Migrations
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4.2 • 9 Ratings
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
'An extraordinary novel... as beautiful and as wrenching as anything I've ever read' Emily St. John Mandel
A dark past. An impossible journey. The will to survive.
Franny Stone is determined to go to the end of the earth, following the last of the Arctic terns on what may be their final migration to Antarctica.
As animal populations plummet, Franny talks her way onto one of the few remaining boats heading south. But as she and the eccentric crew travel further from shore and safety, the dark secrets of Franny's life begin to unspool.
Haunted by love and violence, Franny must confront what she is really running towards - and from.
From the west coast of Ireland to Australia and remote Greenland, this is an ode to the wild places and creatures now threatened, and an epic, moving story of the possibility of hope against all odds.
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READERS LOVE MIGRATIONS:
'Wrenchingly beautiful'
'Visceral, heart-breaking'
'Simply phenomenal'
'Raw and gripping'
'Riveting'
'Here's your next favourite'
'A story...about love, passion, wandering'
*Previously published as The Last Migration*
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Young adult novelist McConaghy (the Chronicles of Kaya series) makes her adult debut with the clunky chronicle of Franny Stone, a troubled woman who follows a flock of endangered Arctic terns on what is believed to be their final migration home. Franny's mother, who vanished when Franny was seven, warned her that women in their family are unable to resist the urge to wander. While working at a university in Galway, she meets ornithologist Niall Lynch, who immediately declares they'll spend their lives together, and they implausibly marry. Unfortunately, Franny's overwhelming desire to travel, her sorrow over their stillborn daughter, and a sleepwalking episode in which she chokes Niall drive a wedge in their marriage. Niall had always longed to track the terns, and Franny does so by convincing a fishing boat captain that she can help him find fish in exchange for transportation. Despite the ragtag crew's initial distrust of Franny, she becomes part of the team. McConaghy divulges more about Franny's dark past as she writes Niall letters and reflects on their relationship, as well as the true nature of her quest. While McConaghy's plot is engaging, her writing can be a heavy-handed distraction ("out flies my soul, sucked through my pores"). Lovers of ornithology and intense drama will find what they need in this uneven tale.
Customer Reviews
Not as good as her 3rd book
Still a great achievement of book, especially as a first time author. The story stitched together nicely at the end. But I read the books in the wrong order it seems!
Many of the themes and descriptions are very similar to Wild Dark Storm, a bit too similar. Probably better to read her books with some time in between.
Will read her 2nd book but not for at least 6 months!
Conflicted over this one as I can appreciate the immensity of creating a book like this, and a nature lover I could relate to the unique descriptions of being out at sea that are so hard to explain to people. But, as a sailor, I found myself frustrated by some of the ‘boaty’ details.
It’s almost magic realism but not quite, so again I feel a bit conflicted on the whole. It clearly made me think though!