The Heart's Invisible Furies

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne is one I won’t be forgetting for a long time.  It is a massive book and it is a long journey,  I have loved every minute.

We start Cyril’s story with his teenage mum, Cat, as she is humiliated and thrown out of her church and family.

The book starts powerfully and it is hard to believe anyone could have been treated so cruelly.   I loved Cat from the start, she is a vulnerable teenager when we first meet her and she becomes a strong and brave woman, full of life.

There are many characters in this book that have won a firm place in my heart.  None more so than the main character Cyril Avery.  There are plenty of moments when I wanted to yell at him, he certainly gets himself into some interesting situations.  He made me laugh, he made me cry and there were times I felt angry with him and angry with the situations he was in.

I loved the way the book weaves through time, how Cyril’s life connects with the other characters throughout.  There are some seriously sad moments.  The book covers the AIDS epidemic in the early 80s, the attitude towards the gay communities and of course young girls who found themselves pregnant outside of marriage.

John Boyne has managed something so special with this book, he has created characters that you will just love.  At some of the darkest and most desperate moments in Cyril’s life he is able to bring an element of lightness to it.

There are countless amazing reviews of this book online.  I had read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas many years ago and loved it so I had high hopes and I was not at all disappointed.  I cannot rave about this book enough.  I actually finished it a couple of days ago but wanted to take some time to digest it before attempting a review.

I’d love to hear what you thought about this one, let me know in the comments below.

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