If you’re only going to read a handful of books this year, make sure you read The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. Everything about this book is incredible. It is truly a wonderful and perfect story. I literally have nothing but glowing things to say, I simply loved everything about this book.
THE PLOT
Born in 1945, Cyril Avery was adopted when he was only three days old by a well-to-do, yet eccentric family in Dublin. Cyril’s birth mother was a single, sixteen year old who was cast out of her small Catholic farm town upon the discovery of her pregnancy. We are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of Cyril.
THE MAIN THEME OF THE BOOK
For nearly the first half of Cyril’s life, he struggles with his homosexuality, which of course is the central pulse of this story. Cyril’s journey begins in Catholic Priest Run (and severely sexually repressed) Ireland, and later off to Holland, where the laws and attitudes towards gays were incredibly different. At some point, Cyril makes his way to New York during the terrible and horrific AIDS crisis. Eventually, Cyril finds his way back to Ireland, where thankfully much has changed. Other themes include: friendship, parenthood, love, joy, sorrow, peace, forgiveness, and redemption.
I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK
First of all, this book was everything, it was truly a masterpiece, and an excellent book. Perfectly written, with lovable and rich characters, the dialogue and banter between characters was absolutely hysterical and had me laughing out loud many times (and I’m not an easy laugh). The book takes us from 1945 to 2015, chapters are broken up into every seven years of Cyril’s life (ex: 1945, 1952, 1959, 1966, etc.). Which I thought was truly brilliant. The backstories are deep and utterly spectacular. The main tone of the book was pretty heavy — a homosexual man in Dublin, forced to hide his true self from everyone because it’s literally illegal and horrible things would happen. However, the author was able to weave in humor and witty dialogue between characters. Also, be prepared to cry. Tears were streaming out of me for the entirety of the very last chapter.
NEW FAVORITE
This book is by far the best book I’ve read in a while, and dare I say it’s officially on my top-ten list of all time. The Heart’s Invisible Furies will be hard to forget, and will forever be in my heart.
THE LENGTH
Forewarning: this is a LONG book. It’s 580 pages, but honestly, it goes by ridiculously quickly, as this story will suck you in immediately and won’t let you go. I tried to read it as slowly as I could, as I didn’t want it to end. If it was another 300 pages it still wouldn’t be long enough.
The Heart’s Invisible Furies won the 2017 Book of the Month’s Book of the Year and I TOTALLY agree with them. Do yourself a favor and go grab a copy. You’re welcome.