John Boyne's The Heart's Invisible Furies is the story of Ireland from the mid-20th century until 1915, told through the life of a gay man.
The Catholic Church dictates the rules in 1945 when a 17-year-old unwed mother is pregnant with Cyril. Publicly shamed by her parish priest and banished from her small town, she goes to Dublin and gives up her newborn. Cyril is adopted by an eccentric, well-to-do couple who largely ignore him. As he grows up and realizes he is attracted to males, Cyril suffers shame and rejection in the repressive atmosphere of Catholic-dominated Ireland.
The lengthy tale covers Cyril's obsession with his first crush, his promiscuous search for connection, his ill-advised marriage, his finding and losing a true love abroad, and his returning to Dublin and contented celibacy.
Despite Cyril's tragedies, the story is also funny. Cyril is a witty, literate, and charming narrator. The tale continues to 2015, when the 70-year-old Cyril speaks at a public celebration of the Irish referendum that allowed gay marriage.
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