disaster and destruction of her world, she still has so much to despair about. She is still alone, without her family and the boy she loves.In order to find out who she really is, Green heads out to a world she believed she could never before face for the chance to find all the love, answers, freedom, and retribution she has been searching for.On her journey, Green learns to fight for love no matter how impossible it may seem - and, of course, conquer the fears that stop her from succeeding.Like the plants in her garden, Hoffman's Green has grown and blossomed into a timeless character that rises from the ashes of despair, never to return. Green is no longer held down but, instead, rises to a heart-clenching victory of love and peace of mind after questioning the world's belief in love, loss, and revival.In GREEN WITCH, Hoffman once again succeeds in portraying a gravity-defying character who proves she has the strength of millions. I love, love, love this book, which is just as startling as GREEN ANGEL and that surely will bring tears of joy to the eyes for no reason and every reason. The reader learns that love is life; it keeps us alive whether we are aware of it or not. It doesn't stop anything or anyone from reaching aspirations, but brings us toward them faster than light.Reviewed by: AdrienneBe

It is best to read "Green Angel" first however; there is enough flashback thoughts to fill in the necessary original tail to continue the tail in this book. We also get a few thoughts that should have been in the first story. We will revisit with many of Greens old friends.Now it has been a year sense the disaster and what should have been the end of Green's story is just the beginning. Her mission is to collect people's stories. This includes stories for several so-called witches that were to contribute to her plan to recover her soul mate. That is if he does not turn out to be one of the bad guys.It is the incidences of the story that makes the book. Being a paper maker, myself I found the references to the types of paper she make to match people's stories very interesting in its self.This story contains many helpful sayings for those who have experiences a loss regardless of age or gender. I often wonder if she actually wrote it for a particular someone. Moreover, looking closer you can see the reflections of a Joseph Campbell coming of age story. Alice Hoffman would have to have read Campbell as part of any good creative writing class. The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Bollingen Series)

great stuff

green witch, a continuation of green angel, is about people who have experienced extreme loss and how they coped. labels of 'witch' were given to some characters who lived outside expected 'norms'. their stories as told to green are insightful and wonderful examples of human survival. best part is the interrelationships with nature. green witch has been reprinted with green angel under the name of green heart.

Such wonderful story telling. Full of beauty and emotion. A story that any one of any age would love to read! I read the first one Green Angel and I could not out them down, could not wait to get back to the stories, so true about how things in life really are. Wonderful reading! I'm so glad I found them! Alice Hoffman is a very talented writer and I will be reading more of her books in the future!

To watch love blossom in the worst of times is nothing short of a miracle. To rescue love as it's been stolen from you is the miracle itself. This book, this writer!!

This sequel answers all the questions that I had from Green Angel. I almost never give a book a five. This one was filled with such wisdom...Wise woman wisdom. I also never highlight. This one I did. I said that I was disappointed that the first book took only an hour and a half to read, but since I read it twice, I take it back. I loved this book. My soul belongs in a garden so I would love this book extra. I do wish that I had realized that Green Heart was both stories. I said in my first review that they should have been combined so I take that back. It could have been more clear. I only figured it out from reading reviews. So I ended up paying double, but it was worth it. I was profoundly blessed, so it is okay. This is a must read. This book has a soul.

This is a beautiful story that represents people well and how they cope with tragic loss. It is great story telling