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sebs_gaybooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Are the flaws of the main character a main focus of the book?
mmmm, well you could say that *flash through of all Franny's questionable decisions fueled by her immense trauma*
It's been a bit of a cold period in terms of my heart being truly shattered by a book. I haven't had the soul-crushing emotions that come from a devastating read, and I was beginning to think I'd become to tough; not to fret, I do indeed still have some semblance of a heart. And this book reminded me of that fragment I do have left.
god, this book. Migrations, you son of a bitch, how DARE YOU make me feel so many things. It's a rough journey, so if any of the content warnings are triggering, please take heed when reading this. Especiallycar accidents, death of loved ones, suicide, and abandonment . Plot wise, it does jump around a lot, and I did see from other reviews that it bothered some people, but I personally think the way McConaghy wove it all through so delicately, pieces fell into place so seamlessly. I hesitate to use the words "reveal" as that might indicate towards a "thriller mystery" sort of book which this is not. Don't come into this thinking the mystery of it all will be a shocking twist. It is and it isn't. The information that's given isn't really, in my opinion, trying to be like a thriller where it's keeping you on your toes with suspense. It's the way we, as the reader, become more and more understanding and increasingly stressed for Franny. And it is shocking. But not in a way that makes you gasp with glee. It's painfully human and real.
This futuristic dystopian-like world McConaghy created is honestly more terrifying then the most AI centered ones of past and recent. The idea of nearly ALL of wildlife going extinct, it's horrific. And not just because it feels so likely for our current world. The way she writes about silent forests, beaches with no seagulls and the magic of finding a cave with terns nesting. It's the conversations around conservation, but only of species that have a direct positive impact and desirability for humans. That sort of 'environmental savior' purely for the benefit of our own species.
Franny's desperate fight to see the terns, something that changes meaning with every chapter. And when we get to the end and see the birds, and we know what this means, it was just so hard to read. I have never been one to throw books across rooms with rage or intense passion, mostly because my books comes from the library, but I did gently nudge this book off my bed.
mmmm, well you could say that *flash through of all Franny's questionable decisions fueled by her immense trauma*
It's been a bit of a cold period in terms of my heart being truly shattered by a book. I haven't had the soul-crushing emotions that come from a devastating read, and I was beginning to think I'd become to tough; not to fret, I do indeed still have some semblance of a heart. And this book reminded me of that fragment I do have left.
god, this book. Migrations, you son of a bitch, how DARE YOU make me feel so many things. It's a rough journey, so if any of the content warnings are triggering, please take heed when reading this. Especially
This futuristic dystopian-like world McConaghy created is honestly more terrifying then the most AI centered ones of past and recent. The idea of nearly ALL of wildlife going extinct, it's horrific. And not just because it feels so likely for our current world. The way she writes about silent forests, beaches with no seagulls and the magic of finding a cave with terns nesting. It's the conversations around conservation, but only of species that have a direct positive impact and desirability for humans. That sort of 'environmental savior' purely for the benefit of our own species.
Franny's desperate fight to see the terns, something that changes meaning with every chapter. And when we get to the end and see the birds, and we know what this means, it was just so hard to read. I have never been one to throw books across rooms with rage or intense passion, mostly because my books comes from the library, but I did gently nudge this book off my bed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Medical trauma
jazzyinthewild's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Police brutality, and Grief
amberinbookland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
lharper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Ehhhhh. The writing style of the book reflects the narrator: blunt, disjointed, abrupt, a little dissociated, and lacking detail. As far as unreliable narrators go it’s hard to love or like the main character in this book. There is an overarching theme of how environmental crises are caused by human selfishness. Yet, the main character is incredibly self-centered and will sacrifice many others on her path to destroy herself. This to me was the biggest contradiction in the authors story. Writing from the perspective of a women who in fairness has withstood unimaginable pain and suffering, who then inflicts the same to many others without remorse or empathy. The books pace was well set and kept me intrigued enough with the time jumps to continue reading to reveal the expected but sad twist.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage
alomie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is easily one of the best books I've read this year, absolutely heartbreaking and very poignant regarding the state of the planet and the very real challenges we will face if nothing changes in regards to climate change.
In parts I was frustrated by the main character, but I think only because she is so untethered and able to leave on whim, it's a feeling I don't understand, but her itchy feet make her who she is and part of why this book broke my heart multiple times.
Something special in these 250 pages, really quiet and understated descriptions of the lack of birds, that after reading when standing in a friends garden I was shocked at how loud the birds were.
I was totally sucked in by this book, and read it in just a few days, and one I will be buying for my forever shelves. No doubt I will send this to a few friends too.
In parts I was frustrated by the main character, but I think only because she is so untethered and able to leave on whim, it's a feeling I don't understand, but her itchy feet make her who she is and part of why this book broke my heart multiple times.
Something special in these 250 pages, really quiet and understated descriptions of the lack of birds, that after reading when standing in a friends garden I was shocked at how loud the birds were.
I was totally sucked in by this book, and read it in just a few days, and one I will be buying for my forever shelves. No doubt I will send this to a few friends too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a beautiful book. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with it.
Set in a probably not so far future where climate change has caused 80% of the earth’s animals to go extinct. The last flock of Arctic Terns is about to undertake its last migration from the Arctic to Antarctica, and Franny wants to follow them. We follow Franny on her journey and get flashbacks to her life so far occasionally.
Although Franny is not always the most likeable character, I was really immersed in her story. I always wanted to know what happens next or what happened in her past. Although it’s a very slow-paced plot, it never gets boring. The writing is beautiful, melancholic and atmospheric (it was hot outside, but I was freezing with the characters). I love how the title and the story go together, and just the structure of the plot. (Which is technically non-linear, but there are so many parallels.) The plot is not always the most believable or logical, and the characters make some questionable decisions along the way. But the plot isn’t the most important part of the book anyways in my opinion. Also, it’s a sad and depressing story, but there is hope.
Set in a probably not so far future where climate change has caused 80% of the earth’s animals to go extinct. The last flock of Arctic Terns is about to undertake its last migration from the Arctic to Antarctica, and Franny wants to follow them. We follow Franny on her journey and get flashbacks to her life so far occasionally.
Although Franny is not always the most likeable character, I was really immersed in her story. I always wanted to know what happens next or what happened in her past. Although it’s a very slow-paced plot, it never gets boring. The writing is beautiful, melancholic and atmospheric (it was hot outside, but I was freezing with the characters). I love how the title and the story go together, and just the structure of the plot. (Which is technically non-linear, but there are so many parallels.) The plot is not always the most believable or logical, and the characters make some questionable decisions along the way. But the plot isn’t the most important part of the book anyways in my opinion. Also, it’s a sad and depressing story, but there is hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
clara_mai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Murder
haveyseentis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Car accident
Minor: Sexual assault
williamgideon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Car accident
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
eligru's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow, this was so special <3
So many things in one story, so many amazing characters. So much swimming and fighting for nature, for sanity and for survival. Loved it.
So many things in one story, so many amazing characters. So much swimming and fighting for nature, for sanity and for survival. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Chronic illness