Review of H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald

H is for Hawk

Relating the tragedy that occurred in her life, Helen Macdonald invites us to delve into her mesmerizing world of nature as she tries to cope with the devastating grief of her father’s sudden death by adopting a hawk of her own. Taming this wild, feral creature helped settle her own nerve wracked emotions, providing for her an unexpected but original way to return to reality and appreciate what life has to offer. Portraying raw emotions and vivid thoughts, this book offered the chance to embrace a new perspective on life and introduced me to the unexpected connections a person can develop with nature itself.
Macdonald reveals this sorrowful stage of her life, where she tries to recollect herself through her goshawk, Mabel, who serves as a parallel to everything she wants to be but cannot seem to achieve. The author’s unique writing style differs greatly from what one would expect by glancing at the title, as she is very direct throughout her writing. Her word choices are placed so that the connotations contradict themselves, serving to illustrate a powerful and lasting impression in the reader’s mind. However, these stylistic selections is what gives this novel its shine, and it left me pondering and realizing the validity of Macdonald’s observations of life.
As this book can be considered as more of an autobiography than a novel, it does not take into account the thoughts and feelings commonly held by society and instead, explores the world of grief and childhood dreams. This book is not for the faint of heart and I would recommend it for a more mature audience. Those interested in fulfilling their dreams and gaining a new awareness of the world would appreciate this book, as it leaves you with a sense of longing and wonderment.

Reviewed by Aasima Gadiwan

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