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Becky
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Mar 22, 2021 11:06AM
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I read Migrations last summer and am curious to hear what others think once the discussion gets going here!
I finished Migrations today. I was compelled to read it until the end. I feel like there is potentially a huge portion of the story missing from this near future fiction. I’ll wait until April when more people have read it before I discuss spoilers.
I finished it yesterday and posted a review. The natural world, devoid of most wild creatures, is a backdrop for Franny’s story but not its focus. Franny isn’t out to save the earth. She is on a personal journey literally guided by the Arctic terns. The title Migrations refers as much to Franny’s own peregrinations as to the birds’. If you’re more interested in the science of ornithology, migration, extinction, etc., this novel will leave you wanting. But if you love a complex, enigmatic character with a questionable past, Franny won’t disappoint. And if watching birds makes your heart flutter, you’ll find an author who puts that feeling into prose. (I’m nominating Scott Weidensaul’s new book for May because the novel left me wanting more about bird migration.)
I just finished chapter 16 of Migrations. Now I remember why I don't read much fiction. The dishes are piled up, the laundry hasn't been folded and we'll be eating from cans tonight if I don't go out for groceries (I already know I won't). This story is fabulous, horribly dark and sad all at once.
I have finished Migrations. Julie, your comment drew attention to me that it's on the more difficult side to discuss a novel in a group read like this while others are still reading it. To avoid spoilers you almost have to wait until everyone is finished. Or hope they don't visit the discussion until they're through reading. Whereas with nonfiction you can discuss ideas along the way.
I, too, was compelled to read it to the end, but for some reason it didn't leave very strong feelings with me. I haven't pinpointed why. I usually have strong feelings toward books. Although I do agree with you, Cindy Ann - dark and sad - but in the end, maybe it's meant to be a tiny bit hopeful, too.
I finished it in 5 days because I couldn't put it down. While I love reading fiction almost as much as I love non-fiction, I agree that it's easier to discuss a non-fiction book while we read. Looking forward to starting May's book!
I think I was the first to recommend this book--I had been looking forward to reading it. Oh, but I will be the unpopular opinion. I really disliked this book.
I don't know where to begin. For me, the main characters, Franny and Niall, were completely unbelievable. The way they met, the quick wedding, etc etc felt like cheesy romance for me. I wanted more birds and less of the tiresome characters.
Perhaps I could have gotten more into the characters if I didn't feel like the author didn't do all her research on fishing and some of the settings. I get that this is in the future and maybe things are different.
Fishermen wearing parkas? Well, they would have heavy duty rubberized overalls and slickers on over anything else in a storm. Hiking to a lodge in Yellowstone with the leaves crackling under her feet? She hasn't been to Yellowstone. Swans swimming in the sea of Ireland? Is this a thing? I've never seen a swan on seawater. Seagulls disappearing with extinction? Oh lord, those resourceful, garbage loving birds will be one of the last to go.
And a purse seine fishing boat going from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere planning to catch and sell fish hauls? Perhaps, but unbelievable to me, not to mention how far they travel on one load of fuel, not to mention a boat captain agreeing to chase a tern. Just a few examples of the many, many false details that took me out of the story, one after another.
I don't know where to begin. For me, the main characters, Franny and Niall, were completely unbelievable. The way they met, the quick wedding, etc etc felt like cheesy romance for me. I wanted more birds and less of the tiresome characters.
Perhaps I could have gotten more into the characters if I didn't feel like the author didn't do all her research on fishing and some of the settings. I get that this is in the future and maybe things are different.
Fishermen wearing parkas? Well, they would have heavy duty rubberized overalls and slickers on over anything else in a storm. Hiking to a lodge in Yellowstone with the leaves crackling under her feet? She hasn't been to Yellowstone. Swans swimming in the sea of Ireland? Is this a thing? I've never seen a swan on seawater. Seagulls disappearing with extinction? Oh lord, those resourceful, garbage loving birds will be one of the last to go.
And a purse seine fishing boat going from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere planning to catch and sell fish hauls? Perhaps, but unbelievable to me, not to mention how far they travel on one load of fuel, not to mention a boat captain agreeing to chase a tern. Just a few examples of the many, many false details that took me out of the story, one after another.
I thought I would love this book with the climate change themes, birds, fish. I work on fisheries restoration for a coalition of sport and commercial fishermen, conservation groups working to restore salmon and steelhead. One thing I did learn--I did not know that salmon had been introduced so prolifically in the southern hemisphere and so long ago--early 1900s. I was about to throw the book when she mentioned commercial salmon fishing off of Australia--I'm from country where salmon are native. I knew about the commercial salmon farms, but had no idea that introduced Atlantic salmon were so prolific that there is actually commercial salmon fishing off the coast of Australia. So I did learn that!
I agree with the others that some of the animals that go extinct seem unreasonable. For me at least, it makes the world of the book a lot more desolate and Franny's determination more understandable (at the beginning before we find out what else is going on with her). I think that a lot of the characters in this book have a kind of romantic view of their lives that causes them a lot of pain when reality hits.
(Spoilers Ahead)
Franny thinking her mom ran away, Franny and Niall getting married despite not actually knowing each other, Ennis looking for his "golden catch" instead of getting other skills to provide for his kids, the crew going along with the follow the terns plan instead of accepting commercial fishing is over etc.
Maybe the author did this to point out how most people today think about their lives and ignore the impending effects of global warming?
I really loved this book, but I may just have a higher tolerance for characters with their heads in the clouds. Also, I thought that a lot of the poetic descriptions the author used were really beautiful.
Emma wrote: "I agree with the others that some of the animals that go extinct seem unreasonable. For me at least, it makes the world of the book a lot more desolate and Franny's determination more understandabl..."
I will agree that there is some beautiful writing. And for me, it is possibly a case of being too close to some aspects of the story: I work in fisheries conservation and work with conservation-minded commercial fishermen. So some of those aspects did not ring as true to me perhaps. And it is hard to write dystopian, future fiction too.
I will agree that there is some beautiful writing. And for me, it is possibly a case of being too close to some aspects of the story: I work in fisheries conservation and work with conservation-minded commercial fishermen. So some of those aspects did not ring as true to me perhaps. And it is hard to write dystopian, future fiction too.
It has been really interesting to read what others thought about this book. I read it last summer, so I am going from memory here to put together my thoughts. I was originally drawn to the book because of the nature themes and because I also am a scientist who studies birds. But I found what I enjoyed most about this book was not anything to do with the nature or climate change aspects, but rather how Franny's backstory and tragic past unfolded over the course of the novel. It definitely kept me intrigued, even as the plot verged on overly dramatic with the high seas adventures. However, I was pretty uncomfortable with how some of the conservation topics were treated, particularly around fishing. I know the author was trying to portray a future where human actions have created a world devoid of nearly all wildlife, but parts of it felt quite preachy: for example, not only was fishing bad, but the fishers themselves were bad people. I'm curious whether others felt this way, too. Overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it, but some parts had me scratching my head a little bit.
Cara wrote: "It has been really interesting to read what others thought about this book. I read it last summer, so I am going from memory here to put together my thoughts. I was originally drawn to the book bec..."
I found the preachiness off the mark too, but with the caveats of the dystopian world she is trying to set. I work on river restoration and fisheries conservation (salmon & steelhead), work with a lot of conservation-minded commercial fishermen working sustainably and fighting for environmental safeguards--and their voice is so effective, so important. So I also bristled at the way she protrayed the fishermen.
I found the preachiness off the mark too, but with the caveats of the dystopian world she is trying to set. I work on river restoration and fisheries conservation (salmon & steelhead), work with a lot of conservation-minded commercial fishermen working sustainably and fighting for environmental safeguards--and their voice is so effective, so important. So I also bristled at the way she protrayed the fishermen.
Sam wrote: "Cara wrote: "It has been really interesting to read what others thought about this book. I read it last summer, so I am going from memory here to put together my thoughts. I was originally drawn to..."
And--I am so excited about our upcoming read A World on the Wing! I am fascinated by birds. Can't wait to read your contributions to that discussion.
And--I am so excited about our upcoming read A World on the Wing! I am fascinated by birds. Can't wait to read your contributions to that discussion.
Sam wrote: "Sam wrote: "Cara wrote: "It has been really interesting to read what others thought about this book. I read it last summer, so I am going from memory here to put together my thoughts. I was origina..."My library hold for A World on the Wing looks like it's still about 4 weeks away, so I'm debating whether to just buy the book so I can join the discussion!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts as someone who works with fisheries. I'm sure it's hard to capture the nuance of conservation in a book with so much else going on, but it made me take the environmental message less seriously and just focus on Franny's personal story instead.
