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The Heart's Invisible Furies

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The Heart's Invisible Furies

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
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About this listen

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery, or at least that's what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn't a real Avery, then who is he?

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 three score years and 10, 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.

©2017 John Boyne (P)2017 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Ireland Feel-Good Funny Heartfelt Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Witty Adoption

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The Pride List of Queer Storytelling

To mark Pride 2023 Audible teamed up with non-profit organisation, Out on the Page, supporter and champion of LGBTQIA+ writers and writing, to release an extensive Pride List of Queer Storytelling. Featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most important and exciting voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, this audiobook is one of the many featured on the list that is available to listen to on Audible.
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I thouroughly enjoyed this story, tragic and joyful all at the same time. the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. I'm sad it's over. thank you.

wonderful book, excellently narrated.

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I loved this book. it became part of my life, I was going home looking for Cyril, the main character, wondering what he would say in certain situations. a beautifully written story. the performance was so good, lovely voice, great animation, can't wait to hear it again in another performance.

a real beauty

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‘The Heart’s Invisible Furies’ is the first book I've downloaded that I’ve felt like pressing start when I got to the end so I could begin it again. I LOVED it. The narration by Stephen Hogan is a joy and a perfect fit for this particular novel, which I came to by way of John Boyne’s 'Ladder to the Sky', a pastiche of the publishing world which was recommended to me by a fellow author. Having found that 'Ladder to the Sky' resonated, I explored Boyne’s backlist and saw this was if even more widely lauded so decided to give it a go. And wow, am I a glad I did. 'The Heart's Invisible Furies' is hugely ambitious – taking in several continents and pivotal historic events as it spans the end of the second world war to the present day – but, bound together by the life story Cyril Avery and a host of vividly drawn characters, it works a treat.

After opening with the sobering story of Cyril’s 16-year-old mother, the first half of the novel is laugh-aloud witty, then, as Cyril ages and becomes more self-aware, it becomes more thoughtful and poignant. We are introduced to Cyril as a little boy, whose adoptive parents, Maud and Charles, are painted with humour and affection, and his friend Julian, whose charm and beauty Cyril is magicked by. Thematically, Cyril’s sexuality and his Irish background make it a novel that primarily explores this internal conflict, but Boyne also creates many vibrant characters - women (hurrah!) and straight men, older people and children. A couple of characters I’d have liked to know better (Baastion, Cyril’s long-term partner, for instance) and the New York hospital chapters felt overlong. There are also a LOT of coincidental meetings, but this is nitpicking.

I’m nearly 20 years younger than Cyril Avery, didn’t grow up Ireland and am female, but still, I felt parts were ‘my story’ too; I’ve lived through the changing social mores of the 60s and 70s, the AIDS epidemic, changing attitudes to sexuality and family bonds, and like Cyril have f*cked up and got it wrong - and right - and felt myself good and bad along the way. I’m sure others will recognise parts of themselves too, maybe in different ways, and urge you to read or listen to this wonderful book.

You are in for a treat!

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A fascinating insight into living as a homosexual man in Ireland over 60 yrs and the bigotry, predjudice and lack of freedom faced. I didn't always like Cyril, at times found the dialogue irritatating and some of the characters extreme and more like caracatures, but running throughout there were some beautiful tales of love, families, loss and friendship. Other readers have criticised the unlikelyness of the coincidences, I found these added a welcome sense of magic, creating a thread throughout of love and connection between mother and son. I was hooked all the way through, was saddened to leave Cyril at the end but glad I live where and when I live.

An absorbing journey

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Absolutely loved this story despite it being harrowing in places. It has some laugh out moments and some lovable characters in it and captures the bigotry in Ireland in the 20th century. Extremely well read which I believe enhances the story.

Superb story

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I loved this story from the first word to the very last!
I’m actually sad that it’s ended.
It made me laugh and it made me cry!
It also had me sobbing.
The narrator did a great job through the whole story.
I can’t heap enough praise in this book.
I loved all the characters especially Cyril.
I will miss them.
Another great Irish story.
The parts concerning the Catholic Church and it’s treatment of the people is very sad.
I’m so glade we now live in a world that is so much more accepting of people’s sexuality what ever it may be but I do think there is still a way to go.
I am looking forward to reading/listening to more of John Boyne’s work.
Well done for writing such a sensitive story with plenty of wit and humour.

Wonderful

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Absolutely loved this book , didn't want not to end. I laughed and cried and was completely entralled until the last page. Best Irish book I've read in years.

Beautiful, engaging, completely captivating.

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I loved everything about this. I feel I've brought a whole new raft of friends into my life. I wanted to find out what happens but didnt want it to end.

Loved this

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I picked this book not really knowing what it was about. I had read some reviews that had said it was "funny, couldn't put it down, emotional", but all of them an understatement. The detail of the story, I thought I was there and living through it all too. Emotional? I didn't know I had that many emotions. A very moving book and a book that makes you look within yourself, educates and gives you food for thought.
Hilariously funny laugh out loud as the narrator Stephen Hogan was absolutely amazing with the different voices was brilliant. I loved the main characters I was sorry the book ended.
Would I recommend this audible ..YES, I definitely would cuz I'll be listening to it again without a doubt.

An enlightenment book I'll never forget.

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Quite harrowing at times, but a lot easier to listen to than I was expecting, really enjoyed it, great characters.

Wonderful characters,

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