Mixed Kirkus The around-the-house scenes and conversations he presents are equal parts hilarious and profound. Not Montgomery’s best but mostly enjoyable reading on a consistently intriguing raptor. Yet the author helps us forgive these excesses, and a rather selective love of animals, with her powers of observation and total absorption. Occasionally, Montgomery’s lyrical bent finds her indulging in the sort of dramatics and anthropomorphism that are more romantic than empirical. Montgomery offers a good amount of stimulating information about raptor behavior, a primer on the language of falconry, and some surprising insights into what is thought to be a hawk’s mindset. Throughout, the author displays her abundant enthusiasm for this unique predator, but she sometimes gets carried away, giving the impression that working with the hyperfocused hawk is like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun. This slender, graceful work, featuring Strombeck’s vivid photos, is more a monograph than a book, though scientific rigor is not its strong suit.
Positive Kirkus Montgomery hooks readers with a striking opening line, the first hint of her passion for the subject.
