Post by accipiter on Feb 17, 2020 18:54:51 GMT
Thought for today...
“All good things are wild and free”...
Henry David Thoreau
I do believe I may have reviewed this book before although my opinion hasn’t change one little bit...
Nonetheless, Helen’s father, Alisdair Macdonald, was a respected photojournalist who died suddenly of a heart attack, consequently having been a falconer for many years Helen purchased a young goshawk to help her through her grieving process. Unfortunately I found the tone of the book very self-indulgent being more about the author then the Goshawk, remember (H is for Hawk) being the title; but then again self – indulgence / fame has become a sign of the times being seen as more important than very life itself; i.e. the generation that expects the latest gadget and instant fame never mind the consequences. To quote Leonard Cohen (the signs are there for all to see) as the lyrics in Anthem proclaim.
However, I’m no supporter of “blood sports” or falconry since those of a higher station tend to exhibit some very unpleasant issues; beside blood sports, or to quote the title of an Eagles song (busy being fabulous) being a perfect example, and clearly ignorant of how predator prey interaction should function in order to retain a healthy balance; i.e. the circle of life. But nonetheless since the book was about raptors and T H White an area of interest I’ve now read it three times since I like to be fair in my appraisals especially when the book is about raptors and such an in-depth read. Nonetheless as before pages and pages filled with purple prose were beginning to be annoying, purple prose being something I don’t approve of, although I like to think I’m not an example of a philistine, since I’m in favour of prose when it’s used to enhance the text but in this case it was taken to a “whole new level,” as is her verbose style of writing especially for one whom achieved higher education. Nevertheless, being of a curious nature I found others of the same opinion of which the following is an example (see link.)
Very long esoteric words are also prevalent, so much so I had to look up the meaning of the words “she used”; but why place such words in a book intended for mass public consumption as opposed to a scientific paper where such words are often used. It’s simply silly since it didn’t impress me one little bit, in fact one could say it written for academic’s in mind. Although I should say there’s nothing wrong with being academically minded whatsoever, but the fact is I spent too much time literally perched up trees munching carrots whilst watching birds and having long conversation with badgers and foxes whilst my head was peering down into very deep holes when I should have been at school, still I don’t regret it one little bit since I feel I gained much by doing so.
However, her book did receive excellent reviews, something that means very little in the final analysis since there’re often written for each reviewers financial benefit or to put it plainly you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours; since its common practise, or better still to quote Leonard Cohen once again (everybody knows the deal is rotten) and e.g. everybody’s talking to their pockets everybody wants a box of chocolates and a long-stem rose, meaning greed something that’s seen in almost every walk of life today.
Indeed taking my valuation to its finale conclusion it’s not outside the realms of reasoning to assume Leonard Cohen being of an early generation foresaw as indeed I did the credit card generation leading to a breakdown in the fabric of society, the so called throwaway society where “nothing tends to be valued” including planet earth it would seem. Sorry about breaking into a tangent but I do tend to analyse every scenario since it makes common sense to me, but then again common sense is not so common, not to today’s young people anyhow.
Note
By young people I’m referring to those of working age let’s say above eighteen but below forty as a rough guide, but clearly not "all young people" have this view of life I hasten to add.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/bird-tale-that-fails-to-fly-h-is-for-hawk-by-helen-macdonald-1.1917840
“All good things are wild and free”...
Henry David Thoreau
I do believe I may have reviewed this book before although my opinion hasn’t change one little bit...
Nonetheless, Helen’s father, Alisdair Macdonald, was a respected photojournalist who died suddenly of a heart attack, consequently having been a falconer for many years Helen purchased a young goshawk to help her through her grieving process. Unfortunately I found the tone of the book very self-indulgent being more about the author then the Goshawk, remember (H is for Hawk) being the title; but then again self – indulgence / fame has become a sign of the times being seen as more important than very life itself; i.e. the generation that expects the latest gadget and instant fame never mind the consequences. To quote Leonard Cohen (the signs are there for all to see) as the lyrics in Anthem proclaim.
However, I’m no supporter of “blood sports” or falconry since those of a higher station tend to exhibit some very unpleasant issues; beside blood sports, or to quote the title of an Eagles song (busy being fabulous) being a perfect example, and clearly ignorant of how predator prey interaction should function in order to retain a healthy balance; i.e. the circle of life. But nonetheless since the book was about raptors and T H White an area of interest I’ve now read it three times since I like to be fair in my appraisals especially when the book is about raptors and such an in-depth read. Nonetheless as before pages and pages filled with purple prose were beginning to be annoying, purple prose being something I don’t approve of, although I like to think I’m not an example of a philistine, since I’m in favour of prose when it’s used to enhance the text but in this case it was taken to a “whole new level,” as is her verbose style of writing especially for one whom achieved higher education. Nevertheless, being of a curious nature I found others of the same opinion of which the following is an example (see link.)
Very long esoteric words are also prevalent, so much so I had to look up the meaning of the words “she used”; but why place such words in a book intended for mass public consumption as opposed to a scientific paper where such words are often used. It’s simply silly since it didn’t impress me one little bit, in fact one could say it written for academic’s in mind. Although I should say there’s nothing wrong with being academically minded whatsoever, but the fact is I spent too much time literally perched up trees munching carrots whilst watching birds and having long conversation with badgers and foxes whilst my head was peering down into very deep holes when I should have been at school, still I don’t regret it one little bit since I feel I gained much by doing so.
However, her book did receive excellent reviews, something that means very little in the final analysis since there’re often written for each reviewers financial benefit or to put it plainly you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours; since its common practise, or better still to quote Leonard Cohen once again (everybody knows the deal is rotten) and e.g. everybody’s talking to their pockets everybody wants a box of chocolates and a long-stem rose, meaning greed something that’s seen in almost every walk of life today.
Indeed taking my valuation to its finale conclusion it’s not outside the realms of reasoning to assume Leonard Cohen being of an early generation foresaw as indeed I did the credit card generation leading to a breakdown in the fabric of society, the so called throwaway society where “nothing tends to be valued” including planet earth it would seem. Sorry about breaking into a tangent but I do tend to analyse every scenario since it makes common sense to me, but then again common sense is not so common, not to today’s young people anyhow.
Note
By young people I’m referring to those of working age let’s say above eighteen but below forty as a rough guide, but clearly not "all young people" have this view of life I hasten to add.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/bird-tale-that-fails-to-fly-h-is-for-hawk-by-helen-macdonald-1.1917840