The Heart's Invisible Furies

by John Boyne

'A bold, funny epic' Observer
'Compelling and satisfying . . . At times, incredibly funny, at others, heartrending' Sarah Winman, author of Still Life
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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.

The new novel by John Boyne, FIRE, is available now.
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What readers are saying:

'The story of the life of one man, told against the backdrop of twentieth century Ireland' 'Simultaneously heart-breaking, funny and life-affirming.'
'Fantastic eccentric characters and dark humour is underpinned by a touching love story, perfect.'
'The saddest and happiest book I have read . . . told with great compassion and ultimately a great love of life.'

• ISBN10: 1784161004
• ISBN13: 9781784161002
• Publish Date: 14 December 2017 (first published 9 February 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
• Imprint: Black Swan
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 736
• Language: English

Reviews

[Bianca]

And yet for all my happiness at seeing him happy and secure in who he was, there was something terribly painful about it too. What I would not have given to be that young at this time and to be able to experience such unashamed honesty.

Laugh-out-loud funny and quietly heartbreaking, a story about the life of one gay man from birth to old age as he grapples with his identity while struggling to live in a world full of bigotry. So witty while being so incredibly moving too. What a book! ❤️

[rohshey]

Leo Varadkar made history when he was elected as Ireland’s prime minister by bringing down a significant barrier as the country’s first openly gay prime minister. This is all the more astonishing when one remembers that until 1993, homosexuality was illegal, creating a culture of fear and repression for many Irish citizens. From this point of view, this book is very significant because it follows a boy, Cyril, who knows he is gay in a society that hates his sexuality and will take decades to unlearn a history of crippling guilt and shame.
But with all its good intent, the story felt clichéd and the tone was uneven, lurching from what felt like farce at times. I expected a broader sweep in Cyril's search for himself, but it was mostly about his life as a gay man in Ireland, the Netherlands, New York and back to Ireland again. Some Irish caricatures, probably there to keep the international readership happy. Some sermonising here and there, if I want that I'll listen to a panel discussion on the radio. Nicely written and pacy enough to get through quickly but It was trying to do too much and did not do anything wel