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michellehenriereads's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review, all opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read modern literature! I would consider The Hawkman a modern classic because of the use of classic literary themes like forgiveness and redemption.
The Hawkman focuses on two characters, with only a few minor characters entering the scenes. Known as the Hawkman, the Irish musician suffering from the after-effects of the war, Mr. Michael Sheehan, and Miss Williams, the American teacher dominate the fairy tale.
Even though the novel introduces the Hawkman first, I'm going to focus on Miss Williams as my introduction. She is faced with prejudice against women, is seen as an old maid and yet, she continues to extend kindness. I felt like she had a backbone and would do the right thing under any circumstances. She seemed like a person to be admired, though she would never be famous or important by the standards frequently eschewed by the world. Even though her mother had warned her as a child to never touch a bird, she feels prompted to extend her kindness to the broken man on the street. After she chose to reach out to him, she realizes that she needs to continue because he is now dependent on her.
Through the trauma of WWI, and his reception back in polite society of Great Britain, Mr. Sheehan has been transformed from a man to a beast. His eyes are yellowed, his hands like claws and his steps mincing and uncertain like a bird. He is feared and hated by his fellow men. Once he is adopted by Miss Eva Williams, she becomes his entire world and he will do whatever he must to protect her.
I enjoyed reading The Hawkman with its beautiful prose and veiled hints. If I were to make an editorial change, it would be to break up some of the scenes where the reader learns the history of both Mr. Sheehan and Miss Williams. I was so intent on what was happening in their current situation, I desperately wanted to know more and receive the background a little more slowly. With that said, I can't remember more poignant and stunning descriptions of war. How can one write something so beautiful about something so awful? Both of their backstories are critical to understand the motivation behind each of the characters. Even minor characters, like Christopher Thorton being reticent, receive a quick fleshing out. Each person felt like they had a full life backing up their actions.
It was interesting to view this story as a fairy tale. The moment I finished the epilogue, I returned to the prologue to link the scenes together. It was within the last few chapters and the very beginning where I felt the connection to a fairy tale. It was surreal and sublime.
Here are a few quotes for your enjoyment:
"But she had not found the England she expected when she arrived. The place and its people were impenetrable in all aspects: the tart curve in their speech, the defeated fabric of their clothes, the sallow nature of their complexions." (Loc. 202)
"His fingers were like leaves, their reach toward the sun and meaning. She saw no harm in touching him, although she knew the danger of touching birds, particularly hatchlings." (Loc. 233)
"Their bodies could be next on that pile. He resolved, if not for himself, then for Altman, to never alter his appearance. If he lived to grow out his hair, a beard, his fingers and toes to claws, until he was ape, or bear, or anything more natural than he was." (Loc. 813)
"He could provide each note with the isolation it deserved, before it was grafted onto the next; he could make way for the slip of an instant, so the phrase could be savored, without his crushing it. This was a compromise, between music and vacuum, and he would jeopardize neither if he could keep what his hands and body had suffered away from the instrument." (Loc. 912)
"She was about to leap from underneath the blankets the nuns had piled atop her when she was suddenly in a larger room - the dormitory in the children's asylum. She had been stripped of her blankets, and given an anemic substitute that did nothing to keep out the consuming winter temperatures." (Loc. 1628)
"Sheehan jammed the letter his mother had written into his fist, and then he picked it apart, as if dressing a chicken." (Loc 2315)
I recommend The Hawkman, and look forward to more books by LaForge.
To find recommendations of other books to read go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
The Hawkman focuses on two characters, with only a few minor characters entering the scenes. Known as the Hawkman, the Irish musician suffering from the after-effects of the war, Mr. Michael Sheehan, and Miss Williams, the American teacher dominate the fairy tale.
Even though the novel introduces the Hawkman first, I'm going to focus on Miss Williams as my introduction. She is faced with prejudice against women, is seen as an old maid and yet, she continues to extend kindness. I felt like she had a backbone and would do the right thing under any circumstances. She seemed like a person to be admired, though she would never be famous or important by the standards frequently eschewed by the world. Even though her mother had warned her as a child to never touch a bird, she feels prompted to extend her kindness to the broken man on the street. After she chose to reach out to him, she realizes that she needs to continue because he is now dependent on her.
Through the trauma of WWI, and his reception back in polite society of Great Britain, Mr. Sheehan has been transformed from a man to a beast. His eyes are yellowed, his hands like claws and his steps mincing and uncertain like a bird. He is feared and hated by his fellow men. Once he is adopted by Miss Eva Williams, she becomes his entire world and he will do whatever he must to protect her.
I enjoyed reading The Hawkman with its beautiful prose and veiled hints. If I were to make an editorial change, it would be to break up some of the scenes where the reader learns the history of both Mr. Sheehan and Miss Williams. I was so intent on what was happening in their current situation, I desperately wanted to know more and receive the background a little more slowly. With that said, I can't remember more poignant and stunning descriptions of war. How can one write something so beautiful about something so awful? Both of their backstories are critical to understand the motivation behind each of the characters. Even minor characters, like Christopher Thorton being reticent, receive a quick fleshing out. Each person felt like they had a full life backing up their actions.
It was interesting to view this story as a fairy tale. The moment I finished the epilogue, I returned to the prologue to link the scenes together. It was within the last few chapters and the very beginning where I felt the connection to a fairy tale. It was surreal and sublime.
Here are a few quotes for your enjoyment:
"But she had not found the England she expected when she arrived. The place and its people were impenetrable in all aspects: the tart curve in their speech, the defeated fabric of their clothes, the sallow nature of their complexions." (Loc. 202)
"His fingers were like leaves, their reach toward the sun and meaning. She saw no harm in touching him, although she knew the danger of touching birds, particularly hatchlings." (Loc. 233)
"Their bodies could be next on that pile. He resolved, if not for himself, then for Altman, to never alter his appearance. If he lived to grow out his hair, a beard, his fingers and toes to claws, until he was ape, or bear, or anything more natural than he was." (Loc. 813)
"He could provide each note with the isolation it deserved, before it was grafted onto the next; he could make way for the slip of an instant, so the phrase could be savored, without his crushing it. This was a compromise, between music and vacuum, and he would jeopardize neither if he could keep what his hands and body had suffered away from the instrument." (Loc. 912)
"She was about to leap from underneath the blankets the nuns had piled atop her when she was suddenly in a larger room - the dormitory in the children's asylum. She had been stripped of her blankets, and given an anemic substitute that did nothing to keep out the consuming winter temperatures." (Loc. 1628)
"Sheehan jammed the letter his mother had written into his fist, and then he picked it apart, as if dressing a chicken." (Loc 2315)
I recommend The Hawkman, and look forward to more books by LaForge.
To find recommendations of other books to read go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
gmco's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kathleenww's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. From an E-galley. Interesting book, a “fairy tale of the Great War.” Set in England after WW1 when many men suffered from PTSD, this is a love story that weaves the pasts of two damaged people in their attempts to simply survive. This novel has some lovely prose and great ideas, but it actually lacked a cohesive feel that made it all come together. Some of the character developments and plot points felt forced and unbelievable to me.
annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Hawkman by Jane Rosenberg LaForge is an original and powerfully written reworking of the Grimm's fairy tale Bearskin. The novel departs from the fairy tale in a lot of ways, and not having any prior knowledge of the earlier fable doesn't detract in any way from this novel.
The author is a poet and it shines through in the exquisite use of language. Most of the prose in the book is transcendent and very 'painterly'. It's a fantasy, but grounded in reality. I wouldn't call it magical realism, exactly (with the exception of one passage, which seemed written to indicate that it was metaphorical, not literal).
The book is beautifully written and poignant. I haven't often been touched as deeply or felt as attached as I did to the characters in The Hawkman. It's a book about the casualties (both literal and figurative) of the first world war, so much of the book was brutal and sad. I found the redemptive themes of love and kindness and humanity had even more impact when presented in contrast. It's been several weeks since I finished reading the book and I still find myself thinking about it often.
It's a really beautiful, lush, gorgeously written novel.
Due out 5th June, 2018 from Amberjack publishing. 280 pages in paperback and ebook formats.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
The Hawkman by Jane Rosenberg LaForge is an original and powerfully written reworking of the Grimm's fairy tale Bearskin. The novel departs from the fairy tale in a lot of ways, and not having any prior knowledge of the earlier fable doesn't detract in any way from this novel.
The author is a poet and it shines through in the exquisite use of language. Most of the prose in the book is transcendent and very 'painterly'. It's a fantasy, but grounded in reality. I wouldn't call it magical realism, exactly (with the exception of one passage, which seemed written to indicate that it was metaphorical, not literal).
The book is beautifully written and poignant. I haven't often been touched as deeply or felt as attached as I did to the characters in The Hawkman. It's a book about the casualties (both literal and figurative) of the first world war, so much of the book was brutal and sad. I found the redemptive themes of love and kindness and humanity had even more impact when presented in contrast. It's been several weeks since I finished reading the book and I still find myself thinking about it often.
It's a really beautiful, lush, gorgeously written novel.
Due out 5th June, 2018 from Amberjack publishing. 280 pages in paperback and ebook formats.
Five stars
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
holley_cornetto's review against another edition
4.0
I've been reading more and more books that are somewhere between magical realism, surrealism, and fairy tale. I don't know what these types of books are classified as in terms of genre, but I do enjoy them. Not all of them are created equal, some are complex and lyrical. Others, more simplistic and action driven. This is one of those books that most people will either love or hate. The author is wordy, her descriptions are vast and indulgent. She tells a story, but she is more interested in describing and painting a scene with words than with the telling of the story in most instances. This is okay, I enjoy this, but if that isn't your thing, you might avoid this book.
We have two main characters with a story that is broken up with a series of flashbacks, where we learn about their past, and what circumstances led them to where they find themselves. I enjoyed this book. I felt I would have liked a little less past and a little more present, because I enjoyed the interactions between the two characters. They shined the brightest when they shared scenes of the book, this is what gave an emotional attachment to the characters and gave the book heart.
We have two main characters with a story that is broken up with a series of flashbacks, where we learn about their past, and what circumstances led them to where they find themselves. I enjoyed this book. I felt I would have liked a little less past and a little more present, because I enjoyed the interactions between the two characters. They shined the brightest when they shared scenes of the book, this is what gave an emotional attachment to the characters and gave the book heart.
themoonwholistens's review against another edition
3.0
// Thanks to Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC to review //
“this a story of a man who thought he was a bird and the woman who helped him find his humanity again”
Oh gosh the writing was so beautiful <3
It had a very strong start that built a really solid foundation for the events that happened throughout the book as it progressed. It destroyed my heart a bit in the process as well, but it's all good.
The writing, plot, and setting of the story made it feel like a classic. And those were mostly the vibes I was getting as I read it. It's very rare that I encounter stories like these since they are really hard to pull of and this was pulled of beautifully even though this is not within the genre or the stories that I would normally read.
“because the problem with the rich is that they must own everything”
“the poor are so often denied the luxury of a quick death”
It explored the realities of the social hierarchy which I do not think is seen very much in YA and NA books (the genres I mostly read).
It had very strong characters. My favorite thing about relationship that the male and female MC was how they were both strong individually but still admitted to the fact that they need each other.It is also a very rare thing to see both love interests as "strong" in a book since it is usually just one or the other. I liked how they developed and how they showed how they got to the point that they were in the end.
I was worried going into this book as a lot of people are when going into books like these but it was pulled off quite nicely for the plot.
“this a story of a man who thought he was a bird and the woman who helped him find his humanity again”
Oh gosh the writing was so beautiful <3
It had a very strong start that built a really solid foundation for the events that happened throughout the book as it progressed. It destroyed my heart a bit in the process as well, but it's all good.
The writing, plot, and setting of the story made it feel like a classic. And those were mostly the vibes I was getting as I read it. It's very rare that I encounter stories like these since they are really hard to pull of and this was pulled of beautifully even though this is not within the genre or the stories that I would normally read.
“because the problem with the rich is that they must own everything”
“the poor are so often denied the luxury of a quick death”
It explored the realities of the social hierarchy which I do not think is seen very much in YA and NA books (the genres I mostly read).
It had very strong characters. My favorite thing about relationship that the male and female MC was how they were both strong individually but still admitted to the fact that they need each other.It is also a very rare thing to see both love interests as "strong" in a book since it is usually just one or the other. I liked how they developed and how they showed how they got to the point that they were in the end.
I was worried going into this book as a lot of people are when going into books like these but it was pulled off quite nicely for the plot.
mechbutterfly's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful historical fiction book with a tad of fantasy/folklore set post WW1. I enjoyed it quite a bit - the growing relationship between the protagonists, the slight sense of a fairytale and overall well-written prose.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.