Who Would Like This Book:
Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk" is a beautifully written memoir that blends raw, honest grief with the captivating world of falconry. Her lyrical prose immerses you in the English countryside and the wild presence of her goshawk, Mabel. The book weaves in nature writing, personal recovery, and a fascinating look at author T.H. White. Perfect for readers who appreciate lush, poetic language, deep introspection, nature, and anyone curious about how we heal after loss. If you love memoirs, animals, or just want a unique perspective on life and recovery, this is a must-read.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone vibes with "H is for Hawk." Some readers found the pace slow and the focus on grief or falconry too intense or technical. The intertwined biography of T.H. White can feel distracting or excessive, and those not keen on non-linear memoirs, introspection, or animal training might struggle here. If you prefer fast plots, light themes, or aren't interested in animal-focused narratives, this might feel heavy or meandering. Also, those squeamish about hunting or animal death should tread carefully.
About:
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is a memoir that intertwines the author's journey through grief after the loss of her father with her experience of training a goshawk named Mabel. The book also delves into the life of author T.H. White and his struggles with training a goshawk, providing a parallel narrative to Macdonald's own story. Through eloquent prose and vivid descriptions, Macdonald navigates the complexities of falconry, personal loss, and self-discovery, creating a compelling narrative that blends elements of memoir, biography, and nature writing.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings for grief, depression, and the discussion of death and loss.
From The Publisher:
One of the New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of the Year
One of Slate's 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years
A Best Book of the Year: TIME, NPR, O, The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, Miami Herald, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Star Tribune, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Slate, Shelf Awareness, Book Riot
When Helen Macdonald's father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer-Helen had been captivated by hawks since childhood-she'd never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the goshawk. But in her grief, she saw that the goshawk's fierce and feral temperament mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel, and turned to the guidance of The Once and Future King author T.H. White's chronicle The Goshawk to begin her challenging endeavor. Projecting herself "in the hawk's wild mind to tame her" tested the limits of Macdonald's humanity and changed her life.
Heart-wrenching and humorous, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement and a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast, with a parallel examination of a legendary writer's eccentric falconry. Obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history combine to achieve a distinctive blend of nature writing and memoir from an outstanding literary innovator.
Ratings (30)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (14) | |
Liked It (6) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (77):
Read It (30) | |
Want To Read (28) | |
Did Not Finish (3) | |
Not Interested (16) |
1 comment(s)
This was not my cup of tea. I read it because it was on the Best Seller list. It was like jumping in to water I was unfamiliar with. First it was about birds, not my thing. Second it was a lot about the authors impressions and parallels with a book called The Goshawk, which is totally unknown to me. Three, it is read by the author. Generally this is good. In this case her English accent and old feeling subject made this book feel historic, then she would talk about listening to Metallica. That made it weird.
What can you read after
H is for Hawk?
About the Author:
Helen Macdonald is a writer, poet, illustrator and naturalist, and an affiliated research scholar at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of the bestselling H Is for Hawk, as well as a cultural history of falcons, titled Falcon, and three collections of poetry, including Shaler's Fish. Macdonald was a Research Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge, has worked as a professional falconer, and has assisted with the management of raptor research and conservation projects across Eurasia. She now writes for the New York Times Magazine.
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