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  • The Heart's Invisible Furies

  • By: John Boyne
  • Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
  • Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (776 ratings)

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The Heart's Invisible Furies

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
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Publisher's Summary

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

What listeners say about The Heart's Invisible Furies

Average Customer Ratings
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Overall very, very good book.

Every time you thought you knew when and where things were headed, there was always just a little curve ball which kept you there, in the story.

Lovely but troubled story about a not so nice time. Provoked a number of emotions, however lovely bits of well placed humour helped and a number of times I actually laughed out loud.

Looking for another like this!

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5 people found this helpful

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Narration superb

The talent of Stephen Hogan is unsurpassed. The way he can seamlessly transition from one character to another and speak with such sublime expression meant that I enjoyed this audio book more than any other I have listened to.
The story is both heartbreaking and hilarious. I laughed and cried - there are not many books that I’ve read that have elicited such an emotional response in me. Highly recommended reading.

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5 people found this helpful

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It's a big thumbs up from me.

I bloody loved this book - both the story and the reading of it. I will never forget it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved my first Audible

Loved this book Narrator was brilliant given it's an Irish story. Fitted perfectly. This was my first audio book and I thoroughly enjoyed this funny but oh so sad story

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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John Boyne's best yet

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I love John Boyne and the audio rendition of this novel had me in fits of laughter and grief stricken by equal measure.

What other book might you compare The Heart's Invisible Furies to, and why?

There are similarities in this book to "the Absolutionist", which I found equally enthralling.

Any additional comments?

The characterisation is superb!

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Absolutely

I've discovered John Boyne via The Echo Chamber and have been working my way through his back catalogue. I approached this one with trepidation due to its length but I loved it from the outset - I could have easily spent another 20 hours with these characters!

Boyne writes with humour and humanity. Although this story is filled with tragedy it is written without darkness and left me filling uplifted and hopeful.

My favourite book of this year so far. 100% would recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great story

I don’t usually like fiction but this story and the narration was very entertaining. I didn’t want it to end

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Brilliant read

Loved it! Fantastic story telling, heartbreaking yet witty. Would definitely recommend- best read yet!

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wonderful!

I read a recommendation for this book on Facebook, for which I'm very grateful.
A delightful book...
Unique, engaging and poignant story telling.

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  • 20-05-2022

Loved this!

Loved everything about this book. The story is wonderful and the narration is perfect. Would highly recommend

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