Play Book Tag discussion

The story of Cyril Avery, who is not a real Avery, is astonishing, heart breaking and engaging throughout. The story starts in 1945 with his birth mother being publicly shamed at church with the priest throwing her out of the church, her family and community for being pregnant despite still being a child/ teen herself. Luckily Catherine had the strength and will to find her own way. Then the story continues up to 2015 jumping every 7 years. The story is a bit agonizing as Cyril grows up in an odd adoptive home, with privileges but not expected parent child relationship. Coming of age was tough as he realized that he preferred men which was illegal in Ireland at the time and hopelessly in love with his straight best friend.

I loved the twist and turns of Cyril's life as he struggled to come to terms with his own identity, always feeling the need to hide his true self, and attempt to make real connections rather than just fumbles in the dark. The story is beautifully told and while the continued missed connections with his birth mother are a bit manufactured, I still enjoyed them. I appreciated how the story of Cyril also highlighted the story of society and especially the prejudices each time. I would like to hope that life is a bit more forgiving and hopeful to all these days.

Thanks - good review. peace, janz

I really loved this book when I read it a couple years ago. The "not a real Avery" attitude toward adoption still makes me sad. I liked that the book showed the evolution of attitudes toward gay men during the course of a lifetime. I think attitudes toward women also improved during that time, but I can't recall if the women in this book got happy endings at all. I wanted to read it with you, but my Libby hold still hasn't come through.

I think one of my first PBT buddy reads involved A Ladder to the Sky by Boyne. It wasn't as heartbreaking, but it was smart and entertaining. The unexpected twists (and one real WTF moment) gave us a lot to talk about.