The Falconer

By Elaine Clark McCarthy

Book Overview

What do you do when you don't have forever? In this stunning love story set in the Sierra Nevadas, to ordinary people's lives are transformed by a passionate love affair. A strong, poetical,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679448748
• ISBN13: 9780679448747
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Conscious loving....

I was deeply touched by this small, but profound and lyrical story. Well written and developed and, it deals with the ultimate issues of life and death with sensitivity and passion. I too was amazed this was the author's first book...and disappointed to find no others available by her.

I wrote it...

Though "The Falconer" has been compared to "Bridges of Madison County," all it really has in common with that book is its length and the fact that it's a love story. I feel that the way it was packaged and promoted did it a disservice; it's about choices, and about taking the risk of really loving. It's about how to live your life, or my life, perhaps, because there's always something of the author in any book. I'd love to hear from readers. My website is just my first and last names dot com. Drop a line! Thanks.

Strong (but short) debut!

After letting "THE FALCONER" sit on my bookshelf collecting dust for nearly 5 years, I finally read McCarthy's short novel this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Filled with wonderful prose and heart-felt emotion, "THE FALCONER" pulled me in quickly and I nearly finished it within one sitting. It's like "THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY" meets "THE HORSE WHISPERER" meets "LOVE STORY" --only better. I'm just sorry that it ended after only a mear 140 pages! Try and finish this one without grabbing for the kleenex...

A dying woman finds love with a man of the birds.

India Blake, 37, is dying, though she has never truly lived. The cancer will take her in six months, her doctor warns her. So she makes a list. A list that does not include her good-for-nothing, husband with a wandering eye, Dougie. But Dougie carries his own demons. He never made it past college with his football hopes from high school, and feels the need to cheat with any woman who will have him. Though India knows about most of the affairs, she allows him his trysts. So when India finds she is dying, she doesn't tell Dougie, just makes the list. And for some reason, known only to herself, she chooses to learn falconry with the help of falconer Rhodri (pronounced "Rory") MacLean. India falls for the falconer immediately. Rhodri falls for her just as quickly, but he holds back when he sees the wedding band on her finger. The next time India comes for her lesson, she isn't wearing it. "The Falconer" is a love story in true "Romeo and Juliet" fashion. It floats along as if on soft clouds as India and Rhodri become accustomed to loving each other. The end, however is not what the reader may expect. Have the hankies ready. You'll need them.

A short story with that gives one lots to think about.

An excellent story - I couldn't belive this was her first book! I was very moved by the story. Ms. McCarthy knows how to say much in short space. I highly recommed this one