The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne has been on my radar for a while. It was released in 2017 and everyone I know who has read it has loved it. It was shortlisted for Irish Book Awards’ Novel of the Year and winner of the Glass Bell Award for Best Novel.
I’ve read a couple of John Boyne novels including The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and The Echo Chamber, but it’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies that I’ve heard talked about the most.
I knew it had been a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and had received fantastic reviews. The paperback copy has over 700 pages so I knew it wasn’t going to be a quick read. What I didn’t know was how moved I would be by it.
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Plot
The novel follows the life story of Cyril Avery, a gay, Irish, illegitimate adoptee. After his teenage unwed mother realises she can’t look after him, Cyril is adopted by The Averys, an affluent yet eccentric couple who never let Cyril forget he isn’t a “real Avery”. We follow Cyril’s life throughout the years, as he floats from country to country, anchored only by his friendship with the enigmatic Julian.
As we travel with Cyril through the decades, the novel covers not only his major life events but also world events such as the AIDS crisis and 9/11 along with the ongoing prejudice against gay men. Cyril just wants to find somewhere he can truly fit in and be happy.
The Heart’s Invisible Furies Book Review
I realise when reading my own synopsis of the novel’s plot, it really doesn’t sound all that exciting. However, it’s so hard to do this amazing novel justice. To put it mildly, I loved it. It’s up there as one of my favourite ever books and I felt bereft when I finished it. I was so completely immersed in Cyril’s story.
Cyril is a complex character, as endearing as he is infuriating. I questioned some of his decisions yet the author has a brilliant knack of putting you in the character’s shoes. I’m neither Irish, adoptive nor gay, and yet I felt Cyril’s pain so acutely as he tried to find his place in an intolerant world. He broke my heart and made me laugh out loud in equal measures and I can’t remember the last character I cared so much about. He was flawed and frustrating at times, but always lovable. I rooted for him throughout the novel and despaired at the heartaches and tragedies he had to endure.
There are some moments of real bleakness and sadness that literally brought me to tears. However, this isn’t a depressing novel. It’s full of heart and made me laugh out loud on several occasions.
I really enjoyed the dialogue throughout the novel. Cyril’s conversations with Julian left me moved, especially towards the end of the book. However, the dialogue between Cyril and his adoptive parents were a real highlight for me. It’s been a while since a book made me laugh as much as this one. Maude’s acerbic wit and Charles’ complete lack of self-awareness was a joy to read. I loved the affection that was so clearly there between them all despite evidence to the contrary.
The writing is beautiful and there are so many quotes that will stay with me forever. It’s not often you read a book with over 700 pages and yet still don’t want it to end!
I will be recommending this novel to everyone I know. I absolutely adored it.
What to read next
If you enjoyed The Heart’s Invisible Furies, I’d recommend reading The Echo Chamber also by John Boyne. It’s a completely different style of book, but I still enjoyed it. Plus it also includes a subtle nod to Maude Avery!