Helen Macdonald's H Is For Hawk

Throughout history we see humans bonding to all species of animals. At first they believe animals were used to hunt alongside their human but now they are mostly for companionship. In H Is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald, a woman finds her way through the torments of grief by bonding with a Goshawk.
The main characters are Helen and Mabel. Helen is the woman that companioned the Goshawk Mabel. The book is written in first person protagonist which I think compliments the overall feeling you get when you read it.
This particular story takes place in the 21st century. The events only take place over a course of several months. Being that it's only several months the author is able to take more time describing her emotions and what exactly went on

There are several locations in the book that have important significance. The locations are meticulously described in such a way as to give power, solitude, and almost a sense of freedom. Most of the locations are forests, fields, and always away from Helen’s home. These places are where she would hunt with Mabel and it was her get away from the grief, the people, and her responsibilities.
The plot starts when Helen’s father dies, then as an act of impulse she buys a Goshawk, named Mabel. As Helen trains Mabel they both go through the stages of grief together as a journey of self rediscovery. Mabel in many ways reflected the person she wanted to be, cold and bitter. Helen finds out that Mabel is actually not that blood thirsty wildness she craved in the beginning. Finally, when winter comes, Mable must go to an aviary for several months to mault which symbolizes the end of Helen's grieving process.
The story has a rollercoaster of drama involved. Most of the drama has to deal with Helen’s inner turmoil with the death of her father. She does have drama with Mabel during training, that is what ultimately brought Helen and Mabel so close. Towards the end of the story, Helen realizes that Mabel's wildness was just as much a part of her as Helen’s warmth was a part of