Reading the 20th Century discussion

I recall we read A Ladder to the Sky a few years back but other than that I don't think John Boyne has come up again


Any John Boyne fans in the house?

I'm going to be reading The Heart's Invisible Furies soon and also have decided that my choice for my real world book group is going to be Water

The always reliable Mrs Nigeyb assures me both these titles are fantastic, and I recall there was a lot of love for A Ladder to the Sky


What are you favourites by him?

I liked his The Heart's Invisible Furies but was put off reading any more by him by the trivialising of the Holocaust in his The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Then came last summer's Polari Prize controversy:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...

On The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, I haven't read it but this is a moving review on here from a Holocaust survivor:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked The Heart's Invisible Furies too (gave it 4 stars), but I was also put off by his behavior leading up to that Polari Prize controversy. I didn't even know that his other book trivialized the Holocaust.

Sorry, Nigey, don't mean to be negative - and Heart's Invisible Furies is moving and funny and very definitely worth reading.

Interesting. Thanks.


All of this is news to me. I had no idea he was considered a contentious figure.

Mrs B went to hear him speak at the Stratford literary festival late last year. She was very impressed by him, and she is also a fan of his work.

I’m still going to check out his work, and will bear in mind these insights when I do.

Of course you should read him for yourself and we can separate an author from his work.

Sadly, that was less possible with the Holocaust book especially after Boyne got into a public spat with the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum.

Heart's Furies is very moving, pretty sure I teared up!

The spat makes him seem like a bit of a idiot - thanks for filling me in on his controversies


I'll report back about the writing

Nigeyb wrote: "The spat makes him seem like a bit of a idiot"

Ha, there are some sources of authority - historical and moral in this case - that we simply accept. Going up against the Auschwitz museum on the subject of the Holocaust isn't a good look.

It seems very odd to me as from Heart's Furies he had a difficult life and the afterword to that was sensitive and affecting. To go from that to declaring himself a TERF is quite a journey.

Anyway, look forward to hearing more about your reading.

I've liked what I've read from him. No idea about the controversies to be honest.

I have read, and enjoyed, Crippen, The House of Special Purpose, This House is Haunted and I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas with my kids when they were younger. Oh, and of course, the one we read in the group.

Interested to hear what you think about the books you read next.

Thanks RC, thanks Susan


Susan, good to know you have enjoyed so much of his output

RC, I give the trans debate a wide berth. I can understand the positions of both sides of the divide and both make some valid points, but the extreme toxicity surrounding any discourse is just plain depressing. Anyone who voluntarily wades in must be mad.

Nigeyb wrote: "...but the extreme toxicity surrounding any discourse is just plain depressing"

Got to agree with you there, Nigey.

I’m underway with The Heart's Invisible Furies. I notice the reviews are through the roof.

Bittersweet to read Sid’s (RIP) five star review. Interestingly he also gave five stars to the Sean Duffy book I just finished - Rain Dogs

Anyway, early days, but enjoying what I’ve read so far of THIF

Glad you are enjoying it.

Sid is very much missed. It makes me sad when I come across one of his reviews.

Yes, me too

My thoughts on Boyne coincide with Greg's and R.C.'s although I haven't read any of his books. I saw the film version of The Boy with the Striped Pyjamas and hated it so much I've never wanted to try any. I think his worldview and mine are unlikely to coincide.

I get what you mean about differing perspectives on queer identity. But the issue about the Polari Prize was that it's meant to be trans-inclusive so shortlisting someone openly trans-exclusionary made no sense - regardless of individual sentiments. So I objected to his listing not solely as someone trans-inclusive - although I am - but also because it made a mockery of the Prize's supposed frameworks.