A review by nevarren
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

4.0

3.5, probably. This is a beautiful book about the death of Macdonald's father, how it lead her to train a goshawk, and -- in between all that -- her changing understanding of and relationship with nature. There's also a B plot, such as it is, about TH White. Macdonald is a spectacular writer, and I learned a great deal from this book, but it's a bit too long and drawn out for my tastes. Macdonald writes with an intensity that, while deeply affecting, starts to wear on you after a while. I found myself losing interest a bit about 2/3 through. I'm glad I stuck with it, but I found it hard to maintain that pitch of emotion for as long as the book goes on.