The One and Future King is a great book. The Sword in the Stone is the first section of the book. The Disney version of The Sword in the Stone is good also. Someone else mentioned the Merlin Bird ID app. I recommend it also.
I don’t know much about birds, but a little while ago I downloaded the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone (Cornell University). For the few who may not know, it’s like Shazam for bird calls, and I’m having a blast as it identifies birds in my Seattle neighborhood and on trips across the Pacific Northwest. This summer, it identified a Cooper’s hawk in our backyard. Never would’ve known it was even there otherwise. ❤️ (P.S. I think every single person in the US, no matter what their profession, has a right to an opinion as to who they feel is the best candidate and why. But that doesn’t mean they and/or the candidate should be taken strictly at their word. Research is key to informed decisions, and without due diligence, our democratic process is undermined. IMHO, character, competence, and kindness should be top priorities. And women’s autonomy should never, ever, ever be on the line.)
I read H is for Hawk during a recovery period after surgery. I had 2 hawks as companions perched on a tree outside my bedroom window, at least twice a day. Mabel and Helen gave me the courage to face the tug and pull when my knotted stitches came out. It was a strange way towards the path of healing, yet the more I read the easier it became to accept the burning scar tissue in my body.
Dear Kate. yes I voted weeks ago by mail. Yes, I'm worried ,too, about this country! But then I think of all the desperate people in the world who have no chance to vote for anyone. We are so lucky in the US to even have an election . We as writers must remember that we have the chance to tell our own stories about what's happening to our characters. Our stories will tell future generations the truth of what really is happening in our sad world. Always, Jane Rita
Not really a bird person but I did love that Hawk book a *lot,* which kind of surprised me. I was living in UAE at the time, where people are very serious about falcons, so my imagination was toggling between the desert & the English countryside. I feel similarly about Shirley Hazzard, after I read Transit of Venus and had my mind blown by what that woman could do with a sentence -- people were like "duh, where've you *beeeeeen*" ... That's the delight of libraries and bookstores, which algorithims simply cannot match: the treasures waiting to be found.
I couldn't agree more. I love going to the library and just wandering around looking for books to jump out and say 'read me'. Often these are books I meant to read when they came out, but forgot about. A good book will wait for you to be ready.
The Once and Future King' offers such a rich exploration of Arthurian legend, and 'The Sword in the Stone' sets the stage beautifully with its blend of humor and wisdom. The Disney adaptation captures some of that magic, but there’s something special about how T.H. White delves into the characters' development. It's fascinating to see how different adaptations interpret the same source material!
I love this line so much, as a reader and a writer. “And then, sometimes you just have to wait for a book to find you, instead of you to find it.” Thanks, Kate.
How does the author's personal experience with grief and loss connect to her appreciation for Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk"? What specific aspects of the book resonate with her own journey? https://slope-game.org
If your interest for Arthurian legend has been piqued, you might enjoy “The Mists of Avalon,” a retelling of the Arthurian legends from the POV of the women. I called in sick for two days because I could not put that book down. It was a rainy time and I had a sheltered window open and a bowl of apples nearby. An engaging, joyful read.
This is a great post Kate. I love birds, especially owls and hummingbirds. I feed hummingbirds in my backyard. They are amazing little creatures. I also love what they symbolize—wisdom in the quiet presence of owls and resilience in the vibrant energy of hummingbirds.
Treat yourself to the Godstone and the Blackymor by White. It made me love him more than I already did for the Once and Future King.
The One and Future King is a great book. The Sword in the Stone is the first section of the book. The Disney version of The Sword in the Stone is good also. Someone else mentioned the Merlin Bird ID app. I recommend it also.
Thank you for keep it clear and keeping it real. We're not just authors and word people, we live here and our choices are important.
Read it. Loved it. Big T.H. White fan.
I don’t know much about birds, but a little while ago I downloaded the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone (Cornell University). For the few who may not know, it’s like Shazam for bird calls, and I’m having a blast as it identifies birds in my Seattle neighborhood and on trips across the Pacific Northwest. This summer, it identified a Cooper’s hawk in our backyard. Never would’ve known it was even there otherwise. ❤️ (P.S. I think every single person in the US, no matter what their profession, has a right to an opinion as to who they feel is the best candidate and why. But that doesn’t mean they and/or the candidate should be taken strictly at their word. Research is key to informed decisions, and without due diligence, our democratic process is undermined. IMHO, character, competence, and kindness should be top priorities. And women’s autonomy should never, ever, ever be on the line.)
The Merlin app is the BEST BEST BEST!
The step-by-step visual bird ID feature is also great. I used that for years before the sound ID was added.
I read H is for Hawk during a recovery period after surgery. I had 2 hawks as companions perched on a tree outside my bedroom window, at least twice a day. Mabel and Helen gave me the courage to face the tug and pull when my knotted stitches came out. It was a strange way towards the path of healing, yet the more I read the easier it became to accept the burning scar tissue in my body.
Dear Kate. yes I voted weeks ago by mail. Yes, I'm worried ,too, about this country! But then I think of all the desperate people in the world who have no chance to vote for anyone. We are so lucky in the US to even have an election . We as writers must remember that we have the chance to tell our own stories about what's happening to our characters. Our stories will tell future generations the truth of what really is happening in our sad world. Always, Jane Rita
Not really a bird person but I did love that Hawk book a *lot,* which kind of surprised me. I was living in UAE at the time, where people are very serious about falcons, so my imagination was toggling between the desert & the English countryside. I feel similarly about Shirley Hazzard, after I read Transit of Venus and had my mind blown by what that woman could do with a sentence -- people were like "duh, where've you *beeeeeen*" ... That's the delight of libraries and bookstores, which algorithims simply cannot match: the treasures waiting to be found.
I couldn't agree more. I love going to the library and just wandering around looking for books to jump out and say 'read me'. Often these are books I meant to read when they came out, but forgot about. A good book will wait for you to be ready.
The Once and Future King' offers such a rich exploration of Arthurian legend, and 'The Sword in the Stone' sets the stage beautifully with its blend of humor and wisdom. The Disney adaptation captures some of that magic, but there’s something special about how T.H. White delves into the characters' development. It's fascinating to see how different adaptations interpret the same source material!
I love this line so much, as a reader and a writer. “And then, sometimes you just have to wait for a book to find you, instead of you to find it.” Thanks, Kate.
How does the author's personal experience with grief and loss connect to her appreciation for Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk"? What specific aspects of the book resonate with her own journey? https://slope-game.org
If your interest for Arthurian legend has been piqued, you might enjoy “The Mists of Avalon,” a retelling of the Arthurian legends from the POV of the women. I called in sick for two days because I could not put that book down. It was a rainy time and I had a sheltered window open and a bowl of apples nearby. An engaging, joyful read.
Great book. I enjoyed it very much. And great advice at the top. Please vote ❤️💔
The Once and Future King isn't really about Arthurian legend as much as using it as a framework for saying a whole lot of other things.
Yup, another one I need to read. Thank you for the reminder.
This is a great post Kate. I love birds, especially owls and hummingbirds. I feed hummingbirds in my backyard. They are amazing little creatures. I also love what they symbolize—wisdom in the quiet presence of owls and resilience in the vibrant energy of hummingbirds.