Play Book Tag discussion

I'm catching up with reviews. It's been such a crazy month I only finished 2 books!



Good reviews encouraged me to pick this up and I'm glad I did, it isn't one I would have chosen on my own. It was an interesting book, unlike anything I'd ever read before. I thought of it as almost 3 different books, beautifully blended together. Helen Macdonald suddenly loses her beloved father. Not surpisingly, the unexpected and dramatic death rocks her world. Through the book we learn about her father and their very special relationship.

The main focus of the book purports to be her work at training a Gos Hawk, a traditionally difficult task for falconers. From the time she was a little girl she loved falconry and had trained other birds. At such a difficult time in her life (the death of her father) she has the opportunity to purchase a Gos. She takes the hawk home and begins the training. She names the Gos Mabel. Her description of the bird and the training were fascinating.

The other part of the book interweaves the story of T. H. White, most known to me as the writer of The Sword and the Stone. He also trained a Gos Hawk and Helen read the story of that training as a young girl. His training technique was deplorable! I learned so much about White, I was driven to the internet to see pictures of him and learn even more about his life.

The relatively short book is just packed with so much information and is so open about Helen and her one year of recovery from great loss; and her amazing work with, and anxiety for, Mabel. It is actually quite emotional and beautifully evocative of the land and animals in her area of England.

One difficulty I had was in realizing the passage of time at different points in book. It took me a while to realize that this was just one year.

Barbara wrote: "I'm catching up with reviews. It's been such a crazy month I only finished 2 books!



Good reviews encouraged me to pick this up and I'm glad I did, it isn't one ..."

Barbara wrote: "I'm catching up with reviews. It's been such a crazy month I only finished 2 books!



Good reviews encouraged me to pick this up and I'm glad I did, it isn't one ..."


It was also a 4 star read for me, I enjoyed it for the same reasons that you have detailed so well.