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Migrations
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
For readers of Station Eleven and Everything I Never Told You, a debut novel set on the brink of catastrophe, as a young woman chases the worlds last birdsand her own final chance for redemption. A will is a powerful thing, and mine has been called terrible. Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the oceans tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she so loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the worlds last flock of Arctic terns and follow them on their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his salty, eccentric crew with promises that the birds she is tracking will lead them to fish. As the Saghani fights its way south, Frannys new shipmates begin to realize that the beguiling scientist in their midst is not who she seems. Battered by night terrors, accumulating a pile of unsent letters to her husband, and dead set on following the terns at any cost, Franny is full of dark secrets. When the story of her past begins to unspool, Ennis and his crew must ask themselves what Franny is really running towardand running from. Propelled by an unreliable narrator as fierce and fragile as the terns she is following, Migrations is a shatteringly beautiful ode to the wild places and creatures now threatened. But at its heart, it is about the lengths we will go, to the very edges of the world, for the people we love.
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REPollock
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

I‘ll read any novel this author writes.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 🐾 2mo
16 likes1 comment
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rachaich
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

Flippin heck, what a book.
I feel despondent and sad but also in awe that she's conjured up such a terrifyingly possibility which should be prevalent in our minds and actions at all times.

BarbaraBB Such a fantastic book 6mo
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LeslieO
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Ready for April! Hoping for some nice weather for outdoor reading 🤞. Also hope to get to two books that have been on my #BookSpinBingo boards for over a year including the tagged book.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 8mo
22 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Oopsie! I put The Sweet Spot on my #BookSpinBingo board twice. Before the #bookspin and #doublespin numbers are drawn I will change #20 to Migrations.

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Traci1
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Recent #bookmail.

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britt_brooke
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Set in a near future with rapid animal extinction, Franny casts off with a commercial fishing crew to follow a specific bird on likely its last migration. Where there are fish, there are birds, and vice versa. For a bit, this felt like two stories slapped together until we are fully aware of the circumstances. Such a gut punch. One of the absolute best, most emotional, endings I‘ve experienced in some time. #bookclub

squirrelbrain I loved this one! 🩵 10mo
britt_brooke @squirrelbrain The way it tied together … I‘ll think of it for years to come. 10mo
HeatherBookNerd Excellent book 10mo
See All 6 Comments
britt_brooke @HeatherBookNerd I‘m so happy my book club chose it because I doubt I would‘ve picked it up on my own. 10mo
BarbaraBB I loved this one so much too. Her other book is just as good! 10mo
80 likes6 comments
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MizzGraham
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

Wow, what a heavy and emotional book!! Highly recommend for a deep reading experience. ❄️📚❄️

18 likes1 stack add
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Kshakal
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Movie time with mom!

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Singout
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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My #ReadingtheAmericas2023 progress: continuing to knock a few off, although I won't read everything on the list by 2024!

Librarybelle Excellent progress! 13mo
BarbaraBB You‘re doing great 👍🏽 13mo
Singout @librarybelle @BarbaraBB Are we starting over next year or is that all there is in the world to read? I only started with Africa last year! 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Librarybelle Honestly, I have not really thought too far about next year with this! Totally my fault. @BarbaraBB 13mo
BarbaraBB @Librarybelle I haven‘t either, we‘ve covered most of the world, except for Oceania, which has only 18 countries, most of them small islands… 13mo
Singout Fair enough, just curious...lots of countries have two books 😏 but no pressure!
13mo
11 likes6 comments
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Singout
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

My #Greenland pick for #ReadingtheAmericas2023: not actually much Greenland but a really captivating story about an ecojustice activist in the near future who charms her way onto an Atlantic herring fisher to follow the migrating and threatened terns en route to the Antarctic. A painful backstory and a very diverse crew, with a bit of a nod to Moby Dick, kept me engaged, as well as the sheer passion for saving any bit of Earth's life.

BarbaraBB I loved this book so much 13mo
9 likes1 comment
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Jas16
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

In a near future where animals are going extinct at a rapid rate a woman is determined to follow terms on their last migration. After reading so many conflicting reviews I wondered where I would fall. Thankfully I really liked it. I cared less about Franny‘s backstory and was more interested in her journey at sea on she set sail with a crew that doesn‘t especially trust her or want her on board. The writing was so transportive.

GondorGirl This was such a beautiful, heartbreaking book! 13mo
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DaniJ
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

This is a work of art. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A Plath-like depiction of a lost and tortured woman who is wandering and broken, the prose in this book was so delicious. It‘s a unique story unlike any I‘ve read before that left me sad but hopeful. The world is losing species at a rapid rate, and the protagonist is her own antagonist and goes searching for the last of the Arctic terns. Travel to tumultuous tundra of oceans that is a broken woman‘s existence.

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Roary47
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Mehso-so

This is a very soft 3 star for me. It was interesting in regards to looking at mass extinction and the after effects of how we could survive. I wish I could have seen more of this. Our main character was okay, but I just wasn‘t a fan of hers as the story progressed. The back story for her made sense, but I felt led to believe that there was something more there. Read for #Naturalitsy @AllDebooks

AllDebooks Great review. I agree, I couldn't gel wirh the MC either 1y
jlhammar This one didn't quite live up to my (very high) expectations either. I did really enjoy her second novel though 1y
19 likes2 comments
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Roary47
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Thank you for the tag @Eggs 🍎Autumn time is one of the few times we can be outside and enjoy being outside. There is a town close by that we like to eat pie at and enjoy the sights. 🍎 Determined 🍎I‘m currently reading the tagged a little late 😅 Would you like to play?: @AllDebooks @Littlewolf1 @Daisey @JazzFeathers

Eggs Thanks for playing and sharing 🥳🥰 1y
16 likes1 comment
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LaLove
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
Pickpick

This book is bleeaakkk.

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Julsmarshall
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

Amazing! This heartbreaking ecological odyssey considers a near future world where most animals are extinct and shares a personal journey of love, loss, and redemption. The characters are complex, difficult, and unforgettable. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 1y
IuliaC Great book! 1y
57 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Tkimsal
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Good discussion today at book club. This novel was liked by everyone. #FirstSaturdayReaders

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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
Panpan

#Naturalitsy

I don't like to pan a book but I really hated this story. I would have bailed but was hosting #Naturalitsy #buddyread
I couldn't gel with the MC at all, implausible storylines, preachy, inconsistent and meh.

Don't give up on McConaghy tho as Once we were wolves is fantastic.

SamAnne I panned this one too 1y
jlhammar Another pan! I agree, this was disappointing. I was perhaps kinder to it just because my expectations had been so high (I wanted to see the good) and it is so beloved. Hopefully her third book will be more like her second 1y
Graywacke I‘m sorry. Of Course, i felt similar about it. 1y
Cuilin Phew I don‘t feel so bad now. Check my review lol 😆 (edited) 1y
37 likes4 comments
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vonnie862
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Mehso-so

This was an ok book. I had a hard time getting into for almost half of the book. I really enjoyed reading the setting: sometime in the near future where most animals and forests are extinct. I wish the book was more about this instead of Franny's inner turmoil. I give this 3 ⭐️

#BookSpinBingo #8 #ispybingo
@TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

#rushathon
@DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES

#naturalitsy #buddyread @AllDebooks

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 1y
jlhammar Great review! 1y
45 likes3 comments
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Aimeesue
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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I was listening to this chapter while walking my dogs this morning. Quite apropos, as I too have crow friends who follow me around because I throw them peanuts. No gifts yet, but they do leave feathers on occasion. 🪶
#naturalitsy @AllDebooks

Leftcoastzen Love that you have crow friends! 1y
Aimeesue @Leftcoastzen All you need is peanuts and consistency, really. They‘re very smart. Also very bossy, and they know where I live now, so I‘m afraid I‘ll have to feed them forever. 😄 (edited) 1y
Tamra Sounds like a cat I know. 😹 1y
See All 6 Comments
Aimeesue @Tamra 😸😸😸 1y
jlhammar Love that! And great photo with the feathers! 1y
Aimeesue @jlhammar thanks! I have SO many feathers. 😁 1y
38 likes6 comments
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vonnie862
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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I'm currently trying to finish the tagged book and no, I'm not relating to any of the characters. The main character is trying to run from her past (murder, love, loneliness) while trying to catch some birds. So yeah...no. 😅
I could probably relate a little bit to the character's loneliness but I'm blessed to have loving people in my life.

#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern I‘m glad that you have people that help that feeling. Thank you for answering! 1y
Graywacke I‘m glad you couldn‘t relate. 😳🙂 1y
25 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy

#NaturaLitsy

Post 6/6

Would you read more by this author based on this reading experience?

🤔 I would appreciate some feedback on our first fiction read.
Have you enjoyed it as a break from non-fiction or would you prefer to have a nature fiction read on a regular basis?

Soubhiville I didn‘t like this one as much as I did her second book. I totally loved that one, it was one of my best of that year. Based on that, I will absolutely read whatever she publishes next. 1y
Soubhiville I love environmental fiction and would enjoy sometimes breaking up the nonfiction with a fiction choice. 1y
jlhammar I also preferred Once There Were Wolves and will definitely be reading her next book. I really like including fiction in our #NaturaLitsy mix! 1y
See All 15 Comments
vonnie862 I highly enjoy fiction more than nonfiction but this was not the book for me. I need to try other environmental fiction books. It's a rare genre for me. 1y
AllDebooks I'm so glad I read Once we were wolves first as that was fantastic. If I'd read Migrations first, I wouldn't pick up another of hers at all. I will try her others, on the strength of Wolves alone. 1y
AllDebooks @Soubhiville @jlhammar @vonnie862 thanks for your feedback 😀 I'm up for more environmental fiction reads 📚 1y
Graywacke Um…no? 😁 1y
Cuilin I usually read fiction, so I appreciate the non fiction buddy reads for #NaturalLitsy 1y
Aimeesue I haven‘t read anything else by her, but I‘m looking forward to reading more of her stuff for sure. I‘m always up for environmental fic or cli-fi. 1y
AllDebooks @Graywacke is that no to more by McConaghy or no to more fiction? 🤔😅 1y
AllDebooks @Cuilin Thanks for your feedback. If I include fiction, it may be once a quarter and from a predetermined list. That way, it could always run alongside a non-fiction read if it's a short book 1y
Graywacke @AllDebooks sorry. I was answering to the author, not our related fiction. I‘m happy to try more fiction with nature themes. 1y
Roary47 Well, this was my first book with you guys. I‘m an ENV Scientist turned teacher due to government changes in demand and availability so I‘m game for whatever. I wasn‘t completely impressed with this one so I‘d lean more toward non-fiction, but would like to see a fiction do a good job too. 1y
28 likes15 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
This post contains spoilers
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#NaturaLitsy

Post 5/6

12) What were your thoughts on Franny's sentence?
13) What were Franny's reasons for following the Arctic tern? What do you think changed her mind?
14) What did you think of the ending?

jlhammar I didn't get how anyone would buy that the car accident was intentional. I understood why she wanted to punish herself, but that seemed far-fetched to me. I was surprised that the ending was somewhat hopeful. I found it moving. 1y
vonnie862 @jlhammar same. How was she convicted for meditated murder? The mention that she has murdered people throughout the book made me think she did not something on purpose. It was all an accident. 1y
vonnie862 The ending sounded hopeful but honestly, I was not too connected with Franny that it was meh for me. 1y
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AllDebooks This storyline really irritated me so much. 😒 Pre-meditated surely means planned in advance, intention to harm others. Not a snap decision in the heat of the moment by a severely depressed and traumatised person seeking self-destruction. Her legal team were crap 😅 1y
AllDebooks I guess her real motive was laid on pretty thick throughout the 2nd half of the book. Seeing the flock of terns gave her hope that all is not lost, but would that be enough to reverse her self-possessed, determined intentions, I don't know 🤔 1y
AllDebooks As for the ending... who that guy? 1y
Cuilin @jhammer @vonnie862 This is the element of the book that truly infuriated me. I felt the writer had manipulated us to believe that Franny was violent and then we realize she was involved in a car crash. Really? 1y
Cuilin @AllDebooks yeah? Who? I raced through the ending. I don‘t think I completely understand but once I was done, there was no going back to investigate. lol 😂 1y
Aimeesue @jlhammar @vonnie862 She was convicted of murder because she was "adamant" that she intentionally caused the two deaths and refused to plead to manslaughter. The forensic evidence showed she didn‘t brake or swerve, although in the snow, I find that hard to believe. Not a whole lotta skid marks on the pavement in snowstorms. 1y
Aimeesue @AllDebooks I don‘t think it meant premeditated murder like we have in the US. Irish law considers intent for a murder charge - did Franny *mean* to kill someone. She insists she did, so it was murder rather than manslaughter. I‘m not sure how the Irish system handles competence, but on her own with a public defender, unless someone‘s obviously schizophrenic or impaired, they get to decide, even to their own detriment, right? 1y
Aimeesue I liked the ending. Not happy, really, but somewhat hopeful. Made me wonder how well ol‘ unreliable Franny dad before, in her past. Must‘ve at some point, right? 1y
AllDebooks @Aimeesue I think that's what irritated me about him popping up at the end. He was dismissed throughout the entire arc without ever really examining the impact of his relationship with Iris. 1y
Roary47 I appreciate what @Aimeesue mentioned about it being Irish law. I‘m not familiar with their laws so this might be why she ended up with the sentence she did. I felt led on by the author like @Cuilin until that was mentioned. I wasn‘t very invested by the end to really think about what happened in the end. I too am glad it was hopeful, but meh… 1y
10 likes13 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#NaturaLitsy

Post 4/6

9) Why does Franny always leave?
10) Did you think Franny was portrayed as a violent person? Did your opinion change at all?
11) Did you like the setting among the Saghani and crew?

jlhammar I'm not sure that whole “wandering is in my blood“ thing really worked for me, but I can understand how she'd be restless and searching for home, for love, for freedom after all that she endured (seriously, SO MUCH tragedy). I saw her as traumatized rather than violent. I actually think I liked the flashbacks more than her time on the fishing boat. 1y
vonnie862 I didn't see her as a violent person but a troubled one. Some people are more like nomads and she was one of them. 1y
AllDebooks The heavy-handed hinting at her 'violence' didn't make me think of her as violent! In fact, it was so overdone, it made the plot guessable, as to some miscarriage of justice etc. If she was truly violent, she would be in lockdown in a maximum security facility. Definitely PTSD going on that contributes to her fleeing 1y
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AllDebooks I did like the boat setting and crew. Although implausible as to accepting some inexperienced random runaway when they're heading into treacherous waters. 1y
Cuilin If the whole story had been about the boat crew, and their journey, not about Franny‘s trauma, I think I would‘ve liked it better. 1y
Aimeesue She leaves so she doesn‘t have to deal with her emotional trauma. If you‘re always busy or on the move, that becomes your focus, not thinking about your issues. @jlhammar is right, she was severely traumatized. But she was violent, in a way. More by how she affected others than by direct action. She hurt a lot of people, without ever intending to, but she hurt them. 1y
AllDebooks @Cuilin me too. I found Franny quite irritating unfortunately 1y
AllDebooks @Aimeesue I think that's a good point. She definitely bolts to numb her own pain and trauma but leaves more in her wake for her loved ones, unintentionally maybe. 1y
Roary47 I agree with @Cuilin I was hoping for more of the environmental side of this story than the trauma. I‘m thinking that I just didn‘t particularly like her. However, I don‘t think she was violent either. The backstory she had made it understandable that she was the was she was. 1y
9 likes9 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#NaturaLitsy

Post 3/6

6) Why did Ennis let Franny join the crew?
7) When did he suspect she was lying?
8) Do you think Ennis and Franny share similarities? If so, in what ways are they alike?

jlhammar I guess they were both walking wounded, both searching and yearning for something lost, both love the sea. I think he knew there was more to her story from the get-go. 1y
AllDebooks @jlhammar I agree. His whole crew seemed to be made up of similar lost people. I thought of Ennis as a nautical Peter Pan. 1y
Aimeesue He kind of owed her, emotionally, for "saving" him, and they‘re both off chasing something. Redemption of a sort for both of them. Their own White Whales. 1y
AllDebooks @Aimeesue Yes 🙌 White whales, I love that analogy 1y
Roary47 I think he saw a lot of his self in his crew. Even if they were lying they didn‘t seem to have really anywhere else to go. Like you mentioned @AllDebooks he was kinda like Peter Pan of the sea. Collecting lost people. I also like what @Aimeesue that he had to let her for “saving” him. 1y
9 likes5 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
This post contains spoilers
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#NaturaLitsy

Post 2/6

3) The novel is set in the future. When did you realise this?
4) How far into the future, do you think it is set?
5) What do you think the author was trying to convey by using this timeframe?

vonnie862 I noticed tight away that it was set in the future because food scarcity and animal extinction is mentioned in the first few chapters. However, it feels that it's in the near future though there's a chapter that mentions that sea life extinction has happened for a few centuries. So maybe it takes place in the next 100 years? 1y
jlhammar It didn't feel to me that different from present day. I'm not sure when I realized. Things were mentioned, but the day-to-day impact didn't seem fully realized. I kind of wished we'd have gotten more of what the world would truly be like if so much life were wiped out. I feel like it would be more catastrophic, it would impact everything, more of an end-times scenario. Still, it felt like a warning to us all, a clarion call. 1y
vonnie862 @jlhammar I agree. The author is trying to warn us to the dangers were leading our world. 1y
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AllDebooks At times, I thought it got quite preachy and inward looking. I agree @jlhammar if food was so scarce, life would be apocalyptic. There would be war over resources, mass immigration, and anarchy, not something she portrayed well at all. 'There's no fish left, no food but still pop down Waitrose for a weekly shop. The 2 scenarios of scarcity & everyday life didn't marry up at all. 1y
Graywacke I wondered about this but didn‘t get far enough to figure it out. Seems there were animals recently but not currently. So maybe 2030? That guess is based on the 80 pages i read. 1y
Cuilin @AllDebooks @jhammer @vonnie862 this is why it felt so implausible to me because if we are that far into the future with climate change predictions one Ireland doesn‘t exist, and two Galway on the west coast certainly doesn‘t. (edited) 1y
Aimeesue The animal extinctions kinda signaled that. I don‘t think it was that far off the mark. Extinctions are happening all the time. They just happen so slowly that most of us don‘t notice. How many polar bears do you think are left these days? Not a whole lot, comparatively speaking. Extinctions go slow and then they go fast, especially when a species isn‘t widely distributed. If they have 1 habitat, they‘re gone when it goes, or changes a lot. 1y
Aimeesue @AllDebooks I don‘t think the scenario was that food was scarce. Or scarce *yet.* The author mentions livestock/ pets being fine, so developed countries continue with factory farming and giant soybean/corn/wheat farms. Areas that don‘t produce food would be in trouble pretty quick though - THEN you‘d get some problems. Thing is, climate change & its effects are s l o w, at least to human perception. Slow apocalypse doesn‘t scare us much. It should 1y
AllDebooks @Aimeesue I agree, it really should scare us, especially as once it speeds up to notice, it will be too late 1y
AllDebooks @Aimeesue I didn't find it plausible that sealife would be so disrupted, but everything else ok. If climate change, overfishing, etc, had depleted the oceans, it would have a knock-on effect everywhere. She mentions the wildlife enclosures and how hungry the animals are. These wild animals would be feeding on livestock and crops at any given opportunity 1y
Aimeesue @AllDebooks I just assumed that the fending off of wildlife happened previous to this, given the lone starving wolf that everyone was so excited about. It would have been nice if that were explained a little more. I think this is a book where you have to read into those seemingly offhand things. (edited) 1y
Roary47 @jlhammar I‘m also not sure when I noticed because food scarcity and extinctions are happening. I agree with most of you that it was falling short on a real picture of how these dying ecosystem‘s would effect us. This was really a lost opportunity in my opinion. 1y
8 likes12 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
This post contains spoilers
show me
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#NaturaLitsy

This discussion thread will be over 6 posts, I'm only tagging in the 1st post, so check my following posts for continuing questions. I have used bookclubchat.com as a guide.

Post 1/6

1) Do you think the title has a double meaning?
2) Franny was insistent on getting on board the boat. Why do you think this was?

See All 16 Comments
Julsmarshall My hold just became available so I‘ll skip the discussion now but will come back to it when I‘m done :) Enjoy all! 1y
AllDebooks @Julsmarshall I hope you enjoy it x 1y
Cuilin I guess the fact that Franny herself disappears and reappears is connected to the title. 1y
Soubhiville I read this the year it was published so unfortunately I don‘t remember all the details. When I read it I did like it, although I remember it making me sad. 1y
vonnie862 1. The title symbolizes Franny's constant migration.. 1y
vonnie862 2. Franny is trying to run away from her past and wants to end life...at least that's what I got out of it. 1y
vonnie862 Also, she's on parole so being on a boat is her only way to migrate for her. 1y
jlhammar Yeah, I guess the title could refer to not only the tern migration they were following, but Franny's wandering nature. I suppose the journey to scatter Niall's ashes is also a migration of sorts. I thought she was insistent so that she could follow through with her plan to fulfill Niall's last wishes and then end her own life/join him. 1y
AllDebooks I thought the terns migration is almost dismissed alongside the emphasis of Franny's. 1y
jlhammar @AllDebooks Yes! I was expecting/hoping for more of a focus on the terns and the natural world in general, but it was hazier, more in the background and Franny‘s drama in the forefront. 1y
Aimeesue Well, the obvious literal migration of the terns, but also Frankie‘s emotional migration. At the end she finally comes back to herself and reconciles all the guilt and shame she‘s been dealing with, yeah? She‘s at least a little bit hopeful. 1y
Roary47 I agree with @jlhammar she is wandering herself trying to escape herself. Then getting on the boat to carry out Niall‘s wishing. I was hoping for less personal migration and more about the birds too. 1y
13 likes16 comments
review
jlhammar
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

I thought for sure I‘d love this, but just a like for me. A bit heavy-handed perhaps? Once There Were Wolves worked better for me for some reason. It is a haunting and emotional read though and I‘m glad I finally got to it. I‘ll be interested in whatever she writes next. Looking forward to our #NaturaLitsy discussion!

AllDebooks Great review. X 1y
65 likes1 comment
review
Cuilin
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Panpan

I did not enjoy this journey at all. I was so irritated with the structure. The time changes & sequences with little cliffhangers every two pages made my ADHD scream “Get To The Point!” It was completed through anger infused propulsion. I also didn‘t find much of it plausible. I didn‘t like the MC. I really thought it was going to be about a woman tracking arctic terns. Guess I‘ll have to find another book for that. #UnpopularOpinion.

AnnR @Cuilin Your opinion probably isn't all that unpopular. I actually tried reading this one when it was initially published. Well, I'll just say I DNFed it after 4 chapters. Thankfully I had borrowed it thru the library. So, I think your well thought out review nicely sums up my opinion too, though I didn't finish the book. 1y
Cuilin @Ann_Reads thanks, you did well to stop after ch 4, it got worse. I got mine second hand so not too bad. 1y
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Graywacke @Ann_Reads i got 80 pages in before quitting. @Cuilin you get credit for pushing throught 🙂 1y
Cuilin @Graywacke I appreciate that, thanks it was certainly challenging 1y
AllDebooks I don't think it was such an unpopular opinion 1y
Cuilin @AllDebooks oh, the relief! 😊Seriously, I thought it was me, so many people loved it. 🤨 1y
Suet624 Oh my. I really liked this one. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
54 likes8 comments
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Tkimsal
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Just finished this a few minutes ago, and, wow, what a surprise this book was. Thought provoking, challenging, emotional. Can't wait for my book club's discussion.

review
BookwormAHN
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

Although I enjoyed this book, it was at times rather preachy and depressing. Set in a not to distant future where most of the animals and birds are extinct, Franny is on a quest to follow the last migration of the Arctic terns.
#Naturalitsy #naturalitsybingo2023 #climatechange @AllDebooks #RushAthon @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 1y
62 likes2 comments
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BekaReid
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Just hanging with my Seren-cat reading. I can't believe she's 4 today!

RaeLovesToRead Hello Seren! 👋🏻 1y
Leftcoastzen Beautiful birthday kitty!😻👏 1y
dabbe Hello, Sweet Seren! 🖤🐾🖤 1y
20 likes3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Mehso-so

I loved the ideas behind this book, but for me, the execution left something to be desired. It seemed a bit overwritten. I liked the start, and the ending finally managed to engage me emotionally, but overall, it just didn't quite work for me.

And an ornithologist like Niall would know the whole "don't touch a bird's egg or the mother will abandon it" is an old wives tale. (That's not a spoiler, it's just one line towards the end that bugged me)

vonnie862 Yeah, I'm having a hard time getting into this one. 1y
TheKidUpstairs @vonnie862 I know a lot of Littens loved this one. But I'd say if it's not working for you in the first 50-odd pages, feel free to bail, it doesn't greatly improve from there! 1y
Cuilin So glad I‘m not the only one. Bit overwrought for me. Nearly finished. 1y
58 likes3 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Who else loves getting an oil change because it means a solid 45 minutes to an hour of reading time? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

ravenlee My husband always says, “Don‘t worry, I can take it for you,” and I‘m thinking, “Damnit, don‘t take this away from me!” but just have to say, “Thanks honey.” 1y
JamieArc Me! And yesterday I had a doctor‘s appointment and was so disappointed when the nurse came to get me so quickly from the waiting room! 1y
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc that totally just happened! It was only half an hour (I mean, it's still good but not quite the same!) 1y
TheKidUpstairs @ravenlee ugh, I know right?! They don't get how much of a gift that hour of quiet time is! 1y
73 likes4 comments
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Graywacke
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Bailedbailed

Sorry #naturalitsy, I bailed.

I read 81 pages. I liked the setting, i was ok with the tone. I didn‘t like the (cardboard cutout?) characters, didn‘t like the development and all the things that I didn‘t buy. I felt it wasn‘t holding together and it got to me. Hopefully i‘ll take more to our next book.

jlhammar Good call - I think 81 pages is more than a fair shake! Sorry it didn't work for you. I haven't started it yet, but I did enjoy Once There Were Wolves so my hopes are high. 1y
BarbaraBB That is surprising. I absolutely LOVED this one and normally we seem to have pretty similar taste! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
Graywacke @jlhammar @BarbaraBB might have just been me. I was enjoying it for a while, and then suddenly I wasn‘t. 1y
See All 12 Comments
BarbaraBB It happens 😉 1y
AllDebooks Well, you gave it a good go. Sorry it wasn't for you x 1y
SamAnne I‘m a fellow traveler who also disliked this book. I have a hard time with stories involving environmental themes, nature backgrounds that are so off base from reality. And the fishing descriptions were also off base. The characters weren‘t enough to keep me in the story. 1y
Graywacke @SamAnne “so off base with reality” - that caught up to me too. 1y
Graywacke @BarbaraBB yeah, I guess it does. 1y
Graywacke @AllDebooks yeah, too bad. But there are more books to try… 1y
AllDebooks @Graywacke exactly x 1y
Suet624 Oh dear... I really liked this one. 1y
Graywacke @Suet624 a lot of readers like it a lot. 1y
42 likes12 comments
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Cuilin
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#BookBinge #InvolvesAnimals in this case birds, as Franny Stone tracks the believed last migration of arctic terns to Antarctica.

Eggs Perfect 🐧🧊🤍 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 1y
rmaclean4 I ❤️ this book. I hope you do to. 1y
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Cuilin @rmaclean4 Not sure yet. The jury is out on this one. 1y
BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll end up loving it too! 1y
SamAnne @Cuilin if it makes you feel any better I panned the book. #unpopularopinion. I get why it is so loved however. (edited) 1y
Cuilin @SamAnne oh my gosh, that does make me feel better, I can‘t quite articulate the problem I‘m having with this novel. 1y
Suet624 Why did I think you would really like this one? Maybe because I did. 😂😂 1y
75 likes1 stack add8 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#Naturalitsy

Hi 👋

It feels weird not having a weekly check-in, so here I am asking how you all are. Have you had a good week? Have you started our book yet?
I'll post a discussion thread at the end of the month 😊

All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

TheBookHippie Starting Monday 😅😂🤷🏻‍♀️ life… 1y
See All 20 Comments
Roary47 As soon as I get balanced in the school routine as teacher and my oldest‘s homework and activities after school I‘ll be finding time to start. I‘m excited for this one. 🥰💛 1y
jlhammar I‘m saving it for the latter half of the month. Really looking forward to it! 1y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I‘ll have to bow out for this one. Hope you all enjoy it! ❤️ 1y
vonnie862 I haven't started yet. I too need to get in the rhythm of being back at school. 1y
SamAnne I will be following the discussion and am interested in people‘s thoughts. I‘ve read it. I have an #unpopularopinion and really did not like this novel. But I seem to be a minority. Hope others enjoy! 1y
Graywacke I like this checkin. 🙂 I will join, but haven‘t started yet. I‘ll start this week. (edited) 1y
Suet624 Great book! I've given this one out to a number of friends. 1y
AllDebooks @TheBookHippie tell me about it 😅 1y
AllDebooks @Roary47 so glad you've joined us 😊 1y
AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm ok, thank you for letting me know x 1y
AllDebooks @vonnie862 glad to have you with us. Good luck settling back into a new school year x 1y
AllDebooks @SamAnne oh, I'm intrigued to know your pov. Looking forward to discussion 😀 1y
AllDebooks @Graywacke 😊 I'm excited for this one. Fiction is a bit of a change for us. 1y
AllDebooks @Suet624 good to know! Aww, that's so sweet. I think we all have those kinds of books that passed out to loved ones x 1y
AllDebooks I'm really excited for this one too. I'll be starting later next week once I finish my current fiction read. 1y
42 likes20 comments
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Christinak
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

This was my book clubs pick for July. I think this is beautifully written. I had no idea what this was about when I picked it up - I thought it was going to be about birds. I will definitely read more books by her (I‘ll just make sure I have a box of tissues nearby)

CoverToCoverGirl Such a good book! 1y
21 likes1 comment
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Tkimsal
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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August and September selections for book club. #FirstSaturdayReaders

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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#RushAThon

Joining in as I find these #readathons so helpful to whittle through those tbr stacks.
Goals -
🖋 I have a busy month in August, so I will be focusing on mood reading through #Netgalley arcs and library holds.
🖋 Complete #buddyreads for #Naturalitsy #rereadtheclassics #bookedintime #AAM #Bookedintime

Thank you for hosting @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES ❤️📚❤️

DieAReader Great to have you! ❤️‍🔥We all very much enjoy cheering both ourselves, each other & others with their reading goals. Good luck📚🤓 1y
Andrew65 Best of luck 😁 1y
35 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

All ready for August's reading. Hopefully, I'll stay motivated with room for mood reading 📚 ☀️⛱️😊🥂

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
33 likes1 comment
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LitsyEvents
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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repost for @AllDebooks

#Naturalitsy

Our next #buddyread for fiction starts on 1st August. This is a little different from usual, less structured. As it's fiction, I'm going to set up as a read at your own pace.
I will post a discussion thread on the 27th of August.

Happy reading in the summer sun ☀️ 📚⛱️ 😍🥂

All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

AllDebooks Thank you for the share x 1y
36 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#Naturalitsy

August voting results @Soubhiville tbh I may join you, as Overstory has been on my shelf forever

currentlyreadinginCO Overstory😍😍 1y
Soubhiville 🙂 I‘d be happy to buddyread it through StoryGraph. 1y
AllDebooks @Soubhiville I'd love to but I'll have to fond my copy. I have a feeling I lent it to a friend 😬 1y
31 likes3 comments
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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#Naturalitsy

Our next #buddyread for fiction starts on 1st August. This is a little different from usual, less structured. As it's fiction, I'm going to set up as a read at your own pace.
I will post a discussion thread on the 27th of August.

Happy reading in the summer sun ☀️ 📚⛱️ 😍🥂

All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

@LitsyEvents

jlhammar Perfect, thank you! I've been meaning to read this since it first came out (and really enjoyed Once There Were Wolves) so can't wait! 1y
AllDebooks @jlhammar I've just finished Wolves. It was so good. Can't wait to start Migrations 😊 1y
Roary47 I‘m going to try. This one looks interesting. 🥰 1y
See All 13 Comments
AllDebooks @Roary47 oh yay!! Welcome 😊 Tbh, after finishing Once there were wolves, I'm a bit obsessed with this author now. 1y
AllDebooks @Roary47 here's the link to our planned reads for September and October. https://litsy.com/p/NGpkNHZEeE5L Let me know if you'd like to stay on the taglist 😊 1y
Roary47 Sweet! Thank you. I would love to be added to the tag list please. 🥰💛 1y
Soubhiville Oh weird, why did I think August was The Overstory? Well, that‘s what I‘ll be reading, I‘ve already started it 😆📚🤷‍♀️. 1y
vonnie862 I just got the book so I'll be participating! 1y
Knitmaths Can you add me to the tag list please, I‘ve been meaning to read Entangled life for ages and have ordered The Natural History of Selbourne. So I‘m prepped! 1y
AllDebooks @Knitmaths Yay, welcome to our little nature corner of Litsy 😊 1y
mjdowens Please add me to the list also. I have migrations, but will need to check into the others. 1y
AllDebooks @mjdowens Yay, welcome 😊 Here's the link to our upcoming reads for autumn. @Knitmaths 1y
40 likes13 comments
review
The_Penniless_Author
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Mehso-so

Mixed feelings about this one. Descriptions of the natural world that were multilayered, profound, and read like poetry would be immediately followed by the clunky, overwrought prose of the MC's inner thoughts. The central conceit (the rapid disappearance of animal life) was good, and I liked how the story was structured, but certain scenes (like the introduction of the ship's crew) felt rushed and hackneyed, like a bad TV script. Overall...👇

The_Penniless_Author ...I'd say this was a decent book by a very good writer that - aside from some striking imagery/observations - left me unmoved. 1y
41 likes1 comment
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The_Penniless_Author
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

The animals are dying.

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AllDebooks
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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#Naturalitsy

Voting stats for our July & August reads, as promised pn previous post 📚 🌞📚

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BirdLaVie
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Mehso-so

This wasn‘t for me! There is a certain bristle and unlikable nature to McConaghy‘s main characters that feels like a barrier to connection for me. I appreciated the structure, ethics and intent of the novel (I enjoyed learning about the Arctic Terns!) Franny, in my opinion, wasn‘t the best character to tell this story. She was overdone and too rugged/traumatized with few redeeming qualities and surprising tenderness that came out of nowhere.

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LeslieO
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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This is high up on my #TBR but keeps getting passed over. #ScienceRelated #MayMontage

Jenken1998 I loved it! 2y
Eggs Beautiful cover! 2y
Hooked_on_books It‘s so good! It‘ll be a treat for you when you eventually get to it. 2y
35 likes3 comments