Scan barcode
A review by chrissie_whitley
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
5.0
The Heart's Invisible Furies has been languishing on my bookshelf and in the back of my mind for several years. I believe I got the copy from Book of the Month Club after it won Book of the Year in 2017. In fact, I had received two copies due to a shipping mistake. (I gave the spare to a friend.) However, this one had to suffer in limbo due to the faulty combination of hype and expectations.
Regardless, I have finally come around to it, and I'm happy to acknowledge that this lives up to its hype and met, if not exceeded, my expectations.
"...life had manifested the heart's invisible furies on his face."
John Boyne is a wonderful storyteller, and he grabbed me with that first line with the swiftness of a skilled pickpocket. I was in his clutches. In this epic life-tale, Boyne tells the story of Cyril Avery, from in utero to the age of 70 — and he relays this life by touching down every seven years.
Beginning in 1945, with Cyril's teenage mother leading the way into the story, Boyne dresses this narrative up like a documentary, and from beginning to end we go. Cyril recounts the seven decades of his life, in seven year turns, starting with his adoption by an eccentric couple when he's three days old. Boyne touches on events and parts of Cyril that shaped him throughout his life, molding him in front of our eyes. Cyril realizes fairly early on that he is gay, and with Cyril's sexuality proving pivotal to the plot and to Cyril's growth as a character, Boyne uses this life as a way to reflect on the growth and changes of Ireland.
From the Catholic Church-dominated era post-World War II, to 2015 when Ireland became the first country to adopt the Equal Rights Marriage Referendum — Boyne allows the growth in Cyril to be reflective of the growth and changes in Ireland. And thus, the potential for growth everywhere and in us all.
Many people have called this novel sad and dark, but it only felt like life to me. There is always a balance created in different ways, without dark you cannot see the light.... Regardless, this was a fully-encompassing novel, filled with life. Perhaps, at times, a bit coincidental and melodramatic, but there is a wonderful thread of humor throughout — particularly with the dialogue — that everyone seems to discover.
Regardless, I have finally come around to it, and I'm happy to acknowledge that this lives up to its hype and met, if not exceeded, my expectations.
"...life had manifested the heart's invisible furies on his face."
John Boyne is a wonderful storyteller, and he grabbed me with that first line with the swiftness of a skilled pickpocket. I was in his clutches. In this epic life-tale, Boyne tells the story of Cyril Avery, from in utero to the age of 70 — and he relays this life by touching down every seven years.
Beginning in 1945, with Cyril's teenage mother leading the way into the story, Boyne dresses this narrative up like a documentary, and from beginning to end we go. Cyril recounts the seven decades of his life, in seven year turns, starting with his adoption by an eccentric couple when he's three days old. Boyne touches on events and parts of Cyril that shaped him throughout his life, molding him in front of our eyes. Cyril realizes fairly early on that he is gay, and with Cyril's sexuality proving pivotal to the plot and to Cyril's growth as a character, Boyne uses this life as a way to reflect on the growth and changes of Ireland.
From the Catholic Church-dominated era post-World War II, to 2015 when Ireland became the first country to adopt the Equal Rights Marriage Referendum — Boyne allows the growth in Cyril to be reflective of the growth and changes in Ireland. And thus, the potential for growth everywhere and in us all.
Many people have called this novel sad and dark, but it only felt like life to me. There is always a balance created in different ways, without dark you cannot see the light.... Regardless, this was a fully-encompassing novel, filled with life. Perhaps, at times, a bit coincidental and melodramatic, but there is a wonderful thread of humor throughout — particularly with the dialogue — that everyone seems to discover.