I loved this book. I loved everything about the story. I laughed and I cried and ignored everything going on around me until I had it finished. I think that John Boyle has perfectly captured Ireland through the years. He has written brilliantly about the way people would have felt and the views of the Catholic Church. He has described everything so well. I could visualise myself in Dublin which is a city I know well and also in Amsterdam and New York, both of which I have visited. I really liked that Cyril and his mother had known each other without realising who the other was. I will definitely be recommending this book and reading it again as well.

The first few chapter of this book just totally captivate you. You can’t help by fall in love with Catherine Goggins and the situation you finds herself in. Her story of her early days in Dublin were well written and kept you hooked. Unfortunately I just did not take to Cyril’s character so I found the next part of the book dragged on as I had no sympathy for him and found the book very disturbing in parts and I class myself as open minded. However once Cyril had been brave enough to start his new life I was addicted and could not put the book down. I found myself warming to Cyril and the story of his love and loss very heart warming. Excellent book and well worth a read.

4.5*rounded up. I subtracted half a star because I had to suspend disbelief with all the coincidences that take place in the novel. No way would they be possible in real life.

Yes, yes, yes. I finally found a novel that everybody raves about that I also loved. The Heart’s Invisible Furies made me feel everything, I laughed, I was sad, I was hopeful and then disappointed, I was enraged by the people’s mentalities and I even wanted to punch a couple of the characters in the face, even the main character (and hug him afterwards).

The novel begins in post WW2 Ireland, a country of sexual suppression ruled by the mighty Catholic Church. A 16 years young girl is thrown out of the church and her rural family home because she dared to become pregnant. Alone, she buys a ticket to Dublin to find her luck and give birth. The novel is the story of the child’s life. We meet him when he is 8 years old and living with his adopted family who remind him with every occasion that he isn’t really one of them. We will stay with him while he discovers his sexuality, falls in love for the first time, struggles to find a place in the unforgiving Dublin and so on. We will follow him from Dublin to Amsterdam, with a short stop in the Aids infested New York and back to Ireland. Such a fascinating trip in a wonderful company.

I cannot decide if the book is more of a comic novel or a tragedy. It really has everything. I was laughing one page only to be almost in tears or swearing between my teeth the next. One of the main characters is Ireland and its stupid, stupid Catholic prejudices and hypocrisy. The way faith managed to destroy so many lives by not accepting any deviation from “normality” made me incredibly angry. Apparently, you could even get away with murder if you killed your gay son as it was understandable to be upset by such dishonor. I am happy that Ireland changed so much over the years and it is now an example of tolerance in Europe.

The main character is likable, but it is not perfect which is another aspect that I appreciated. He made some stupid mistakes and he did not realize the impact his actions had for other people and he did not gave the impression he cared enough. I also thought the other characters were well portrayed, interesting, although some of the traits were exaggerated for dramatic/comic purposes.
My only complaint, as I wrote above, is that some of the plot is unbelievable. There are some coincidental meetings between characters when I had to scream No way, in my mind. I understand that it made things more interesting but it moved the story more towards the fantasy realm.

As you can see, I loved this novel and it seems the year started very well. I hope it will continue in the same manner.

Funny and sad, Irish history and love. not my normal reading material, but a lovely read that left me laughing and crying.

I loved this book it is a great read.

I couldn't decide between giving this novel four stars or five. It's so much better than many other novels to which I've given four stars, and therefore needs to be marked apart from those which aren't as excellent. It deserved more than four stars.

'The Heart's Invisible Furies' is a sweeping epic life story of Cyril Avery, an Irish boy born to an unmarried mother in the 1940s and given up for adoption. His story drives a channel through landmark events of the 20th century, both worldwide and Ireland focused, covering Irish attitudes to illegitimate children, women, gay people and AIDS, but it also deconstructs those issues, critiques them and shows how attitudes developed as the 20th century progressed and the 21st began. It's a fantastic insight into the changing attitudes of the last 70 years, both in Ireland and further afield, while always focusing on the story at the forefront of everything.

Cyril is a flawed character who makes a lot of mistakes. He's selfish and he's often wrong, yet he's also amusing and good at heart; many of the 'wrong' things that he does are born of circumstance or his mental state in that moment, and his actions and decisions always understandable. He's a complex and well-written character and I thoroughly commend Boyne for his writing of this character.

The picaresque style of the novel is charming, and is reminiscent of novels such as William Boyd's 'Any Human Heart' (which I loved) and John Irving's 'The World According to Garp' (which I didn't love). In fact, I would go as far as to say that Boyne's novel was probably directly influenced by these novels, as their similarities are so great.

Yet it's not a perfect novel. I felt there were too many coincidences: Cyril bumps into the people he knows in multiple countries, and it often seemed a bit of a stretch, a bit too coincidental, and too often. The final scene is a good way to tie everything together, but seemed to detach from the realist style of the rest of the book.

It took me a while to get into the book, but around 25% into the story, I realised I didn't want to put it down. I loved the characters and I was invested in the story, but not only that, Boyne has created such a concrete and well-wrought world that I felt like it was real. Even the house he describes on Dartmouth Square, I feel like I could draw it myself and map out whose room is whose depending on the time period because the writing is so clear and strong.

A hugely impressive work, and although not perfect, it's deserving of 5 stars out of 5, a lot of recognition, and everyone should be talking about this book in 2018. It deserves a lot.

Wow!!!! What a fantastic read, loved Cyril's story from beginning to end, a great read, the different subjects brought up throughout the book were handled with care and written well, you laughed with him and cried with him, I think Cyril will stay with me for quite a while, a definite 5 star read for me

I was sent a copy of The Heart’s Invisible furies by John Boyne to read and review by NetGalley.
I really loved this book! It was beautifully written, had great characters and a real sense of place. Set primarily in Dublin the novel explores Ireland’s doctrine regarding women, homosexuality and the slow changes that emerged over the years, along with the world’s attitude and ignorance regarding the Aids crisis of the 1980s. The story centres around Cyril Avery; from his birth out of wedlock to his final years decades later, a life lived in both tragedy and joy, fear and danger. With the background of a country divided and led by the Church John Boyne has managed to create an entertaining novel and engrossing story with an easily accessible history lesson – a book well worth reading.

Absolutely fabulous book, a fascinating story enveloping 70 years of Irish history, in the story of Cyril Avery from his birth in 1945. Poignant, very funny, tragic and inspiring, I felt as if I was with him on his incredible journey through 7 decades. Being from an Irish family, I found myself reading the book in an Irish accent and that definitely increased the involvement, especially the comedic element. I didnt want it to end.

Catherine Goggin is called to the front of the (Roman Catholic) church in Goleen and the priest, James Monroe, takes pleasure in telling the congregation that she is with child and therefore not fit to put a foot in the church. He literally throws her out of the church and to add to her shame, she is shunned by her parents and as a result, armed with a tiny suitcase, makes her way to Dublin, where she shares a flat with Seán MacIntyre (a young man she met on the bus) and Jack Smoot. She doesn’t realise until the day that Seán’s father arrives and beats his son to death and almost kills Jack, that they were a couple – having never been aware of homosexuality before. The shock of this horrific rage brings on the baby, a boy, who is taken away almost immediately by a hunchback Redemptorist nun and is adopted by Charles and Maude Avery. They register him as Cyril Avery.

Cyril’s place in the home of Maude, a prolific writer, and Charles, known for withholding his taxes, (he is convicted several times for these transgressions) is certainly different from most children’s home life. He is all but ignored by both of his adopted parents and told at a very early age that he is adopted and never refers to them as either his mother or father, only ever as his adopted mother and father.

The book follows Cyril’s life from his unconventional birth, boarding school years, friendships, infatuations, sordid sex life as a homosexual in Dublin, and after a very traumatic incident; fleeing Ireland for Holland where he meets someone who he finally finds love with, Bastiaan. It is thanks to Bastiaan that Cyril finally feels safe and truly loved and their lives are complete when they adopt Ignac.

Bastiaan’s work as a specialist doctor in sexually transmitted diseases takes them to New York where the AIDS epidemic is at its most rampant. Bastiaan is killed in a brutal attack which leaves Cyril devastated and it’s not just this tragedy but also Ignac’s desire to study art and literature at the University of Dublin that leads Cyril to move back to Ireland.

This book has certainly opened my eyes to the harsh realities that homosexuals faced before governments around the world changed their laws. Cyril’s early life takes place in Ireland where the laws were particularly harsh and where the (Roman Catholic) church – or, more truthfully, their clergy ruled the government and imposed their versions of their beliefs.

John Boyne has created a masterpiece through these pages as we follow Cyril’s life. There were times when I wept and others when I laughed with delight at Cyril’s eccentricities. Thanks to this novel, we are able to share his loves, tragedies, the fulfilment of a steady and loving relationship. Being a father. Living through the terrible years when AIDS was at its peak and finally being in Ireland on the day that the government legitimised homosexuality.

This is truly one of the perfect books I’ve ever read and the ending is one of the most special ever written. I wish I could encourage those with homophobic ideas to read this, because it will help them understand what being “different” means and hopefully, by reading the book, they will understand that regardless of how humans are created, there are differences and these differences have to be respected and accepted regardless of the bigoted ideas we perceive thanks to our religious DNA.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Loved it. Beautifully written and engrossing. The two are not always compatible in my experience, so a treat when it happens. Full review to folllow on good reads.

I cannot praise this book enough.. Boyne captures Ireland of the 20th Century with frightening accuracy. His descriptions of the characters are so vivid and exact that I felt I knew them ... or someone very like them. His journey as a gay man in Ireland and then Amsterdam, eventually to America and surprisingly back to Ireland is full of the complications one would expect. I enjoyed the quirkiness of many of the characters, including his adoptive parents who were a drama all on their own. I loved the humour, the empathy, the stories, the social commentary. I could go on, but I would just urge everyone to read it!

What a lovely read this book is. It has plenty of emotions, goes at a good pace and covers many years with it. I would definitely read this author again, he has a lovely writing style and I've already bought the book as a gift for a friend.

A fabulous read from beginning to end the story of a young girl cast out by the church and her family Cyril's journey was an emotional roller coaster and the predudices he faced in a time when people didn't understand what it was like to be gay were heartbreaking loved how the story was told every emotion was played out and the journey he went on finally finds love and then tragedy happens cried at the end when everything goes full circle and ends up in Ireland again can't help who you fall in love with whether it's male or female loved the authors bio at the end a beautiful well written book really recommend it

My experience of John Boyne has been limited to his novels for younger readers and a ghost story. I wasn’t sure what I’d make of this, but I have to say thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARc of a bittersweet, bleakly comic book that had moments of hope and despair intermingled seamlessly.
The book opens with sixteen year old Catherine Groggin being labelled a whore by her parish priest and cast out of her village because she is pregnant. Nobody steps forward to support her, and nobody helps her. This could have been a thoroughly depressing tale, but Boyne brings a bleak comedy to events by telling the story through the eyes of Cyril Avery (the boy Catherine was carrying).
We learn from Cyril that he was adopted by Charles and Maude, a wealthy couple desperate for a child. A successful banker and renowned novelist, in their home Cyril has a rather unconventional childhood.
Following Cyril as a child we see him go to school, develop an intense crush on a childhood friend and watch as he grows up gay in Ireland.
There was so much to despair over in this book: thypocrisy of the church; the bigoted attitudes of many of the characters; the needless violence and the overwhelming injustice at people not being able to live as themselves out of fear for what others might say or do. Yet, throughout, there were beautifully tender moments of hope for the characters. The dark humour showed by Cyril won me over totally.
Boyne has set himself an adventurous task here. He is exploring attitudes to homosexuality over a substantial period of time, and there’s a lot of characters interweaved throughout. At times I felt frustrated by the close proximity of the key characters to each other without them being aware of the significance, but there was a heartwarming sense of circularity to the novel that felt fitting.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
I really loved this book, a cleverly constructed novel with a unique style that sprawls across geography and time, connecting every character in a way that feels totally natural and unforced.
This is a long book, but definitely worth it. John Boyne’s characters are wonderfully portrayed, especially Maude (my personal favourite), and it’s been a while since I felt so fully immersed in a story.
I would highly recommend this book to any fiction fans and those who are interested in learning more about Ireland and it’s archaic approach to homosexuality.

This is a terrific read. The story centres on Cyril Avery who is born in 1945 to an unmarried 16 year old girl in Ireland. It follows Cyril’s life for seventy years with the narrative jumping seven years for each main chapter amd is divided into four sections: Shame, Exile, Peace and Epilogue.

The story captures the prejudices of the day for all the many situations Cyril finds himself in during his long and complicated life. John Boyne’s writing is incredible – he really make you feel that you are there in each time period and living inside Cyril’s head. The novel goes into the church’s attitude, that of the general public towards illegitimacy and same sex relations as well as a whole host of other dramas.

It’s a well-crafted and written novel that you just do not want to put down. There were times when I found the jump ahead of seven years a little frustrating as I wanted to know what happened immediately following some of the dramas that some sections ended on.

I will be looking out for more books from John Boyne.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Taking the accolade of the first book completed in 2018, this was the perfect book to fill that awful void between Christmas and New Year. This is not a snappy read by any stretch of the imagination, a slow burner if you like and I did feel that there was a slight drag to the thrust of the story in the middle portions, but I just think that despite being a life story in which that the reader is allowed to dip into at various intervals, and so we only see truncated portions of a full life. However I believe the story benefits stylistically from the choice John Boyne has taken with the speed it reads at. It is in the details ,the minutiae of those vignettes that make the extraordinary meetings, near misses and emotional torsions of Cyril’s life stand out in better relief.

It is beautifully written, vivid and colourful, Rich in sight and sound and smell. Liberally sprinkled with Humour, but equally melancholy and thought provoking.

Populated by some truly colourful characters, this is a book of gentle and sometimes much more strident examination of the most pressing issues in Ireland in recent History. Were Mr Boyne to have focused on one of these varied themes this would have been a meaty and satisfying feat of a book. As it is, it is rammed to the rafters with interesting points of reference in Cyril’s very personal story.

Mr Boyne weaves a story that sets the pervasive presence of the IRA, against the free rein given to the Catholic Church through deference and fear . This fear allowing for the physical and sexual abuse of children. He highlights the use of children as charitable currency for good standing in society. Again the church and the now famous Nun trade of illegitimate children is spotlighted. As a result the shaming of girls by that same church that preaches Christian value from every pulpit, ostracising women our Hero set off on a course that takes him across geographical and social frontiers as he struggled with the most taboo of subjects, that of Homosexuality, something accepted and reviled in equal measure.

I had no prior knowledge of Mr Boyne’s personal circumstances, but the level of empathy evident in the deft handling of all the “Issues” including that of a young man struggling with his homosexuality in a time where the authority of the Church and the shame culture that engendered was at it’s height, provides a level of authenticity that gives the story a real emotional backbone.


I think that each reader will have a different experience of Cyril and his cohorts and some might find the steady amble of the narrative something to adjust to, others will find it a meaty ragout, all the more tender for the longer wait.

So it's my last review of 2017, and my year in books has ended pretty much as it began with an excellent 5 star read. John Boyne is a truly gifted writer and 'The Heart's Invisible Furies' is simply mesmerising.

Cyril Avery was born out of wedlock to 16 year old Catherine Coggins. Because of this, Catherine is banished from the small Irish Community where she's lived all her life. This is 1940's Ireland where Catholic priests very much ruled their communities. Publicly denounced as a whore by the parish priest in front of the whole congregation at Sunday Mass, she boards a bus for Dublin and turns her back on everything and everyone she's ever known.

Baby Cyril is adopted by a wealthy but unconventional couple, and although he isn't badly treated, he's never shown any real love and is constantly reminded that he's not a real Avery and never will be.

As Cyril grows older, he begins to realise that he's not like other boys, he has no interest in girls, and indeed when he meets Julian Woodbead at the age of 7, he's completely obsessed with him and this will continue for many years. He begins to see Julian as the love of his life, however it's a love that's not returned and something he has to keep secret - this was a time when it was a criminal offence to be homosexual, and at the very least would land you a severe beating.

As the years pass we share Cyril's life, firstly in Ireland, then onto Amsterdam where the laws were more lenient towards the gay community, and where he meets his future partner, and then finally to America, where he has to face one of the biggest tragedies of his life.

Oh gosh! This was a family saga of the highest order, covering seven decades, and it deals with issues that would appear unbelievable today. The author demonstrates how the Catholic Church created unbearable situations for families through it's hypocritical small minded beliefs.

It was an emotional read that had me chuckling at times, yet left me tearful at others. I became completely invested in the characters, and wanted to rage at the way Cyril was treated because of his homosexuality - he just wanted to live like everyone else with the one he loved - was that too much to ask?

The writing was that of a master at work, the characters were an eclectic bunch, but all the better for it, and the storyline broke my heart at times with its political and cultural prejudice.

At around 600 pages this isn't a quick read, but if you choose to read it, just savour every page, because if you're like me, you'll be really sorry when it comes to an end. A truly powerful read, and a tremendous finish to 2017.

*Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review*

I don't think I have the words to review this book, and do it justice....it's brilliant. I laughed, I cried and I became completely involved with characters. Cyril Avery will stay with me forever, although he wasn’t quite a real Avery, he was certainly real to me. At times I had to put this book down to think through what i had read. Having read my way through 53 books this year this is my favorite read of 2017, so much so that i also have the audio version to, which is equaly fantastic.
One word of caution this is a gritty, real, and at times disturbing read, it's not hearts and flowers. Just stop what you are doing.....go purchase and read this book, it is simple brilliance. Surely a classic of the future. This one brings down all the stars for me ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️