43 pages • 1 hour read
H Is For Hawk
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Book Brief
320
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
England • 2000s
2014
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald chronicles her journey through grief and healing after her father's death, finding solace in training a goshawk named Mabel. The memoir weaves together her personal struggles and her experiences with falconry, drawing parallels with T.H. White’s attempts at training a hawk in the 1930s. The narrative explores themes of loss, nature, and the search for personal redemption. This book depicts outdated, harmful concepts related to a historical figure's attempt to "tame" his same-sex attraction.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Emotional
Mysterious
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
83,082 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Helen Macdonald's H Is For Hawk is widely praised for its lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance, blending memoir and nature writing. Critics commend its raw honesty and vivid descriptions. Some note it can be overly introspective and slow-paced. While the narrative's complexity may challenge some readers, it remains a powerful exploration of grief and healing.
Who Should Read H Is For Hawk?
Readers who appreciate deeply emotional memoirs, nature writing, and introspection will enjoy H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald. Fans of Wild by Cheryl Strayed and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi will find similarities in Macdonald’s poignant exploration of grief and healing through training a goshawk.
83,082 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
T.H. White
T.H. White
An author featured in MacDonald's story, known for his book The Goshawk, which details his own experiences with falconry. His work and identity are examined alongside MacDonald’s as they navigate themes of privilege and loss.
Alisdair MacDonald
Alisdair MacDonald
Helen MacDonald’s father, a respected photojournalist in London whose love of photography and nature greatly influences his daughter. His life and work provide a lens through which MacDonald processes her grief.
320
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
England • 2000s
2014
Adult
18+ years
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