Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne: Review


John Boyne has delivered to us once again an earth-shattering, heart-wrenching and ambitious novel that is just the sort of book that this society needs, at this very moment. The story follows Cyril Avery, beginning in 1945, a child born out of wedlock into a violent circumstance and adopted by an unconventional and cold couple.
As Cyril navigates his childhood, coming to terms with being a gay individual, the one consuming question is: Who are his parents? Where did he come from?
Growing up in Ireland, a viciously repressive and heavily religious country at the time, Cyril must hide who he truly is to avoid the homosexual hate crimes and thundering guardia who can and will kill/imprison any gay who is discovered.

Cyril's adoptive parents although cold, are not necessarily unlikable, Maude Avery a focused and narcissistic author and Charles Avery a falandering tax fraud, bring a light humor into the story with their attempts at parenting young Cyril while he is discovering his sexuality. The most heart rendering is Cyril's search for acceptance through his love of Julian Woodbead and Baastian, a comparative love marked by young infatuation versus mature compassion and the loss he faces with both; moments in which you can't help but shed a tear. 


On a historical scope, Boyne examines the pivotal IRA bombing in 1966 on the Nelson's Pilar in Dublin, and the political and societal shifts over the course of 70 years to allow same sex marriage. To have lived in Ireland was to bear the weight of the crushing ideologies of the catholic church, one character describes it as "a country run by vicious, evil-minded, sadistic priests and government so in thrall to the collar that it’s practically led around on a leash.” As a reader, we get to see the horrific violence, benevolent and hateful priests, but also how over the course of time the views and ideas of the country do begin to change, especially with the help of outspoken individuals who lead the way.

Throughout the book, we can begin to view it as a historical reel highlighting key points in history such as the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy and the sweeping epidemic of Aids and HIV in New York. Many could also view Cyril as the conductor of happen stance and coincidence, taking the reader through bigger events throughout history, giving the impression of a calculated history lesson.

Each chapter/section reaches forward every seven years, as Boyne's protagonist wrestles with the ever changing landscape of his life and the development of his true self, and coming to terms with who he is. We can speculate that Boyne is giving the audience a psychological assessment into how our lives can drastically change every seven years. Giving way to new experiences, lead by both the vivid and sometimes overshadowing supporting characters and the changes in the attitudes and aptitudes of society.

The Heart's Invisible Furies is both charming, witty and gives the reader a sense of rectified yearning.


You can read more about the author and purchase this novel here.



FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging For Books for an HONEST review.

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