H IS FOR HAWK, by Helen Macdonald

H is for Hawk cover

Available now in hard cover, paperback, ebook and audio

Why I love H IS FOR HAWK:

H IS FOR HAWK speaks to the urge for freedom in the skies that rests in all of us.

Helen Macdonald names her hawk “Mabel,” for we don’t want the hawk to presume more stature than it has. And Mabel is a miracle, soaring to become a great hunter, and an even greater companion.

Perhaps I loved this story so much because she lets us stand beside her as we follow Mabel step by step, as she learns to fly, chase prey and dream on her own, climbing to ever greater heights.

Mabel always comes back to her mistress, with absolute trust between them.

O, if only I could fly!

Applause! Applause!

Vogue

The Sunday Times

New York Times Book Review

Talk a Little, Talk a Lot

All great reads, like this one, have themes or ideas, or just hints, for discussion topics in your book club. Here are a few ideas for you:

Hawks are wild creatures. How do you feel about training them to be hunters? How about training circus animals, or even dogs for performance?
Animals are very much a part of our lives. What other animal-focused books have you read, what movies have you seen, that have especially touched you?
For Macdonald, her relationship with Mabel was a way for her to deal with the death of her father. Did it work? How do other characters in other stories deal with trauma?

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