mamabh 's review for:

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
3.0

So here’s the thing: I know I’m supposed to love this book, that all The Smart People and all The Literary People say it’s amazing and breath taking. And I mean, I tried—I really tried!! The writing is immaculate and perfect. Her voice is unique and insightful. The book reads like a giant prose poem. But. I just couldn’t bring myself to care. I wanted to care, but the writing, while lovely, is cold and keeps the reader at an arm’s distance. So despite the hundreds of pages, I never did care about her story or Mabel (much less hawks in general). And if anything I developed a serious distaste for T. H. White rather than a sympathy. If I were more courageous, I’d give it 2 stars, but I don’t want to appear that illiterate.