I read The Heart’s Invisible Furies as part of my 20 Books Of Summer challenge.

Blurb:

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery. At least, that’s what his parents make sure to remind him. Adopted as a baby, he feels more and more disconnected with the family that treats him more as a curious pet, rather than a beloved son.

So, as a young adult, Cyril decides to embark on a quest to find his place in the world. Sometimes misguided and often in the wrong place at the wrong time, life has dealt him a difficult hand but Cyril is resolute that he can change things, and find the courage to be himself.

And in doing so, his story will come across that of Catherine Goggin, a young, pregnant woman finding herself alone and isolated at only sixteen. There is a place in the world for both of them, and Cyril is determined to find it.

Review:

I’ve procrastinated writing this review because I have no idea how I can possibly do The Heart’s Invisible Furies justice. John Boyne is such an amazing writer – this novel has humour, grief, joy and heartbreak and it takes you on an emotional journey which I felt so viscerally. 

The Heart’s Invisible Furies is the story of Cyril Avery, given up for adoption by his teenage mother when he was just days old. The novel is written in first person from his point of view and we follow his story through to adulthood, meaning the reader gets to know him quite well – all his thoughts, desires and regrets. His decisions are not always decisions with which I would agree, but I did feel a great sense of sympathy and protectiveness towards Cyril as I was reading, particularly as the circumstances in which he finds himself are often tinged with sadness. 

John Boyne takes us to various locations at different points in history from the 1940s to the 2010s. This enables him to show us how historical events and attitudes affected Cyril and impacted his life. He explores many different themes with sensitivity and compassion and there was so much for me to think about as I was reading. 

The plotting of The Heart’s Invisible Furies is impeccable and I absolutely loved the way the characters reappear and different strands from Cyril’s life carry through the whole novel. The story was so clever and compelling and despite the length (which would usually intimidate me) I did not want to stop reading. 

I will be thinking about Cyril and this wonderful cast of characters long after I finish reading. 

The Heart’s Invisible Furies is available from Amazon.