The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Cyril has not had an easy life having always lived under the shadow of not being enough - not enough for his natural mother to keep him, not enough for his adoptive parents to stop reminding him that he really isn't their son, not enough for the friend he loves who can't except him for what he is or isn't and not enough to prevent those around him from being hurt. Life goes on and as an adult, Cyril is finally able to admit that he is gay - something he could not do in Ireland without ending up in jail or worse. Characters, both gay and straight, bounce in and out of Cyril's life but he remains reserved, loyal and a sweet soul. John Boyne gives us an epic look at what it was like to be gay early on in Ireland, Amsterdam and later in AIDS ridden New York. You will smile at the witty banter, cry at the tragedy and violence that befalls some and shake your fist in righteous indignation at how stupid people can be when confronted with someone different. His poetic storytelling will stay with you long after you finish the book.