--- product_id: 49510179 title: "The Heart's Invisible Furies" brand: "john boyne" price: "€ 13.20" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 21 url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/49510179-the-hearts-invisible-furies store_origin: PT region: Portugal --- # The Heart's Invisible Furies **Brand:** john boyne **Price:** € 13.20 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Heart's Invisible Furies by john boyne - **How much does it cost?** € 13.20 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/49510179-the-hearts-invisible-furies) ## Best For - john boyne enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted john boyne brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![The Heart's Invisible Furies - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dQOqe5AYL.jpg) ![The Heart's Invisible Furies - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513PVWDqBwL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The best novel I've read in years *by G***N on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2019* John Boyne's tale of one man's life, all but from conception to death, is a funny, poignant, moving and at times heartbreaking story as much about Ireland as about its lead character, Cyril Avery. From high farce it turns on a sixpence to dark introspection, the literary equivalent of spinning plates, which it achieves with consummate ease and a very deft hand. From the opening paragraph (surely the perfect example of 'how to hook your readers with your very first line') to its final words it makes for compelling reading you both want to devour and yet never want to end.Given the book is written by a gay Irish man there is more than a little to the story that is autobiographical, or at least extrapolated, as the author himself reveals in the touchingly honest afterword. He admits that his success as a writer to date gave him free rein to make of this novel what he has, juggling a range of styles and including a number of issues that are important to him personally. Not that this is to the novel's detriment in any way: it helps tell a full and complex story that will linger in the memory for a long time.As triumphant as the novel is, its very nature dictates that it can never be as satisfying as it perhaps could be. As the narrative shifts forward seven years every 70 pages or so, covering the 70 years in the life of the aforementioned Cyril Avery, it focuses on key events and smaller moments but with far more going unsaid than is written on the page. In this sense, while its cast of characters is memorable and for the most part beautifully drawn, the shifting timeframe means that some are quicker sketches than others. One disappointment for me personally is that we don't really get to know Bastiaan, arguably the most important man in Cyril's life, as well as we ought to. (This coincides with the one section of the novel I felt was the least successfully indulgent, if you like, shining an otherwise admirable spotlight on the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and sacrificing characterisation a little in the process.)Purely in terms of credulity the weak point of the narrative is that it involves a series of unlikely coincidences, with Cyril encountering key characters again and again in his life - which would require less suspension of disbelief if the setting did not change repeatedly throughout, taking the story to other countries and even other continents. It also gives itself permission at times to adopt traditionally filmic elements, which make the story no less satisfying (indeed more so in parts) but rather make it feel like the author is already planning his adapted screenplay for when the novel is turned into a lavish six-part mini-series. The final chapter is the most obvious example of this.These gripes aside, however, I have nothing but good things to say about The Heart's Invisible Furies. From its laugh-out-loud moments via its thought-provoking interludes to scenes and sentiments that gave me pause to be thankful for what I have in life, it made for very rewarding reading. I often say with other books I've read that I would be happy to read them again; with this one I know for certain that I will return to it, hopefully many times.P.S. One question for anyone who's read it and can perhaps set me straight: was it just my imagination, did I miss something or does Cyril's conversation with Mrs Goggin about the aftermath of the events in Central Park not tally with the information given elsewhere in the book? (Twice a trial is mentioned, but Cyril later tells Mrs Goggin that the culprits were never caught.) ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 600 pages of engrossing, fabulous storytelling *by A***S on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2019* Set against seven decades of Irish history, this majestic odyssey of a novel tells the compelling story of one man’s quest to discover his true self and, with it, a place where he can belong. From start to finish, it is an utterly absorbing read: at times shocking and tragic, at others poignant and funny. Boyne’s skillfully balanced narrative will make you weep, and then laugh out loud before the tears are dry on your cheeks. And it will cling, limpet-like, to your consciousness long after you turn the final page.Cyril Avery, the novel’s gay, illegitimate hero, is a triumph of characterization, even for Boyne. Born in the wrong place at the wrong time, Cyril relates his inner and outer struggles with an almost dispassionate fluidity that serves only to heighten the confusion, anger and shame that define his existence. The light touches of often self-deprecating wit are a master stroke, adding an almost wicked playfulness to his otherwise tortured soul. Cyril is a character who effortlessly commands both affection and empathy, first as a boy, growing up in an adopted, loveless home, then as a man, tormented by his sexuality and plagued by tragedy even when he finally finds happiness.The narrative itself has a lovely Dickensian flavor, with a fabulously eccentric supporting cast and a raft of odd coincidences and missed opportunities that in any other context would be deemed beyond the pale. Here, though, as Boyne works his magic and sucks you into his tale, credibility takes a back seat to the sheer enjoyment of the storytelling.And enjoy it I did - all 600 pages. A magnificent, tour de force of a novel.Thanks for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. You can find more candid book reviews on my profile page. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Red Door Book Club *by N***1 on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2018* I read this book as a nominated book for the book club I belong to, and its one of the best books I have read for quite a while, its not often that I leave reviews but this is definitely worth reading --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/49510179-the-hearts-invisible-furies](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/49510179-the-hearts-invisible-furies) --- *Product available on Desertcart Portugal* *Store origin: PT* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*