#TheHeartsInvisibleFuries #JohnBoyne #Review

THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIES

John Boyne

This is a truly epic novel in every sense of the word. At around 700 pages it is epic in length, but it's also epic storytelling as it follows the life of Cyril Avery, and it's also an epic novel in terms of what it has accomplished.

John Boyne needs no introduction and for those of us that have read his other novels, it will be no surprise to hear that this is as outstanding as anything else he has written. This novel packs as much punch, carries as much heartache and reflects on as much cruelty, injustice and wrong doing as any of his other books. Boyne is an incredibly talented writer and this book is a must read. 

The story begins with Catherine Goggin, who finding herself pregnant at sixteen years old and publicly humiliated by the priest in her home town, leaves for Dublin. These initial scenes depicting Catherine's life are upsetting, clearly capturing the prejudice of the time and placing the reader firmly in the social and political context of the novel. Boyne engages his reader immediately with characters that we feel an emotional connection to quickly. Catherine is a brave and bold young girl who has a plan and a determination for a better life for herself and her child. She shows wit, intelligence and confidence as she seeks out a fresh start in Dublin despite her situation and the reader is rooting from her from the start. As with all great stories, the people she meets through her random interactions on the bus and on arrival in the city go on to inform and shape the rest of the story. 

The opening scenes are powerful and wonderfully evoked. Although there are many books about this time period in Ireland, about young girls shunned by the church and their families, about same sex relationships and prejudice, Boyne makes this story as compelling and unputdownable as anything else. His writing is vivid, full of drama, tension and shock. There is something about Boyne's writing that is deeply affecting and within the opening chapters, he has created characters and issues that will touch the reader and hook them deep into the pages of this thoughtful novel. 

After Catherine's initial narrative, the story then continues with Cyril Avery, adopted as a baby thanks to the intervention of a little Redemptorist nun, and his search for identity, a sense of belonging and his emotional journey as he comes to terms with his place in the world. Cyril is an incredibly well crafted character. He is misguided, naive, vulnerable, confused, flawed and yet likeable- perhaps actually loveable. In a way, this novel echoes something very classic in it's shape and form; it is a coming of age novel, a story full of social commentary, political issues, a personal journey affected by key moments in history, and a novel that is ultimately about love, friendship and identity. The most enjoyable thing about this novel is Boyne's protagonist and his observations, insights, his candid comments, his need to hide, suppress and struggle against his feelings and his interaction with the other colourful cast of characters that he finds himself sharing parts of his life with.

This book is so readable, so fluent in it's narrative, so immersive and so full of clever dialogue that it does become unputdownable and it is impossible to walk away from Cyril and his adventure. There is not enough space to refer to the range of emotions that the reader will experience throughout the moments, events and scenes that occur in this story. There are some passages that are upsetting, or challenging, and yet there is much humour and entertainment and many passages that will make the reader laugh or smile. Boyne's writing is so eloquent, so captivating and so polished that this really is an exceptional novel. 

Cyril is a marvellous character, matched only perhaps by the glamorous Julian Woodbead. All the key characters in the novel are completely three dimensional and Cyril's interaction with them brings the reader passages of heart break, dilemma, complications, challenge, frustration and sadness. There are also characters who bring us light relief, entertainment and plenty of heartwarming moments. The balance between the ups and downs is well judged and Boyne's turn of phrase and skilful writing ensures that the reader is never too overwhelmed despite the level of emotion and the complexity of the issues explored. This is as uplifting as it is sad, as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

The Heart's Invisible Furies is a novel that address cruelty, the position of women, the power of the Church, the prejudice towards gay relationships, love and identity through a fascinating protagonist who drives this absorbing tale over 700 pages, never once disappointing the reader or losing their empathy or engagement. There are some beautifully written passages and there are many examples of exquisite writing including lots of pertinent repetition, imagery and thematic motifs. This is a story of a man who struggles to belong, to find his place in the world and whose journey we share as he tries to seek out and come to terms with his country and himself. 

The Heart's Invisible Furies was published by Black Swan on 14th December 2017. 
*My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of the novel via NetGalley*