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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
An introspective writer mixes her emotional journey through a sad time in her life with her efforts to train a hawk who seems equally unhappy. Together they transcend their history. I received this book as a gift because of my interest in falconry and learned a lot about the ancient practice of taming raptors. Loved it.
A memoir of a woman who decides to cope with the pain from the death of her father by training a goshawk. I find it interesting because the author Helen MacDonald describes vividly the relationship with her family and how her father encouraged her initial interests in falconry.
If you enjoyed "Wild" by Sheryl Strayed, you will love H is for Hawk as the prose and the writing ability of MacDonald far surpasses that of Strayed, in my opinion.
Overall, a sad, but interesting memoir that peaked my interest in falconry and later made me realize that I will most likely never train my own hawk. It is expensive, takes a lot of time, and unless you absolutely love it not worth the effort. I did get to live the experience vicariously thru HM and for that I am grateful.
If you enjoyed "Wild" by Sheryl Strayed, you will love H is for Hawk as the prose and the writing ability of MacDonald far surpasses that of Strayed, in my opinion.
Overall, a sad, but interesting memoir that peaked my interest in falconry and later made me realize that I will most likely never train my own hawk. It is expensive, takes a lot of time, and unless you absolutely love it not worth the effort. I did get to live the experience vicariously thru HM and for that I am grateful.
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Moving, lyrical, and beautiful. The prose is so crisp. Writing about nature so evocatively would be a life goal of mine. Plus hawking sounds so cool?!?!
Wasn't overly enthused throughout this but it had its strong sections. I'm not interested in handling hawks. Writing lovely at times.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
The world feels a lot bigger after this one. Macdonald’s writing is so unique and transfixing that I was able to push through the book’s flaws without ever losing my love for it. There are several nits to pick, but the only one that I find worth mentioning is the fact that Macdonald is often thorough and explanatory to the extent that there aren’t many mysteries left to ponder within the world of the book. But the elements to love are much more plentiful. The book eschews traditional structure entirely, such that there’s no distinct climatic point, functioning almost as a series of episodes. Macdonald also avoids any genre trapping, making the book (and the hawk) about everything it can be, never to her detriment. The writing is authoritative yet poetic, meditative yet urgent. While I mention that there aren’t many mysteries to ponder in the world of the book, what I am left pondering is the implication on my own life that Macdonald leaves me with. Fascinating and well worth the read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I read this book since it was so highly recommended as a best book of 2015, but I struggled to complete it. After a while, the authors obsession with her hawk became a little too much for me. And after several chapters of Mabel flying off or scratching Helen, I was having a hard time keeping track of the chronology or importance of each incidence.
I really enjoyed the intersection of history/nature writing/memoir that Macdonald brought to this book. I found her journey through grief familiar enough to be comfortable but unique enough to be intrigued.
I certainly don't want to become a falconer as a result of reading this but I appreciate the effort those who are put into the relationship they have with their birds. Truly a unique connection between man and animal.
I certainly don't want to become a falconer as a result of reading this but I appreciate the effort those who are put into the relationship they have with their birds. Truly a unique connection between man and animal.