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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I'd been wanting to read this book for years, and it didn't disappoint. However, it was a bit of a surprise to find out that this was not only a book about a woman's relationship with her hawk, but also a meditation on the loss of her father, and how these two relationships intertwine. The story is raw and piercing and beautiful, though tinged with grief.
This book also serves as a biography of T.H. White, who trained hawks (though not well), and Macdonald's perspective on and feelings about his methods, because that book informed so much about her connection to hawking. These parts were less compelling to me, because they felt more clinical than when Macdonald was writing about her father and her goshawk. At the same time, they also felt necessary, as Macdonald used these biographical portions to frame so much of her own story, and it was clear she was dealing with something about White that she wanted to work through.
If you're a fan of naturalist novels, this is one to read.
This book also serves as a biography of T.H. White, who trained hawks (though not well), and Macdonald's perspective on and feelings about his methods, because that book informed so much about her connection to hawking. These parts were less compelling to me, because they felt more clinical than when Macdonald was writing about her father and her goshawk. At the same time, they also felt necessary, as Macdonald used these biographical portions to frame so much of her own story, and it was clear she was dealing with something about White that she wanted to work through.
If you're a fan of naturalist novels, this is one to read.
Really interesting info on falconry. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
This is about being U or non U as much as it is about anything else. Or more precisely it’s about worrying about being U or non U. Fucking tiresome.
Liked the bits about the bird though, pretty fascinating
Liked the bits about the bird though, pretty fascinating
Beautiful prose, interesting discussions of history-- I was inspired by the book, despite its lack of structure.
This book was on a lot of "Best Of 2015" lists so I thought I would give it a try. While the writing itself was very good, the content just wasn't that interesting. I almost gave up on it several times but pushed through. I'm glad I finished it but it definitely was not worth all the hype.
Fascinating read about loss, introspection, and the journeys we go on to re-discover ourselves. Macdonald shares the mechanisms of her life and her mind with a studied and observational tone that will at once make you feel like a scientist and a friend. What makes this memoir stand out from the crowd though is the fact that part of Macdonalds process of healing, is the training and companionship of a Goshawk named Mabel.
These two characters are the focus of the story, and their relationship is a wonder to behold. As Macdonald heals from the loss of her father and other upheavals in her life, she takes Mabel in and begins to develop a new world view: that of an alpha avian predator. It is this journey into wildness and isolation that allows her to step out of her own life, with it's confusion and pain, and into that of the Goshawk. In the world of prey and hunter she finds new parts of herself, and old parts that were long buried. And it it only through her disconnect from society that she can grieve and grow and finally return to the streets and buildings of humanity.
If you like memoirs, naturalism, and a strong sense of dichotomy: read this book.
These two characters are the focus of the story, and their relationship is a wonder to behold. As Macdonald heals from the loss of her father and other upheavals in her life, she takes Mabel in and begins to develop a new world view: that of an alpha avian predator. It is this journey into wildness and isolation that allows her to step out of her own life, with it's confusion and pain, and into that of the Goshawk. In the world of prey and hunter she finds new parts of herself, and old parts that were long buried. And it it only through her disconnect from society that she can grieve and grow and finally return to the streets and buildings of humanity.
If you like memoirs, naturalism, and a strong sense of dichotomy: read this book.
D is for Dull.
P is for Pretentious.
I is for I will never read a Helen Macdonald book again.
P is for Pretentious.
I is for I will never read a Helen Macdonald book again.
I listened to this after her sequel. All the things I loved about [b:Vesper Flights|48637750|Vesper Flights|Helen Macdonald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582053771l/48637750._SY75_.jpg|63662583] is in this one, but just a little less engaging. Perhaps it's the order I approached them in, or perhaps it's the author refining her craft. But, this is still an excellent book, and I would highly recommend either of them interchangeably.