The Heart's Invisible Furies: John Boyne

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John Boyne is an Irish author of 15 novels for adults and children. His most successful book, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, has sold 7m copies worldwide and was made into a film starring David Thewlis. His latest novel, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, is a bold, funny epic, spanning 70 years of one man’s life I’d been thinking of the 90-year-old guy, and of writing a condemnation of Ireland for allowing a life like that to happen, but when I introduced Cyril’s adoptive parents, Charles and Maud, it seemed right to add humour. Being gay in Ireland in the 1950's and beyond was not simply frowned upon. Decriminalisation didn't happen until 1993. When Cyril finds himself in an intolerable situation, he does what his mother did before him - he gets out. This second section of the book, (broken into three parts - Shame, Exile and Peace), was for me, the most satisfying. Through chance and coincidence (and there are many in this book), he makes a new life for himself, first in Amsterdam, then in New York. I loved her character and she was exactly the kind of woman I always want to find in a book. She was strong and stood by her opinion and even though life handed her some tough cards she never even thought about giving up. Catherine made the best of her life and I loved to see her so happy at the end of the book! Plus, I lived and breathed for those short moments when Cyril’s and her path crossed. They were always very polite and honest with each other and I think she was more of a mother to him than Maude ever was, even when they both had no clue that they were actually mother and son. <3

Witty dialogue. Somehow, in a story that has so much pathos in it, the author injects a lot of humor. This is especially true in the first half. One minor character in particular is very funny without trying to be (which makes it even funnier). The dialogue is smart, realistic, and snappy—the best combo ever.How do you anchor yourself in that situation? Who or what do you latch on to? For Cyril, it is Julian Woodbead, a childhood friend who seems to have everything Cyril doesn't - confidence, glamour, the freedom to be himself. Cyril loves him with a passion and intensity that isn't reciprocated. This friendship snakes its way through Cyril's life, at times leaving him sad, angry, frustrated and jealous. Novelists often write about writing and Boyne has a bit of fun with the subject. Maude Avery, Cyril’s adoptive mother holds a dim view of her profession. “Do you enjoy being a writer, Mrs Avery?” asked Julian. At boarding school he falls secretly in love with his best friend but could never admit to his sexuality, and ends up leaving Ireland under a cloud. Maybe there were no villains in my mother’s story at all. Just men and women, trying to do their best by each other. And failing. Boyne’s enraged vision is his great strength in The Heart’s Invisible Furies. The appalling comedy of Cyril’s childhood and youth, the vigour, the mess, the stir and life and horror of it all form the heart of a substantial achievement.

Pretty powerful stuff, that. Little Cyril is telling the story as a babe not even born yet and the story he told, whew. I was appalled at what that priest did to his mom. Threw her out of town and hit her. I really can't stand those priests of old. I'm not sure where to start. This book has been doing well with critics so I expected it to be pretty good - I just didn't expect it to be unputdownable. I also thought it might be hard-going, but it was a really easy read, albeit long and sometimes depressing. At one point, the characters have a discussion about authors and what makes a good book and I found this quote especially fitting:This guy of about 90 was coming out of the polling booth and a journalist asked why he was crying. And he said, ‘Because it’s too late for me, but it’s not for others’.” The story begins with a teenage girl named Catherine who is pregnant and not accepted by her family or church any longer. It’s the 1940’s in Ireland and she’s exiled and expected to start a new life elsewhere, which she does. After her baby is born, she gives him up and he’s adopted by a couple named Charles and Maude Avery. They name him Cyril and he loves his adoptive parents very much, but he doesn’t receive the love he deserves from them and he’s consistently told, “You’re not a real Avery.”