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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This book is a memoir that intertwined three topics - grief, hawk biology and a literary examination of T.H. White, the author of "The Goshawk" and "The Once and Future King". The writing is clear and interesting, the audiobook very well read by the author, and despite the fact that I hadn't read anything by White nor ever thought much about hawks, I found the book quite entertaining and educational.
Ahoy there mateys! This is a memoir of Helen Macdonald about her father’s death, the overwhelming grief it led to, and how she coped by raising a goshawk named Mabel. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and was mesmerized by the story. Part of it is a naturalist tale of falcons. Part of it is a history lesson about author, T.H. White, and his work. What draws it all together is one woman’s story about losing her way and finding her way back again. I absolutely loved the juxtaposition of all of these things. I don’t think I would reread this but I do highly recommend it.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Gorgeously written, H is for Hawk is a unique blend of memoir, biography, and nature writing.
After her beloved father's unexpected death, Helen Macdonald begins dreaming of goshawks. While a falconer for years, she had never trained a goshawk — a notoriously temperamental bird. Inspired and reeling from grief, she buys one off the internet and embarks on the dual journey of training her hawk and processing her loss.
Macdonald's story is told in contrast to British author T. H. White's. Like Macdonald, White turned to training a goshawk for emotional and psychological reasons. Unlike Macdonald, White did a terrible job of it. And yet, Macdonald has supreme empathy for White and his struggles.
H is for Hawk is filled with wisdom about loneliness, loss, and bereavement. Macdonald also comments on the history of falconry and contemporary british society. With beautiful prose, it's understandable why the book is highly regarded. An interesting, innovative read.
After her beloved father's unexpected death, Helen Macdonald begins dreaming of goshawks. While a falconer for years, she had never trained a goshawk — a notoriously temperamental bird. Inspired and reeling from grief, she buys one off the internet and embarks on the dual journey of training her hawk and processing her loss.
Macdonald's story is told in contrast to British author T. H. White's. Like Macdonald, White turned to training a goshawk for emotional and psychological reasons. Unlike Macdonald, White did a terrible job of it. And yet, Macdonald has supreme empathy for White and his struggles.
H is for Hawk is filled with wisdom about loneliness, loss, and bereavement. Macdonald also comments on the history of falconry and contemporary british society. With beautiful prose, it's understandable why the book is highly regarded. An interesting, innovative read.
I've read some wonderful books this year. This is simply the best. Wildly intelligent and moving. Her grief is so palpable and true that at times I had difficulty breathing normally. I honestly felt I was walking the English countryside with Helen and her beloved hawk, Mabel. I am lonely now that we have all moved on.
Hawks and grieving. I don't need to grieve at this time. I skimmed it and may return later to actually finish. Beautiful descriptions of everything. Well-written.
An extraordinary properly achingly beautiful masterpiece of a book. Yes, a masterpiece, and I feel that soubriquet is well deserved. The book reads like fine literary fiction mixed with memoir despite its factual nature, conjuring up vivid images of the author out with her Goshawk Mabel.At times, the text feels alive with the rush of these experiences, whilst masterfully dealing with grief, loss, depression and friendship. T.H. White is given a three-dimensional fair hearing, and despite striking me as a rum sort cove, his 'The Hawk' is conjured up with aplomb. Read this as soon as you get the chance, or if possible, sooner.
Gorgeously well written, both the hawking parts and the grieving parts. Made me want to reread The Once and Future King.