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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 (7,640 ratings)
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The Heart's Invisible Furies cover art

The Heart's Invisible Furies

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
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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

The Pride List of Queer Storytelling

To mark Pride 2023 Audible teamed up with non-profit organisation, Out on the Page, supporter and champion of LGBTQIA+ writers and writing, to release an extensive Pride List of Queer Storytelling. Featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most important and exciting voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, this audiobook is one of the many featured on the list that is available to listen to on Audible.

What listeners say about The Heart's Invisible Furies

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal

I don't usually read (or listen to) anything that is described as a sweeping saga but after hearing an interview with John Boyne on the radio and hearing the first paragraph read out, I felt compelled to buy it.
I've devoured this book in less than 3 days. I loved every minute of it and now feel bereft that it is over.
The backdrop feels genuine, the characters are perfectly realised and the story is heartbreaking.
There were so many places where lives could have been so different but for the hands of fate, the church, society, bigotry, fear and plain luck.
I wept listening to the epilogue. Genuine tears rolling down my nose with sadness and joy.
I cannot recommend this highly enough. Please read/listen and be moved.

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152 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jo
  • 02-05-17

Oh wow

I listen to a lot of books.... having hit a brick wall and getting some absolutely abysmal ones I was getting irritated and picked this at random. I am so glad I did. This was amazingly written and amazingly read. Although annoying not to come to conclusion as a story naturally would throughout, the skipping story kept me guessing . Even though you can pretty much work it out if you think about it, it didn't detract from the story and I am sad it's finished.
Cyril was so likeable I just wanted to give him a massive hug. I wanted someone to just love him and look after him 💜 - great story

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63 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Exceptional

If there is such a thing as a perfect novel, then this is surely it. The story is beautiful, moving, perfectly written with not one word out of place. It's laugh out loud funny (shocking the other people in the coffee shop ) and a tear jerker as well. Highly, highly recommended, and I'm envious of anyone who hasn't yet read it, just so it's new for them.

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57 people found this helpful

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Mesmerising

I laughed out loud, cried out loud and experienced all human emotions on the human spectrum during the passage of the lives of the characters in this book. I loved the tease of coincidence. Narration was so good I could see, hear and feel the different characters better than if I'd read it myself. Definitely worth a read.

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37 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WONDERFUL STORY, WONDERFUL NARRATOR,

I loved everything about this book; it is a great acheivement. The narrator was extraordinarily good; he had a great range of voices, all of which suited each character. I was drawn to the flawed central character, and each of the others. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded in an unusual chronology and felt bereft when the experience came to an end. One of the best books I have listened to...and I've listened to 300+.

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35 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Amazing,moving brilliant story!! 5 star

I listen to one / two books a month and have done for years.
This book is one of the best I've ever listened to.
I cried when it ended.
A rich book of layers that is hard to stop listening too!
Going to listen to it again and again.
5 stars!!

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27 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible

Simply incredible - a beautiful story which I return to time and time again. Five stars

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18 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just excellent.

Gave this story a go on a whim. So glad I did, such a beautiful, funny, heartbreaking listen. Gutted that it came to an end. The narrator was brilliant too, really brought the characters to life. Will definitely be listening to this again. Would highly recommend.

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17 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

Please listen to this remarkable book so beautifully narrated ... a masterpiece that I'll reread and listen to again...

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12 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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I don't get the hype

I actually got so bored listening to this half way through I simply don't understand the rave reviews.

The story just churns through various different stories about the tellers sex life. The thought of 9 more hours of this does absolutely nothing for me.

On the plus side, the narrator was excellent and I only listened as long as I did because he was so engaging.

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11 people found this helpful