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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
dark
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
The central subject of this book is the interconnectedness between MacDonald's grief over the loss of her father and her purchase of this goshawk. Her grief- consisting of self isolation and hostility to human socialization- manifested so differently to mine that I found myself frustrated and could not bring myself to finish. This is to no fault of the author, it is simply an incompatibility in our approaches to loss. She is very vulnerable, lays herself bare, and is honest about her feelings regardless of whether those feelings were flattering.
When I was carrying around my library copy many strangers approached me and told me it was an excellent book, and I wish I could have had the same experience.
When I was carrying around my library copy many strangers approached me and told me it was an excellent book, and I wish I could have had the same experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Such a beautiful, contemplation of life, nature, loss. Enjoyed this immensely as slowly unfolding exploration of Helen MacDonald’s memoir about coming to terms with the death of her father by immersing herself in the training of a goshawk. Having been a fan of T.H. White, I particularly the parts relating to him. The Once and Future King had such a huge impact on me as a kid but I never knew anything at all about the author. His is a rather tragic, sad story about grappling with homosexuality and loneliness at a time when it was heavily stigmatized. He also trained a goshawk. I learned so much about these amazing raptors and the history and classism/sexism inherent in the hobby. I had no idea. It’s simply a beautifully written book. It’s evident in her writing that she is a poet. I’m of an age now where writing like this resonates with me deeply:
“There is a time in life when you expect the world to be always full of new things. And then comes a day when you realize that is not how it will be at all. You see that life will become a thing made of holes. Absences. Losses. Things that were there and are no longer.”
I can’t recommend H is for Hawk to just anyone. It requires a certain headspace, a willingness to let ideas simmer and permeate rather that immediately gratify. It has been weeks since I finished this book but the emotion of MacDonald’s words still quietly assert themselves.
“There is a time in life when you expect the world to be always full of new things. And then comes a day when you realize that is not how it will be at all. You see that life will become a thing made of holes. Absences. Losses. Things that were there and are no longer.”
I can’t recommend H is for Hawk to just anyone. It requires a certain headspace, a willingness to let ideas simmer and permeate rather that immediately gratify. It has been weeks since I finished this book but the emotion of MacDonald’s words still quietly assert themselves.
The audiobook narrator had a pretentious sounding British accent.
Ive never read a book quite like it. Honestly I'm a little scared of birds of prey and found many passages quite eery. A fascinating way to outline bereavement reaction. I found the authors description of the narcissism of grief and self indulgence of depression a new interesting angle.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood