February 2022 - Fiction Group Read - The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

[Maria Laura]

I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" (view spoiler)[ I can´t feel more than anguish and pity for Ciryl. Persecution of homosexuals those years is inexplicable. But I feel sorry for Alice too. I think Ciryl took an extreme decision for his love for Julian but without considering the consequences (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Greg]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "I'm on pg 288, chapter "Loving Someone Else"
My heart goes out to Cyril -
[spoilers removed]"

I finished this part a little bit ago Terry - yes, it's heartbreaking. I'll admit though . . . at the (view spoiler)[wedding scene, where he tells Julian the truth (hide spoiler)], I had to turn down the volume on the audiobook and pause a few times. omg! It was really painful!

Thank goodness I never went as far as Cyril! . . . but when I was in college in my late teens and early twenties in college, I did some lesser though also very stupid things due to lack of courage and vision. I really felt for him, and I also really felt for Alice!

[Greg]

Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

So true Maria!

[Greg]

In the 1980 section, I was really glad that (view spoiler)[Cyril finally allowed himself to have something honest and "real." I loved Bastiaan's family - they were great (hide spoiler)].

I'm almost done with the book now, in the 2008 section, and I've definitely enjoyed it! There were quite a few stunning coincidences, from (in the 1987 section)(view spoiler)[Cyril's reuniting with Julian in New York (hide spoiler)] to (throughout)(view spoiler)[his many encounters with his biological mother and his coincidental encounter with Jack Smoot (hide spoiler)].

But I enjoyed the humor and the emotional truth in the book. It was a long, but it went pretty quick!

Work has been a little crazy the past week, but luckily, since I had the audiobook, I was still able to listen to it during my commute. I read parts with my hard copy at night when I had time, but the rest I listened to via audiobook. I thought the reader on the audiobook did a great job!

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering how well he knew Alice. Now, he can't face either of them again.
Talk about burning your bridges...

[Greg]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering how well he knew Alice. Now, he can't face either of ..."

For sure Terry! Some of those parts at the wedding and post-wedding were painful to read. And then to leave without speaking to her!! It's so cowardly and irresponsible!

I think it's the tremendous pain and confusion that he's been suffering under that have made him behave so selfishly. People do these things when they're lost like this, but it's hard to take.

[Maria Laura]

I have just finished! what a beautiful book! Cyril's story as the rest of the characters took my heart!. There are some scenes that I won't forget easily, they will be with me for a long time, as (view spoiler)[ the chat between Cyril and Julian in his hospital bed, the relationship between Alice, Liam and Cyril and the wedding of Catherine ❤️ (view spoiler)[ to me that kind of scenes show us what a complex thing is love and how many ways we have to express it, and hoy difficult it could be understand others. Thank you for this experience (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Maria Laura]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering how well he knew Alice. Now, he can't face either of ..."

Yeah!!! And the ironic of the situation is how well Julian showed him it in his chat in his (view spoiler)[ deathbed (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Maria Laura]

Greg wrote: "Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering how well he kne..."

I think that in some way he pays off his debts with (view spoiler)[ Alice and Liam being a constant presence in their life, although it was very sad the Bastiaan's death, I believe that thanks of that he could fix his relationships in Dublin (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Greg]

Maria wrote: "I have just finished! what a beautiful book! Cyril's story as the rest of the characters took my heart!. There are some scenes that I won't forget easily, they will be with me for a long time, as [..."

Maria, I agree that the hospital bed talks are beautifully done!

[Greg]

I do agree Maria - after he escapes from Dublin the first time, he starts to mature and gain perspective. Without the constant pressure of worrying about his own situation, without all wasted energy spent on hiding and fear, he's able to gain more empathy and understanding of others. And then he can begin to pay things back.

I did like that (view spoiler)[Alice and him were eventually able to come to an understanding of each other and a kind of peace. And although it was a huge coincidence for him to run into Julian in the hospital, I do like that there was the possibility for some kind of resolution with Julian . . . after Cyril was able to approach things with some honesty (honesty both with himself and with others) that made some level of resolution possible. It would have been too sad if they had never met again and had never had any opportunity to come to terms with their past (hide spoiler)].

[Maria Laura]

Greg wrote: "I do agree Maria - after he escapes from Dublin the first time, he starts to mature and gain perspective. Without the constant pressure of worrying about his own situation, without all wasted energ..."
Yeah that's right. It is like (view spoiler)[the stars aligned in his favour at the end. As Bastiaan said in his mind, he did it pretty well the second half of his life, taking into account the desastre of his first thirty years(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Maria wrote: "Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering how well he kne..."

I had tears rolling down my cheeks without even realizing it for a moment when I read the deathbed scene.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I loved this one when I read it a few years ago. What has stayed with me the most was Cyril's strength of character, considering how he was abandoned and then raised. I never thought he wouldn't survive his various challenges.

I reviewed it and opened with a quote that I got a real kick out of. It seemed to show what a low point he was starting from to grow up. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Greg]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved this one when I read it a few years ago. What has stayed with me the most was Cyril's strength of character, considering how he was abandoned and then raised. I never thought he wouldn't su..."

That's a really good point Patty. He grew up lonely and disregarded in so many ways, and he eventually got to a healthy place. That's not a trivial thing!

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Maria wrote: "Greg wrote: "Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, considering ho..."

I think (view spoiler)[Bastiaan's death was a catalyst for Cyril's personal growth and he might never had a real relationship with his son in Ireland if that tramatic and heartbreaking event did not happen.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved this one when I read it a few years ago. What has stayed with me the most was Cyril's strength of character, considering how he was abandoned and then raised. I never thought he wouldn't su..."
Great review, Patty!

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Even though I read this in February, this book has to be my favorite for the year!
It will be hard for any novel to top Cyril for being such a brave, resilient, loving and sympathetic protagonist. The only other chracters I can think of are A Gentleman in Moscow
and perhaps Harry Potter.

[Greg]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Even though I read this in February, this book has to be my favorite for the year!
It will be hard for any novel to top Cyril for being such a brave, resilient, loving and sympathetic protagonist. ..."

So glad you enjoyed it Terry! . . . and I agree with the spoiler you posted a while ago.

It was a great book!

[Maria Laura]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "Greg wrote: "Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "Maria wrote: "I'm at 1973 finished "loving someone else" [spoilers removed]"

Yes, Cyril's actions were particularly inconsiderate, ..."

Great thought Terry. I didn´t see it on that way!! I feel similar to you about Cyril. Is good to know that A Gentleman in Moscow has a resemblance to A Heart´s invisible furies. Will be my next reading soon.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved this one when I read it a few years ago. What has stayed with me the most was Cyril's strength of character, considering how he was abandoned and then raised. I nev..."

Thanks, Terry. I think this might be one I'll return to. I really enjoy John Boyne's writing. He certainly has a variety of subjects and makes some memorable characters.

Cyril, The Count, Harry Potter - what a trio, Terry.