The Cut Out Girl by Bart van Es

"Lien can keep her own name and her surname, de Jong, but she must not say anything about Mamma or Papa or family."

Definitely a slow burner this 2018 winner of the Costa Book of the Year is an intriguing read. A young jewish girl in Holland in World War Two must live a double life fostered by other families, hiding the real story of her family to survive. The author's grandparents had taken her in at some point and then something had happened. Bart van Es sets out to discover what happened and it makes for a fascinating exploration of uncertain times.

While it took me a while to get into the rhythm of the story, the intriguing premise ultimately kicked in and had me furiously reading.

5 out of 5, separation from those we love is a burden for the ages.

H is for Hawke by Helen Macdonald

"I was twelve years old when I first saw a trained goshawk."

Here is a book that won a raft of awards and was one of those ubiquitous titles in every bookstore upon its release. I'd put off actually reading it for a few years on the basis that I didn't think training a hawk would be all that interesting. I was wrong.

I wasn't expecting a mix of misery, literature and hunting that actually works as a novel. Unexpectedly this is a bit of a gem and reflects all the glowing reviews. Is it perfect? I don't think so, there were moments where the pace lagged and my interest started to wane. Yet eventually, I was drawn back in and that says a lot about its delivery.

Upon closing the last page, I wondered where I could get myself a copy of T H White's The Goshawk.  It made me reflect on the nature of pets and how they become an avatar of their owner ( or vice versa). The protagonist becomes hawk-like in her obsessions, much like you see owners who resemble their dogs. It is a fascinating conceit.

If you're feeling down and like wallowing in literature and birds of prey, then this is definitely your cup of tea. For many I suspect reading this will be an usual and memorable experience, even if I wasn't one hundred percent on board throughout. I guarantee if you read this you will find yourself googling Goshawks on more than one occasion.

4 out of 5 birds of prey are flying high.