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Charlotte McConaghy ? The Last Migration

By Scott

Set in the near future where more and more animals are becoming extinct, our protagonist Franny Stone, has tagged what might be the last of the Arctic terns, and is determined to follow them on what may be their final migration from Greenland to Antarctica . To do this she has to talk her way onto one of the few remaining fishing boats heading south ? the Saghani (the Inuit word for Raven) and put herself in the hands of those who she see as being the part of the extinction problem, in particular the cause of  fish extinction. To get their cooperation Franny has to persuade the captain, Ennis Malone, that the birds will lead the crew to fish, and maybe to a big haul.

As we journey south, and get to know the crew, Franny’s past is also slowly revealed to us in flashbacks. We are taken from Ireland to Australia and back as all her ghosts are laid bare. At the same time we see a pattern emerge of a restless wandering spirit who finds it hard to stay put in one place.  Like the birds she is following, the urge to fly is one that exists at her core.

These revealed past memories and the ghosts attached to them explain, in part, her reasons for heading to the bottom of the world. “Because one way or another, when I reach Antartica and my migration is finished, I have decided to die”, she states.  

What can I say about this novel? #TheLastMigration #NetGalley

This breathtakingly beautiful book is the most impressive work of fiction I have read in the last couple of years. I was moved, gripped and totally transfixed from the very first words to the end. I’m not usually that interested with books that take place at sea, but I found the scenes aboard the Saghani  both psychologically gripping and believably tense: the tightness of the crew; their mistrust of Franny; their loyalty to the sea and captain. At times I was feeling every wave, almost tasting the salt in the air.   

Of course this is not just a book of the sea, a book about evoking nature – indeed ,arguably most of the ‘action’ in the book happens on dry land – it is also a deeply personal and heart-breaking journey of redemption and self-love. Each flashback peels back another layer of the complex, strong willed character of Franny, someone who has become cocooned and defined by her past.

This is a book about life, compassion and the human condition, and how our failings and limitations can and will drown us if we let them. It is a book about love: love for our planet, love for oneself , and the enduring power and strength of love. And, it is a book about hope: ? hope of the continued survival of species, hope of discovery and understanding, and hope of redemption.

Sadly, this book is not due to be published in the UK until early 2021. This would have been a Christmas present for a lot of people I know. Meanwhile this year’s Booker Prize Longlist will be announced in a couple of weeks. I would not be at all surprised to find Charlotte McConaghy’s book on next year’s list. It would certainly deserve to be. Book of the year.

Thanks to @netgalley and @vintagebooks for the eARC

The post Charlotte McConaghy – The Last Migration appeared first on Information Overlord.

Full post as published by Information Overload on July 07, 2020 (boomark / email).