The Heart's Invisible Furies- A Novel by John Boyne
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Web ID: 16778435An all-time favorite!
John Boyne’s The Heart's Invisible Furies is a triumph of storytelling — a powerful, sweeping novel that traces the life of Cyril Avery from his illegitimate birth in 1940s Ireland to his later years, exploring his journey to find acceptance, identity, and love. Let me preface this by saying that this review has been a long time in the making. I started this book at the end of 2017 and was happily declaring it to be one of the best books I'd ever read when I had to make a surprise trip to Michigan to stay by my dying father's bedside in January/February 2018. I put the book down and barely touched another book for years after. I'm glad to say that I finally felt ready to pick it up again, backtracked to refresh my memory on where I'd left off, and finally completed it. The story follows Cyril Avery, born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out by her small Irish village, and adopted by eccentric, distant parents. From his earliest days, Cyril knows he’s different — not just because he’s "not a real Avery," as his adoptive parents frequently remind him, but because he’s hiding a truth about himself that 1950s Ireland would never accept. His lifelong journey of self-discovery — marked by heartbreak, longing, and resilience — is both intensely personal and universally resonant. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it examines Ireland’s evolving social and political landscape alongside Cyril’s own growth. It’s a story that confronts the cruelty of prejudice, yet it never loses sight of hope — hope for change, for acceptance, and for the quiet, powerful force of human kindness. The characters are richly drawn, each one leaving an indelible mark on Cyril’s life. From his eccentric adoptive parents to his lifelong (and unrequited) love for his friend Julian, every relationship feels authentic and layered. Boyne’s ability to weave historical events into Cyril’s personal journey adds an extra layer of depth, making the book not only an emotional odyssey but also a poignant commentary on societal change. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is, at its core, a deeply compassionate novel — one that embraces the flaws, mistakes, and regrets that make us human. Cyril’s journey is heartbreaking and uplifting all at once, and Boyne’s ability to weave humor into even the darkest moments is nothing short of brilliant. My final word: John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies is nothing short of extraordinary — a sweeping, emotionally rich novel that captures the complexities of identity, love, and belonging with unforgettable tenderness and humor. If you’re looking for a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on what it means to belong, The Heart's Invisible Furies is an absolute must-read. By the final page, the novel leaves you feeling both heartbroken and hopeful — a testament to Boyne’s extraordinary ability to capture the messy, beautiful complexity of life. It’s a book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it, reminding you of the invisible forces — love, regret, hope — that shape us all.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Another great book from John Boyne
Ah, John Boyne. I know that I will never be disappointed picking up one of his books. He is a great storyteller and his books, the ones which are specifically focused on Ireland, seem to have the most depth and the most feeling. Is this just coincidence? I don't think so. I think Ireland is important, because out of the four books by Boyne I've read, the most intense for me as a reader have both been set in Ireland: this one and A History of Loneliness. But let's focus on this one, which tells the story of Cyril Avery from his childhood to his end, his life being a varied one at that. It begins with the background of his mother, an unmarried teenager who is disowned by her family and thrown out of her village. This is done in a humiliating way by the parish priest, in church, in front of the congregation. Boyne is keen to highlight the shortcomings of the Catholic Church and there is a lot of invective in the book against the tight binds that the Church demanded of people whilst exercising hypocrisy at every turn. But Cyril's mother is a determined soul and gets on the bus to Dublin where she gives birth and gives Cyril away for adoption. Cyril not knowing who his mother is, is a thread that permeates the book and a source of suspense as their worlds collide without them knowing but you, as the reader, are fully aware. Cyril's adopted life is unorthodox but lacking hardship. It changes when he meets Julian and falls in love with him, starting an obsession which rules a vast part of his life. Unfortunately, Julian, who becomes his best friend, does not share the same feelings so Cyril keeps it secret. However, it's inevitable that it will come out. We follow Cyril as he tries to find some semblance of a normal life as a homosexual in a society that recoils from it, finding it abhorrent. Evidence of this is found throughout the book, manifesting itself in violence and ignorance, especially in relation to AIDS and its discovery in the 1980s. So does Cyril find love? Maybe...but you need to read his story which is full of humour, struggle, family, love. One of highs and lows but most of all, humanity. It shows the best of people and the worst. Great book.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This book broke and mended my heart
I bought this book from a library expecting nothing more than a simple story. I got the exact opposite. This book led me through the life of Cyril and made me feel like I was living life with him. The whole story felt fleshed out and beautifully crafted to invoke emotion. The end truly made me cry while reading it, seeing him happy finally after a lifetime of work and suffering. It’s beautiful. This is a book you won’t regret or forget.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Portrait of a Life Well Told
“I had never considered myself to be a dishonest person, hating the idea that I was capable of such mendacity and deceit …” When the reader first meets Cyril Avery, he is speaking to us from his mother’s womb. Catherine Goggins is a 16-year-old pregnant girl, publicly shamed by the parish priest in Ireland and banished from the community. With great regret, she adopts out her baby. He ends up in the household of unfeeling, possible wife-murderer Charles Avery and his chain-smoking, detached, best-selling author second wife, Maude. Neither of them have much use for him and are always quick to tag him as their “adoptive“ son, nothing more. Living a very sheltered life, his first young friend is Julian Woodbead, the son of Charles‘s solicitor, Max. Julian is unabashedly well-versed in sex and women and Cyril is completely but covertly smitten with him. This 600 page book as told by Cyril himself, follows his life from his birth in 1945 through 2015. He shares his struggles with his homosexuality, his unsatisfying and fleeting back alley encounters, his furtive attempts at relationships with women, and his relocations to various places to try and reinvent himself. Against the backdrop of repressed Ireland, his struggles are as real as are the threats to his life. John Boyne has created memorable characters in Cyril’s parents, in Julian and his sister Alice, as well as with his mother Catherine with whom he unknowingly interacts at several points throughout the story. The book is a revelation, an easy read, and very highly recommended.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
An amazing story spanning several decades
When unmarried 16-year-old Catherine Goggin falls pregnant in 1945, she's banished from her rural Irish village by the local priest. After making her way to Dublin she gives birth to a son, Cyril. The baby is adopted by an unconventional wealthy couple, the Averys, who remind Cyril at every opportunity that he's 'not a real Avery'. As a young boy Cyril forms an unlikely friendship with the charismatic Julian Woodbead. He finds himself becoming physically attracted to him as their bond develops. What follows is the story of Cyril Avery's life — a journey of self-discovery and heartbreak; acceptance and reconciliation. Phew, what a corker of read this turned out to be! At over 700 pages long it requires both time and commitment but takes you on an amazing ride spanning several decades. Having previously read The House of Special Purpose by the same author, I knew what a wonderful storyteller he is and was in no doubt my next few days were in safe and very capable hands. At times a desperately sad story but counterbalanced nicely with some wonderfully uplifting moments, I found myself experiencing every possible emotion. I desperately wanted Cyril to find happiness and lasting love. And does he? Read this epic story to find out.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
One of My Personal Favorites!
I absolutely adore this book. Cyril Avery is an extremely relatable. The book follows him as he goes from Catholic Ireland, New York during the AIDS pandemic, and back again, learning and evolving along the way. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it'll make you smile maniacally. It is a beautiful book!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com