Author: John Boyne
Reviewed by: Aoife Kerr
Branch: Leixlip Library
Forced to flee the scandal in her hometown, Catherine Goggin finds herself pregnant and alone, in search of a new life at just 16. She knows she has no choice but to believe that the nun she entrusts her child to will find him a better life. Cyril Avery is not a real Avery, or so his parents are constantly reminding him. Adopted as a baby, he’s never quite felt at home with a family who treat him more as a curiosity, than a son. But it is all he has ever
known.
And so begins one man’s desperate search to find his place in the world. Unspooling and unseeing, Cyril is a misguided, heart breaking, heartbroken fool. Buffered by the harsh winds of circumstances towards the only person who may be able to save him from himself, but when opportunity knocks will he have the courage, finally, to take it?
This is the first book I’ve read by John Boyne and it is an absolutely beautiful book. It completely lives up to the hype surrounding it. I found it to be so well written and I was constantly turning the pages to find out what happened next. Cyril is such a flawed but love-able character and I loved reading about him. I cannot recommend it enough. I mean if you haven’t read this book, you definitely should. I do think it would be a classic book. And I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a book before. Like ever. This is one of my all-time favourite books and one that is worth reading.
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