mdvlspencer's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mufanis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.5
eudoralynn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
a_rutter's review against another edition
5.0
This book was beautiful: it felt as if cold threads of grief were woven through each page. Grief for the natural world, grief for not being who we feel our loved ones need for us to be.... Throughout the book, I felt as if Franny were a selkie or a ghost (the specter of a selkie?), haunting her own life. The only thing stopping her from drowning herself in the cold ocean is her need to follow the terns on what could be their final migration.
While this novel takes place in what is most certainly a dystopia, where the majority of wild animals are extinct or rapidly approaching extinction, this seemed to be merely the setting for Franny's story. At first, one might feel that this is disingenuous: how can a human exist in a world where the pollinators are dying (or have died), where the seas have been bankrupted of their denizens, where forests are silent? How could you live there and not be consumed by it? How false, to have a character focus on the terns and her own shattered life. And yet, when we are lost and grieving (which Franny is, for most of her life), we often fail to see the world around us. And when we are living our lives, day-to-day, do we truly consider all that is happening around us? Because I know I get up and go to work every day, eat meals with my family, fret about my personal daily stresses -- all while global climate change is causing habitat losses, while microplastics and low levels of runoff chemicals like PFAS infiltrate our ecosystems....
This book was incredibly evocative in the descriptions of the natural world and the feelings of being off-balance (I'm sure reading this in VT in February helped a little). The author's choice to use the present tense throughout (even in the flashbacks) lent a sense of urgency & momentum.
While this novel takes place in what is most certainly a dystopia, where the majority of wild animals are extinct or rapidly approaching extinction, this seemed to be merely the setting for Franny's story. At first, one might feel that this is disingenuous: how can a human exist in a world where the pollinators are dying (or have died), where the seas have been bankrupted of their denizens, where forests are silent? How could you live there and not be consumed by it? How false, to have a character focus on the terns and her own shattered life. And yet, when we are lost and grieving (which Franny is, for most of her life), we often fail to see the world around us. And when we are living our lives, day-to-day, do we truly consider all that is happening around us? Because I know I get up and go to work every day, eat meals with my family, fret about my personal daily stresses -- all while global climate change is causing habitat losses, while microplastics and low levels of runoff chemicals like PFAS infiltrate our ecosystems....
This book was incredibly evocative in the descriptions of the natural world and the feelings of being off-balance (I'm sure reading this in VT in February helped a little). The author's choice to use the present tense throughout (even in the flashbacks) lent a sense of urgency & momentum.
mtomchek's review against another edition
5.0
"...the rhythm of the sea's tides are the only things we humans have not yet destroyed."
"It isn't fair to be the kind of creature who is able to love but unable to stay."
"I think sometimes I'm conditioned for destruction."
"My life has been a migration without a destination, and that in itself is senseless. I leave for no reason, just to be moving, and it breaks my heart a thousand times, a million.”
“A life's impact can be measured by what it gives and what it leaves behind, but it can also be measured by what it steals from the world.”
“It’s not life I’m tired of, with its astonishing ocean currents and layers of ice and all the delicate feathers that make up a wing. It’s myself.”
A truly beautiful and well-written novel. Charlotte McConaghy introduces us to the ethereal Franny, who has a tangled past, with a passion for Arctic terns and the sea. She teaches us about birds, their habits, about ocean currents, fishing, so much - and creates a future where species are decimated.
A well-rounded story, with wonderful jumps through time, heartbreak, nature, and constantly feeling cold. This novel contained so much, and the words kept you enticed to fill in the holes of the story. A possible glimpse into the future? We can only hope the world will be able to preserve its species. Nature is so powerful, and will remain strong for decades to come.
Loved Migrations, feeling so many emotions, desires, and so much love for the terns that travel the cold seas of the earth.
"It isn't fair to be the kind of creature who is able to love but unable to stay."
"I think sometimes I'm conditioned for destruction."
"My life has been a migration without a destination, and that in itself is senseless. I leave for no reason, just to be moving, and it breaks my heart a thousand times, a million.”
“A life's impact can be measured by what it gives and what it leaves behind, but it can also be measured by what it steals from the world.”
“It’s not life I’m tired of, with its astonishing ocean currents and layers of ice and all the delicate feathers that make up a wing. It’s myself.”
A truly beautiful and well-written novel. Charlotte McConaghy introduces us to the ethereal Franny, who has a tangled past, with a passion for Arctic terns and the sea. She teaches us about birds, their habits, about ocean currents, fishing, so much - and creates a future where species are decimated.
A well-rounded story, with wonderful jumps through time, heartbreak, nature, and constantly feeling cold. This novel contained so much, and the words kept you enticed to fill in the holes of the story. A possible glimpse into the future? We can only hope the world will be able to preserve its species. Nature is so powerful, and will remain strong for decades to come.
Loved Migrations, feeling so many emotions, desires, and so much love for the terns that travel the cold seas of the earth.
marionhelene's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
alanathehangry's review against another edition
5.0
This book awoke something wild within me. It's raw and painful and ugly and beautiful. Honest until it hurts, until the outside part of you wishes it would stop, but the real inside begs it to keep going.
4 stars for the story and how it resolved, but 5 stars for the effect it had. Story about a woman journeying through grief and adventure and the wild. Moving right along to the author's other book.
4 stars for the story and how it resolved, but 5 stars for the effect it had. Story about a woman journeying through grief and adventure and the wild. Moving right along to the author's other book.
danihumps's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this novel. Wow, jumped into it blindly and it took me on a journey! Definitely went to read more by McConaghy - her writing is stunningly beautiful.
ariel_bloomer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
starabo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75