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There are currently 41 member reviews
for Migrations
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Gary R. (Bolingbrook, IL)
We are a plague on the world!
Wow! What a good read. At first I thought it would be a little bit depressing for these days: Mass extinction, climate disruption, the end of the wild. But no, not at all! The story of Franny and her search for the last of the arctic terns was engrossing. Had me hooked and wouldn't let go.Franny enlist the captain and crew of the Saghani to help her follow the migration of the last of the arctic terns. Franny has some motives of her own and a bit of a dark past, and I won't say any more you just have to read it! Another gem delivered by BookBrowse by a new author to me!
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Mary H. (Ocala, FL)
Incredible!
In the not too distant future, all the wild animals are extinct, the oceans are overfished to depletion and only a few Arctic terns remain of the thousands of avian species that once flew in the skies over Planet Earth. This is the setting for Charlotte McConaghy's superb new novel Migrations.
We follow the main character, Franny Lynch, on her journey to track the last Arctic terns on their final migration. Franny is a memorable character--self-destructive and passionate with a genetic predisposition to wander. From the time she convinces a sea captain to use his fishing vessel to track the terns, Migrations quickly becomes a wild adventure story. Under that excitement, however, we hear the drumbeat of extinction--not only for the birds but for the entire planet and all its inhabitants.
This is a beautifully written novel. The author presents a clear vision of what we can expect when unlimited greed and total disregard for our universal interconnectedness are allowed free rein. Highly recommended.
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Arlene I. (Johnston, RI)
Definitely a BookClub Read...
Perfect novel for today's discussions about climate control and wildlife extention. The characters were well-written and developed throughout the story. The main character, Franny, was obsessive and determined in her manipulation to achieve a tribute to her husband, Niall. Throughout her journey, she is haunted by her past traumas. The imagery was well-written and it made the reader feel they were actually on this ship journey with the crew experiencing the rough seas and human toll. The ending was a surprise for me. This is a book I would highly recommend and it is sure to be a bookclub favorite. So many facets for discussion.
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Patricia L. (Seward, AK)
Uncomfortable yet satisfying...
Early on in Migrations, Franny, trying to find a commercial fishing boat captain thinks: "The thought of being aboard one of these merciless vessels with people who lay waste to the ocean makes my skin crawl…." As the member of a family who has fished commercially for the last 35 years reading this line made me pause for a moment. Luckily, I didn't stop.
Franny, it turns out, is a very complicated person engaged in an equally complicated mission that requires the complete buy-in of the captain and crew of "one of these merciless vessels." The story migrates through Franny's past and into her present, revealing vague details of abandonment at a young age, incarceration for murder and a romance that appears simultaneously supportive and destructive for both she and her husband Niall. All of this is wrapped around the imminent collapse of the natural world as we know it. McConaghy's characters are memorable even if their actions, at times improbable.
Migrations challenges common generalizations such as "people who lay waste to the ocean" while presenting a possible future scenario that we all should be concerned with and working to prevent now. Migrations is a very satisfying read.
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Rosemary C. (Golden, CO)
Gorgeous prose, deeply moving story
I very much enjoyed this book, though at times the subject matters and the depth of feeling the words evoked in me were painful. I'm very worried about the effects of climate change, so the story was particularly compelling. The portrayal of repeated trauma in Franny's life and how she dealt with her suffering were well done. I think this could be a good book club selection, evoking lots of discussion.
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Susan S. (Salida, CO)
Poignantly honest and riveting account
"Thousands of species are dying right now, and being ignored." And Franny is either going to bear witness to the dying or do something about it. In the vaguely distant future, following the modern trend, we are headed to the extinction of many animals and maybe the last of the Arctic tern. She cheats and lies her way onto a fishing vessel to follow their final migration from Greenland to Antartica. Do you think you could do anything about the extinction trend? Would you risk life and limb to make a difference? Could you convince others to come along for the journey? I loved being admitted to the select society that share Franny's secrets and motivation. Plenty of questions and meat for book clubs and introspection. What would you/could you do to save the animals of the world?
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Wendy R. (Pinehurst, NC)
Made my Heart Sing
"Migrations" a beautifully written book about the contrast of an impossible journey and a fragile heart. I did not want to put this book down. The story starts with the true love of animals, the length a person will go for that love and ends with Franny finding and understanding her heart and herself. You will never forget the journey of the Arctic Terns, nor the insight into Franny, what drives her and the characters she meets along the way. There is hope, loss and surprise in this wonderful story. A very joyous and insightful book, one to be remembered and recommended for a long time.
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