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leonoralvatron4_5's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Car accident
Moderate: Abandonment
hollyd19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This atmospheric and suspenseful novel centers on Franny Stone as she follows the last migration of Arctic terns south from Greenland in a near-future world where we are deeper into the climate crisis and only a handful of wild animal species remain. To do so, she talks her way onto one of the few remaining commercial fishing vessels and convinces them to track the terns as a last-ditch effort to find whatever fish are left in the sea.
McConaghy has crafted an eerie and emotionally charged novel wrapped around an uneasy narrator. Franny’s past unspools slowly in flashbacks throughout the book, delivered like a slowly dispersing fog. Her unfettered, willful nature ties the years together as we learn about her unconventional marriage to Niall Lynch, a disarming professor passionate about conservation.
I found the start of the book a little slow, in part because the characters were so nebulous that it was hard to grasp onto anything. However, as the story and its players came into clearer focus, I only became more intrigued. I was specifically struck by the nature of Franny and Niall’s relationship: at once capricious and remarkably committed, their tenderness and mutual understanding was such a beautiful ember in the midst of an otherwise cold and gray world.
Part of the power of this novel is the way McConaghy’s writing evokes the visceral nature of Franny’s pull to wander and the depth of her self-condemnation. Her split desires and war with her own body are memorably crafted. There were quite a few excerpts I wrote down because the writing was both beautiful & sharp. Also, the setting is remarkably unsettling, conjuring an ambience of entirely-realistic destruction.
McConaghy has crafted an eerie and emotionally charged novel wrapped around an uneasy narrator. Franny’s past unspools slowly in flashbacks throughout the book, delivered like a slowly dispersing fog. Her unfettered, willful nature ties the years together as we learn about her unconventional marriage to Niall Lynch, a disarming professor passionate about conservation.
I found the start of the book a little slow, in part because the characters were so nebulous that it was hard to grasp onto anything. However, as the story and its players came into clearer focus, I only became more intrigued. I was specifically struck by the nature of Franny and Niall’s relationship: at once capricious and remarkably committed, their tenderness and mutual understanding was such a beautiful ember in the midst of an otherwise cold and gray world.
Part of the power of this novel is the way McConaghy’s writing evokes the visceral nature of Franny’s pull to wander and the depth of her self-condemnation. Her split desires and war with her own body are memorably crafted. There were quite a few excerpts I wrote down because the writing was both beautiful & sharp. Also, the setting is remarkably unsettling, conjuring an ambience of entirely-realistic destruction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
indirapranabudi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“It isn’t fair to be the kind of creature who is able to love but unable to stay.”
Migrations follows Franny Stone’s journey to follow the last migration of the Arctic terns. It’s a story set in the near future, on an earth that’s been ravaged by the warming climate and where most species of animals have gone extinct. It’s a heart wrenching story centered on a character who is so damaged and has lost so much.
I found the story to be predictable to a certain extent, but Charlotte McConaghy’s story-telling is so beautiful that I found myself hooked anyways.
Migrations follows Franny Stone’s journey to follow the last migration of the Arctic terns. It’s a story set in the near future, on an earth that’s been ravaged by the warming climate and where most species of animals have gone extinct. It’s a heart wrenching story centered on a character who is so damaged and has lost so much.
I found the story to be predictable to a certain extent, but Charlotte McConaghy’s story-telling is so beautiful that I found myself hooked anyways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Car accident
bookstorian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
A highly reflective and emotional read, with a cast of fishy characters, and familiar towns, including Newfoundland (Come From Away), a complicated marriage and a deep passion to protect the planet 'The Last Migration' is a must read novel from Australian Author Charlotte McConaghy.
I've picked this up a few times but it has never quite stuck. I was always a little uncertain about the time frame and the character and what was actually happening, until I discovered that the book was speculative fiction and with the colder months upon us I was in for a wintery read and a boat headed through the Antarctic.
What is starkly obvious about this story is the warning/predictions of over fishing that David Attenborough reveals in 'A Life on Our Planet'. If you have read his work 'The Last Migration' explores this idea through speculative fiction, a new genre that I am slowly beginning to read more of.
I absolutely devoured this read, not only was the plot heavily driven by character but there was exploration of much deeper issues including the meaning of life, life after death, global warming, generational ties and family loss. Although the heart-wrenching ending was beautifully done, just the right amount of warning of what was to come, there just wasn't enough closure for each of the key characters.
I've picked this up a few times but it has never quite stuck. I was always a little uncertain about the time frame and the character and what was actually happening, until I discovered that the book was speculative fiction and with the colder months upon us I was in for a wintery read and a boat headed through the Antarctic.
What is starkly obvious about this story is the warning/predictions of over fishing that David Attenborough reveals in 'A Life on Our Planet'. If you have read his work 'The Last Migration' explores this idea through speculative fiction, a new genre that I am slowly beginning to read more of.
I absolutely devoured this read, not only was the plot heavily driven by character but there was exploration of much deeper issues including the meaning of life, life after death, global warming, generational ties and family loss. Although the heart-wrenching ending was beautifully done, just the right amount of warning of what was to come, there just wasn't enough closure for each of the key characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Car accident
Minor: Animal death, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Franny has always longed to be like a bird—free, wandering wherever she likes. In a future world where most animal species have become extinct, her last wish is to follow a flock of Arctic Terns along their last migration—from North Pole to South. She talks her way onto a commercial fishing boat named for the Raven and faces a treacherous journey alongside the crew. But while the sailors aim to take more than their share of the ocean’s remaining fish, all Franny wants is to give—to the nature that has sustained her, to the nature that has died at human hands. A heart-wrenching tale, Migrations roars like the reckless waves of the sea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment