Memoir: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

Cafe Society
1

I just finished H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald. Sounds like one of the Kinsey Milhone mysteries but is nothing of the sort. It’s non-fiction by this woman who, in coping with the death of her father and their shared love of falconry, acquires a goshawk she names Mabel. Combines her processing her father’s death, falconry lore, the experience of bonding with a wild bird and hunting and meditations on death in nature, and the history of TH White, the author of those King Arthur books, who was also a flawed falconer like her. And, and, and. Brilliantly written, both technically (her adjectives are exquisite) and as a memoir. Her descriptions of the English countryside and fog and light and brush will redden your cheeks. And Mabel is a badass.

Strongly recommended.

2

I read this a couple of weeks ago and also loved it. I put in a library request last fall. A friend who just requested it says she is 316th on the list.

The topic is fascinating and the emotional core is powerful, and her writing is just so good on top of that.

3

A Friday bump

This is a book that Doper readers would like!