While this book may seem long at almost six hundred pages, I think it needs just that to tell the story of Cyril Avery. Spanning from 1949 to 2015, Boyne captivate his readers with the trials and tribulations of his protagonist - providing a window into Cyril’s life at seven year increments. .
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I did not expect to love this book. I knew nothing about it, which is often the beauty of my book club because the majority of our picks are random, leaving all to be discovered as we read. John Boyne’s writing is excellent, with an even flow and enough detail to paint a vivid picture of the setting and the character’s happenstances and experiences, but without getting too caught up in flowery language that takes away from the storyline. I was so drawn to Cyril too. I haven’t read many books with gay protagonists and LGBTQ fiction is not a genre I really delve into. But I know that life is not perfect and that everyone goes through tragedies and hardships and I think that is how I could empathize and connect with Cyril. Plus, there was enough serendipitous moments throughout the story and a seemingly happy ending which appeals to my love for neat and tidy conclusions to books. .
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Lastly, I wouldn’t have been able to read (and enjoy!) such a long book in 7 days if I was not enthralled with it. Because that is a lot of reading! .
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I highly recommend The Heart’s Invisible Furies. .
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