H is for Hawk

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, 300 pages

After Macdonald's father dies, our author sets out to train a goshawk. The large and somewhat rare goshawks are notoriously difficult to train, though as a seasoned falconer, Macdonald is only kind of setting out in uncharted territory. Through this book, Macdonald weaves together the tale of training her gos, Mabel; her grief after her father's death; and, perhaps surprisingly, the life of author T.H. White, whose own early attempt to train a goshawk (and the role it played in his life) is referenced throughout the book. What sounds somewhat awkward in the previous sentence instead creates a fascinating tale of falconry, of wildness, and of introspection. It's no wonder that this was such a sought-after title when it came out last year. As I listened to the audiobook, I must also commend Macdonald for her reading of her book, which was wonderfully done.