ItGetsBetter

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

The Heart's Invisible Furies | John Boyne

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TheBookHippie, MinDea, MrsV, Jess7, bookloo

janeycanuck Often, people only see what they want to see. There was such stigma associated with being gay - it was illegal, for goodness‘ sakes! - that I think a lot of people would just bury their head in the sand and try to explain away behaviours that didn‘t fit the perfect mold. It‘s sad and hard to read but I hope that Cyril is able to live freely later in the book as times change. 7y

Bklover I have been wondering how Julian could Not know that Cyril is gay. That is, unless he is determined not to know since he is gay himself. I mean, if strangers can see it surely Julian can. Even Mary Margaret figured it out. Maybe Julian‘s denial is why he‘s so promiscuous. Just a thought. 7y

Cinfhen I feel for Cyril, he is lacking so much love and genuine care in his life. I'm sure it hasn't occurred to him what a true relationship is. His adoptive parents were cold to him & each other he's never experienced anything resembling a healthy loving relationship. 7y

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TheBookHippie I think some may know but are either in denial or afraid. The ones who don't know probably don't think it's a possibility of someone they know. It's sometimes easier for an outsider to see the truth as they aren't vested in the person. 7y

Bklover @Cinfhen I think you are right- it amazes me how little Cyril knows about relationships. Like the scene when he wonders if he is engaged to Mary Margaret. 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Bklover me too!!! I think this may be the case with Julian... 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen so do I... such a sad situation 7y

Jess7 I agree with @TheBookHippie - that some may be in denial. 7y

bookloo When you‘re not getting that love and closeness you crave/need (every human ever) you have to resort to things that may not be the best way. I mean, it‘s not like Cyril enjoys having to go out at night to give someone a ✊🍆, he needs to know that there is someone out there like him and who needs to feel SOMETHING too. 7y

Cinfhen If I'm remembering correctly @Bklover Mary Margaret didn't really "know" Cyril was gay, she was just thinking he was acting strange. It isn't until she follows him that she discovers his secret and I think she was genuinely shocked and of course horrified!!! 7y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen I completely agree. 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Cinfhen you are correct... 7y

Cinfhen I agree @bookloo Cyril needs to FEEL something 7y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen Having a gay boyfriend was not her standard at all. 7y

Leelee.reads I think people had to be so deeply closeted back then that there was no room for exploration of relationships or ideal situations. You took what you could get, when you could get it. There was no space for self-examination; you were a crime and an abomination according to society. So you just got by the way you could. For Cyril, this meant random hookups as they were available. 7y

Cinfhen 😂😂😂😂😂 @britt_brooke 7y

Cinfhen Agreed @Leelee.reads 7y

Leelee.reads @britt_brooke 😂 7y

Bklover @Cinfhen you‘re right. But she at least had suspicions that “something” was off with him. 7y

BarbaraBB @britt_brooke Haha! 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @britt_brooke so true!! And only sex on Saturday 🤣😂 7y

eanderson His nightly behavior has me thinking he is craving that relationship and love but he doesn't know how to express it because of his cold adoptive parents, as well. I'm worried if he isn't a little more cautious that he won't just catch a rash. 😳 7y

Cinfhen True @Bklover but Julian is so self absorbed he doesn't think or notice anyone else but himself 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @eanderson me too!!!!! 😱 7y

kspenmoll Agree with @Leelee.reads @Cinfhen - all of you! Often those closest to us see what they want in us- 7y

britt_brooke @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😆 7y

MinDea I had a friend in high school that used to meet men in weird places late at night and we all just worried so much about him and begged him to please stop doing that (that as in meeting strange men in strange parking lots, bathrooms, etc). You never know who you will meet. It is so unsafe! Now he is older and much happier. #ItGetsBetter is a real thing. 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @britt_brooke that cracked me up!!! 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @MinDea I also have a friend who did similar things and still does... I really worry about him 😢 (edited) 7y

Redwritinghood Often those closest to us have blinders on when they don‘t want to see something negative about ones they love. Cyril‘s behavior is dangerous, but is something he‘s forced into because of societal pressures. 7y

Nuwanda I have a friend who, as a child, assumed this behavior would be the only way to express his true desires because his childhood was so repressive. Thankfully he met my other friend in high school and they are now happily married! Didn't surprise me that the other outsiders are who Cyril trusts with his secret, as someone who has been that "outsider" several times over! 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Nuwanda I‘m so glad he is happy!!!! ☺️☺️ 7y

Nuwanda @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Me too! Even better: I got to marry them! One of the happiest days of my life because I knew my friends had overcome many difficulties and a lot of bigotry to reach that moment! ❤️ 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Nuwanda oh wow!!!!! That must have been such a wonderful, joyful moment!!!! 😘❤️😘❤️ 7y

gossamerchild Well, I think Julian is slightly too self-centered to give two craps. Why is he still friends with Cyril, anyway? In any case, I agree with the idea that people see what they want to see. If they're hunting down homosexuals, they're going to see that "behavior" in many people. 7y

LauraJ @britt_brooke Oh, I‘m so glad someone said it 😹! These well-known hook-up spots exist because Cyril and other gay men had few options available to explore their sexuality. He feels something for the young man during their bathroom encounter that seems to catch him off guard. And he prefers this intimacy to physical lust. The appearance of the police officer at this moment made me so sad. 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I know... that was sad to me too... especially when he asks the boy “do you ever feel like killing yourself?” And them talks about the bread knife 💔 7y

mrp27 @britt_brooke 😂😂😂 7y

mrp27 Outsiders are always more perceptive because they are more objective. Sadly, during this time period it's hard to imagine Cyril finding a better way to fulfil his desires, he is forced to do it this way. 7y

AmyG Didn‘t the people who saw Cyril as gay...weren‘t they gay themselves? So they could see it in him. I don‘t think Cyril is flamboyant or anything. So I don‘t know how “obvious” he is to straight people. I think he wants sex along with intimacy. And, I agree about Julian. Does he sense something off with Cyril? Maybe, but he‘s too self-centered to care very much. 7y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @AmyG yes!! Mr Denby-Denby and Mr. Behan were the main two that caught on! I don‘t think he‘s flamboyant either, probably why the others didn‘t catch on... 7y

britt_brooke @LauraJ 😆😉 7y

JaclynW @janeycanuck Agreed! 7y

JaclynW @Cinfhen I agree! The poor kid has never had a genuine relationship! So sad! 7y

JaclynW @bookloo Agreed! To hide your true self like Cyril has to equals a rough life - as we are seeing with him in the book. Every human needs that love and connection. To be without it drives a person to despair and madness. And this is why we see him go to desperate measures. 7y

JaclynW @britt_brooke I'm tempted to add the phrase "that's not my standard at all" into my daily interactions with people. That seriously cracks me up! ???? 7y

britt_brooke @JaclynW I know, I love it! 😆👏🏻 It was such a perfect touch for the character. 7y

tjwill @britt_brooke 😂🤣🙌🏽 7y

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