Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Migrations
by Charlotte McConaghy
Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction
256 Pages
Released August 2020
Rating: ★★★
Goodreads
Content Warnings
I’ve actually had this book on my TBR for while, and after enjoying Wild Dark Shore as much as I did, I was excited to pick this book up soon after. And while I did not find this story quite as engaging, I did end up liking it.
This book follows Franny, who is determined to follow a migration of birds - one that she believes will be their last. Determined to follow their journey, she hitches a ride aboard a fishing vessel and convinces them that if they follow the flock, they will be led to some of the biggest catches they can find. But Franny is keeping secrets from the crew.
I think I went into this book with too-high expectations after loving WDS as much as I did. That said, I still really liked this book. I was a bit worried that it would be too similar to WDS but while it follows a similar formula (ecologically devastating backdrop, main character keeping secrets/troubled past from the reader which slowly get revealed over the course of the book), it’s significantly different enough where you don’t feel like you’re reading the same book all over again.
I’m starting to get a sense that, at the heart of all McConaghy’s books, there is a story of complex relationships and ecological fallout. This book is no different. I really like how this book seems to take place in a not-so-distant future, where much of wildlife has gone or is going extinct. McConaghy has a talent for realistic near-future world-building and it felt completely believable and immersive.
Another thing that I found similarly engaging is the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the “cold” aspects of this book (a welcomed mental escape during the heat of the summer!) and while I found other aspects of this book less memorable/engaging, I do remember how it made me feel.
The characters were interesting but strayed a bit toward the unmemorable. So much so that it’s been several weeks and I really couldn’t remember much of any the characters without looking them up again. They were good in the context of the story, but none of them really stuck with me afterwards. Unfortunately this meant I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters beyond surface-level curiosity.
The same feeling goes for the plot. I can remember the general plot, but could not recall the details without looking them up again. There were several moments throughout the story where I could feel myself losing interest and had to rein my straying thoughts back in. Part of me wonders if I would feel differently if I had read this novel first.
Overall, I think this was a good book. If I could do it again, I think I’d read this one before Wild Dark Shore but, regardless, if you are a fan of ecological commentary with complex characters and layers of backstory slowly being peeled back over the course of a novel, definitely check this one out.