December 8, 2009 • reading •

Book talk: “Lift,” by Rebecca O’Connor

Disclosures: My thanks to the author, Rebecca O’Connor, for sending me an ARC of this book to review. *The puchasing link at the end of the review goes through my Amazon Associates account.

Lift by Rebecca K. O'Connor

Lift
Rebecca K. O’Connor
Red Hen Press, 2009 (ISBN 9781597094603 / 1597094609)
Memoir, 208 pages

Opening Lines: “I should kill the duck. I know how to do it. A master falconer showed me with a deft hand.”

Book description: Captivated by a chance meeting with a falconer’s peregrine as a child, the indelible memory leads the author to flying a peregrine falcon of her own and discovering that the journey is not as much about training the falcon as what it is the falcon has to teach her. Exploring themes of predator and prey, finding tribe, forgiveness and femininity, Lift asks universal questions through the unique perspective of a woman chasing her heart in the wake of a wayward falcon.

Comments: I’ve always been rather intimidated by large birds, but having spent four years of my work life in a zoo, I’m very interested in people who work with animals, so when author Rebecca O’Connor offered me a review galley of her memoir about the training of her peregrine falcon, I couldn’t refuse.

This isn’t a guide to bird training, and Anakin, the falcon, isn’t a pet. O’Connor has recorded the story of a developing relationship between a woman and her bird as they become hunting partners. It’s a rocky journey, marked by failures, frustrations, and fly-offs early on, but it gets easier. O’Connor understands that their success as a team depends on the two of them learning from one another.

This relatively short (just over 200 pages) memoir has a natural narrative arc, centered on Rebecca’s acquisition of Anakin and their progress toward – and sometimes away from – the goals she’s set for them as hunters, but the telling of the story is less straightforward than that. Periodic flashbacks to O’Connor’s past – which includes abandonment by both parents at one time or another and victimization by sexual predators – offer insight into her motivations, and there is additional context in the challenges she faces in her relationships with other falconers, her boyfriend, and her mother during the time she begins working with Anakin.

O’Connor’s writing style is quite direct for the most part, but there are passages where it’s very expressive and nearly poetic. I was completely drawn into this story – agonizing over Rebecca and Anakin’s setbacks, cheering their successes, and rooting for them both all the way. At the same time, I felt frustrated at times by a sense that I was getting glimpses into Rebecca, but not really being given the chance to know her; I think this came from wanting her to expand more on some of the flashbacks. Once I was further into the book and had a better sense of how the flashbacks fit into the larger narrative, I was able to let go of that frustration and enjoy the story much more.

I’m still not a big fan of birds, but I am a fan of a good story about an unconventional relationship, and I thank the author for the opportunity to read hers.

Rating: 3.75/5

If you have reviewed this book, please leave me your link in comments or e-mail it to me at 3.rsblog AT Gmail DOT com, and I’ll edit this review to include it!

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8 comments

  1. I have recently written an article about falconery in the United Arab Emirates, and this sounds like an interesting memoir. Its not just I know much about falconery at all, but it sure is an interesting subject.

  2. I know what you mean about birds. When I see birds that are bigger than my dog, they creep me out. I do love memoirs, though and this sounds like a good one.

  3. Louise – I know almost nothing about it, but I did learn a little from the book. You might get more out of those parts than I did :-).

    Kathy (Bermudaonion) – It was interesting, but it didn't make me any more interested in having a bird around the house :-).

  4. I don't mind large birds, but I don't really know much about them. In general I like bird watching, but really have no desire to own one. I'm not sure if this is a book that I would like.

  5. Birds are such fascinating creatures. I admit that I know very little about them though.

    I watched a movie a few weeks ago where one of the characters befriended a falcon in the woods. She was able to train the falcon to come to her when she called. It was such a magnificent and smart bird.

    The whole predator versus prey theme you discuss really has me curious. This sounds like a worthwhile book to read.

  6. Alyce – It's more about the falconer and the training than it is directly about the bird, which was actually more to my taste.

    Wendy (Literary Feline) – It was quite interesting. I would have liked some parts to have been developed more, but I'm glad I read it.

  7. Sounds interesting. I recently watched a movie about a guy raising a falcon. It's really quite unique to any other kind of animal raising.