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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 Funny Heartfelt Tear-jerking Witty
All stars
Most relevant
I bloody loved this book - both the story and the reading of it. I will never forget it.

It's a big thumbs up from me.

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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!

John Boyne's best yet

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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

Loved my first Audible

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One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever ever listened to, both the story and the performance. Highly recommend.

Was amazing

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My favorite book of 2018 , Cyril will stay with me for a long time , hated finishing it .

A must read

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There was much about this book that I loved. I loved Cyril, despite, or perhaps because he was, like the rest of us, imperfect. I loved the writer's ability to write humour and heartbreak into the same moment. My main problem with the novel is that it was far too long, which caused it to become anti-climactic. While I understand that Boyne wanted to record the huge change in attitudes to gays by reaching the gay marriage referendum, the story itself became mundane soon after he found his mother. I would have liked it to finish there, perhaps with the epilogue mentioning the referendum. The silliest part of the novel was Cyril's mental conversations with the dead. These just added an element of weirdness. And Mr Boyne, but why the hell didn't Cyril (by then rolling in money) employ home help for his daughter-in-law who was struggling with four children under 15 months old, while he and his 'son' went to Europe?

Very good but too long

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This book is the best book I have ever read and it began my love affair with John Boyne's writing. I laughed, I cried and I felt anger and happiness, which is exactly what a good book should do. Boyne's writing just flows beautifully and he always has some great plot twists. The narrator had a great voice and made the audiobook experience even more enjoyable. I think everyone should read this book. I ended up listening to this twice and I bought the physical book too.

My Favourite Book Ever

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A book full of ups, downs and everything in between.
Absolutely worth the 27 or so hours.
I don't usually become invested in book characters, but I did with this one.

Stunning

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loved it! the subtle humour and the journey, loved the characters and the narrator was perfect. look forward to his next book!

loved it!

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Wow, what a surprise. This book was absolutely fantastic. The Irish humour, the storyline, everything that happened along the way. A fabulous listen from start to finish.

Please do yourself a favour and read this book. You won't regret it...

Wow, what a surprise

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