Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

88 reviews

genny's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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

I read the ebook immediately after finishing the audiobook because I suspected I would appreciate it more the second time around, and I was correct. This is a perfect little gem, so much emotion packed into a short novel! I kept getting choked up at the simplest, quietest moments. While climate change is a big part of the story, it isn't really the focus as it serves more as a parallel to Franny's personal journey...I've seen reviews that were disappointed because of that, so take that into account when deciding whether to read this. I personally loved all of it: her nomadic nature warring with her desire to grow roots, her relationship with her husband who always saw right to the heart of her, and their hopes for a dying world.

I'm so happy that it ended on a hopeful note! This could easily have gone the other way, but oh my god did I desperately need that scene of Franny & Ennis celebrating the sight of the animals.

McConaghy works magic with her words. I'm so thankful I took a chance on this. I look forward to reading Once There Were Wolves, but I need breathing space first. 😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Car accident

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, and Murder

shannonsnell's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit

kelleywithanextrae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Pregnancy, Child death, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abandonment, Confinement, Cursing, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit

60secondbookreviews's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Migrations is a slow, heavily character-driven story. In this way, I feel the description is a little misleading, speaking heavily to the plot of animals dying off. However, the loss of animals really is more of a catalyst and secondary thread to support the narrative, rather than drive it.

This book is deeply reflective and focuses on the main character and the flaws she learns to embrace. It strongly features her relationship with her husband, as well as the expedition crew she travels with.

I do think this book could have executed the unreliable narrator trope more cleanly. It does so in a way that does not contribute greatly to the character’s journey nor builds suspense. I also feel the environmental factors such as the death of many animal species should have been developed further and explained better to create more impact to the overall plot.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death

ekmook's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal death, Car accident, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Miscarriage, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Self harm, and Vomit

Minor: Chronic illness

alyssasaurus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Blood, Abandonment, and Self harm

happyreadings's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved the emotions and the beauty of the animals. There was such a desperation in Franny in tracking the Arctic Terns. When you learn why you understand just how heartbreaking her story is. Such a powerful book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Death, Grief, and Miscarriage

amandaformby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Animal death, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Confinement, and Abandonment