The Heart's Invisible Furies

Irish people are famous for their humour, and it is woven throughout the novel. How effective is this? Would you describe The Heart’s Invisible Furies as a funny book?

The book opens with Father James Monroe vehemently denouncing 16-year-old Catherine Goggin in front of the congregation, it’s a jarring opening for the reader, particularly female readers, what feelings arose for you while reading this passage?

This is a long book, how did you find this experience? Was there a section of the book that engaged you more than the others and/or were there any passages that you struggled to get through?

In a review for The Guardian, Helen Dunmore describes The Heart’s Invisible Furies as 'track[ing] seismic changes in Irish society with a broader, bawdier and more comedic sweep of narrative’. To what extent do you think this is accurate? What were your main takeaways of twentieth century Ireland from your reading?

How is the Church positioned at the start of the novel compared to the end? How does this effect the lives of the characters?

Cyril is referred to as ‘not a real Avery’ by his adoptive family, particularly his adopted father Charles, who regularly reinforces his disappointment in Cyril. How does this effect Cyril and his concept of family?

The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a beautiful title, how apt is it for the story Boyne tells? What furies lie in the hearts of the characters and why are they invisible? Are they as invisible as the characters would like us to believe?

Maude Avery is a contentious character. What did you think of her character, is she likeable, is she a good or a bad person in your opinion. Why do you thinks writes and publishes her work if she does not seek fame and adulation?

Homosexuality is ever present but shrouded in secrecy. Cyril knows he is gay, how does he deal with this?

Did you find the frequent instances of coincidence believable/effective? What is the author suggesting by its frequent use?

How did you feel about Cyril's relationship with Alice and the consequences of the marriage for her? How many homosexual men and women do you think married heterosexual partners in order to fit in society?

This book is very much about self-transformation. "Even at that tender age I knew that there was something about me that was different and that it would be impossible ever to put right." Is change possible after a certain age or are we always who we are, unable to change?

Following Cyril through the course of his life takes us through much of the twentieth century. How was each decade most vividly brought to life for you?

There were rumours of Ridley Scott turning The Heart’s Invisible Furies into an episodic TV series, who would you cast as the main characters? Would you watch this dramatization if it ever came to be?

This is an innately Irish novel, what did you learn from reading this book about Irish people?