Heartbreaking, humorous, tragic, and uplifting all at once. Immensely compelling story with well-drawn characters. ( )

The opening from the mother's perspective captured me but then when it switched to youngish Irish gayman I wasn't quite sure I wanted to stick with it, but what a story! If you love full circle interwoven twists of chance this story will capture you for sure, it unfolds beautifully. ( )

I loved every, single page of this book. I wish I could start all over again, or that it would just keep going and going. ( )

This was a very interesting book. It covered the life of Cyril Avery from before he was born until he died. Born in Ireland, rich in the tradition of being ridged and non-accepting, Cyril struggled to understand and find himself. While Cyril wasn't the most likeable character, seeming weak and self-absorbed a lot of the times, one has to step back and reflect on when and how he grew up. Born after WWI, he was given up for adoption to a couple, who clearly were not meant to be parents both having their own preoccupations, and callously they would remind him that he was adopted. He comes of age in the 60's and 70's where he realized that Ireland would never accept him, and leaves for Amsterdam, then NYC. While he had no role model or close connection, he gradually he forms bonds. The book, covers his life, jumping decades at times, and continuing on. Well written and touching. ( )

I got this at the first Rainault book sale, and later it was recommended on TikTok.

This was amazing. I had no idea where the story would go, and it never really let me go or let me down. So well written, so many ups and downs and dark dark humor and terrific dialog.

The opening chapter - Cyril tells how his 16yo unwed pregnant mother is thrown out of church, out of home and out of town. Her bag is packed for her, and she goes to Dublin. It’s 1945.

Each section advances 7 years in Cyril’s life - starting when he is 7, and going until he is 70. He is gay, which was illegal and just not talked about - especially in Ireland. He is hopelessly in love with Julian, who is very heterosexual (meaning, has sex with many Siemens) and engages is a lot of secret and quickie sex with men. This started to seem very dark and sad - and then there are spots of very dark humor that breaks it all up.

He confesses his ‘sin’ and the priest has a heart attack and dies. He is caught in a public bathroom about to have sex and as he is hauled off to the police station, a statue topples and kills the cop and his longtime girlfriend. He sees a doctor who tries aversion therapy (poking his scrotum if he responds to a man’s name).

There are so many themes in the different phases of Cyril’s life. His crazy adoptive parents Charles and Maude (who remind him constantly that he’s not a real Avery). The back alley sex and fear of getting caught. Dating Alice - she does look a bit like her brother Julian - and leaving after the wedding ceremony. You want so much for Cyril to tell her he’s gay and really not interested in her. He goes to Amsterdam and meets Bastiaan and has a real love relationship. Rescuing Ignac from the streets. The AIDS epidemic in New York. The mugging in New York. Returning to Dublin, meeting his son Liam (he had sex with Alice ONCE!) and finally his biological mother. ( )