Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from - and over his many years, will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country, and much more.
In this, Boyne's most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart's Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit. (Pub Date: Aug 22, 2017)
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
I didn't think I'd ever come across a 5-star book ever again, and now Boyne has gone and spoiled me. This was so indescribable.I worry if I can even make a proper review.
First, this was the fictional biography of Cyril Avery, adopted since a baby from a teenage mother exiled from home with no way to provide for two to a rich but nonconventional couple in Dublin. Since little, he had been told the truth about his origins—he wasn't a real Avery, he like a tenant in the house, expected to move out at eighteen. He was never abused but starved for love when he met Julian Woodbead, with whom he'd construct a complex relationship close to that of a brother despite Cyril's wish that they were something else.
The book covers most of Cyril's life, from when his mother is told to leave her town and family still carrying him inside her. But Boyne chose an interesting way to accomplish this. Instead of going from important fact to important fact, he showed Cyril's life every seven years or so. I think the most noticeable consequence of this was the small question he'd create with each passage of time—but what happened right after that event he was telling us? This would always make sure I read the next period as soon as possible, waiting for Cyril to update us on that.
The same way we met Cyril every seven years, it was lovely to meet again some characters you thought you'd never see another time.
I believe the title is a reference to the Greek Goddesses, the Furies, who hounded and punished people for their evil deeds. And the book makes sure to tell us the beginning and the punishment each character happens to come across for their actions. Including Cyril himself. I'm not good at this but I would love to read a deeper analysis.
But it's not all about misfortunes. In fact, any friend to whom I've mentioned this story would have thought this is primarily a humor book. From narration to dialogues and even more the characters, there wasn't a part that didn't make me laugh. To be honest, despite so many unfortunate happenings, I only cried while reading the final page—because the scene was just so overwhelmingly beautiful. Now I'd chuckle and laugh out loud a little too much for a serious story.
Julian does the most unexpected things, which leave us and Cyril speechless all the time. And the Averies! They were terrible parents and still my favorite characters. Even though they were present in many of the scenes, they still managed to leave their mark in much of what Cyril did—like his insistence on others call the couple his adoptive parents.
The repeating theme of the book is homosexuality. I can't opine but from the view of a heterosexual, but I don't doubt Boyne treated it with the seriousness and completeness this deserved. Now, if the theme doesn't make you feel comfortable, I suggest you skip the reading. Boyne is known for his subtlety and it was indeed subliminal in the beginning. After a point, however, he left no room for ambiguity of the importance of this to the main plot. It is the main plot. (Sometimes I even wondered if someone could have met so many obvious homosexuals back then without being out and looking for them; I really hadn't until ten years ago.)
With that said, there's no doubt this is perfect for book clubs or buddy reads.
This was my second Boyne book and I was hesitant. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas being my first made me think I'd never enjoy as much anything he may write. I'm glad I was so wrong. They're almost different books but I still found in this some of the marks that defines TBITSP in my mind.
The book was long—I had a shock when I opened it in my Kindle—but the writing was such a pleasure I couldn't put it down. I feel very lucky to have received the chance to review this.
Rating: 5 out of 5. (The first of this blog!)
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