Reader’s Notebook, 7/8/26

Two books that came with recommendation from Brother-In-Books Dave V. Although I would have read one even if he had not suggested it.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne
This one was a surprise. A thoroughly delightful novel about a rather unique Irishman, Cyril Avery.

Born in the 1940s to an unwed mother who was banished from her home village by its priest for becoming pregnant, Cyril was immediately given up for adoption after birth and landed with an eccentric couple. His adoptive father was a mover-and-shaker in Dublin business and politics. His adoptive mother an author who wrote constantly but refused to accept praise for her books, and, in fact, did all she could to torpedo their commercial success. They constantly reminded Cyril that he was adopted and “not a real Avery.”

Cyril is an interesting, somewhat odd kid. When he is seven he becomes obsessed with another boy. In time he realizes that this isn’t a harmless boy crush, but rather genuine attraction: turns out Cyril is gay. Which is problematic in hyper Catholic Ireland. For almost all of the rest of his life.

The novel indeed follows Cyril through most of his life, highlighting his struggles as a gay man in a society and in ages where that is not something you proclaim publicly. We see his difficulties establishing relationships and becoming comfortable with who he is. All while interwoven with a fantastic cast of supporting characters.

At times this was one of the funniest books I’ve read in ages. At others it was completely infuriating and heartbreaking. Cyril loses people close to him through a variety of circumstances, sometimes hilarious, sometimes cruel, sometimes tragic. He makes really dumb mistakes. The book also examines the role of religion and tradition in Ireland, and the fear of/hate for gay people (and eventually AIDS) in multiple countries.

Throughout his life he keeps running into people who have been in it from its start. That boy he was obsessed with at seven becomes his best friend. Then they fall apart because of Cyril’s deception. Then they come back together in a most unexpected and sad way. That boy’s sister becomes Cyril’s wife. His biological mother keeps showing up, without either of them realizing who the other is.

In the end it is about the triumph of discovering who you are and living as that person authentically.

This is a wonderful novel, one I give my highest recommendation.

London Falling – Patrick Radden Keefe
Next came the latest PRK joint, perfectly timed before my trip to London. He explores the mysterious 2019 death of Zac Brettler, a young man who was leading a double life in an effort to ingratiate himself into a London world much different than the one he grew up in.

As always with PRK books, it is exceptionally reported and well written.

That said, I never felt like the subject was worthy of an entire book. There are plenty of interesting elements to the story. I learned things about London’s underground and expat/immigrant worlds I would never have known otherwise.

But nothing about it felt as compelling as Keefe’s books about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, or the Sackler opioid empire. This story began as a lengthy The New Yorker piece. I think it should have remained there.