“How to Build a Boat” by Elaine Feeney

Elaine Feeney, as a novelist was a new author for me even if this book is not her; it is so easy to miss some really good writers. She is also poet, and in this case I am so glad I read this book.

Set on the west coast of Ireland the story focuses on Jamie O’Neill, a 13 year old who lives with his father, Eoin; his mother Noelle having died after childbirth. His Gran, Marie lives next door to her son. They are a close knit trio but it is the character of Jamie that makes this novel come alive, he is to say the least unusual. Bright, tall and mature for his age, yet uncertain and unsure in company; as he starts at his new school, Christ’s College, these uncertainties come to the forefront.

Apart from the O’Neill family, the two other principal characters are two teachers at the college. Tess Mahon and Tadhg Foley, the new head of Carpentry. Jamie has extra time allocated to him with Tess and they develop a bond and trusting workable relationship. Tadhg becomes more involved as the book advances and the two teachers give Jamie the extra support and encouragement that he needs.

Jamie is bright and is fixated with Maryam Mirzakhani, the Iranian Mathematician. He has a fascination with the concept of Perpetual Motion, wanting to design and build his own machine.
It is this idea/theme that leads to Tadhg and Tess helping Jamie build a currach, an art that Tadhg has grown up learning; hence the title of the book. Jamie has a very select small group of friends who, in addition to his own family, become involved in the construction of this boat which forms the core of the story, but there is much more in this novel.

Tess and her husband, Paul have been trying IVF, without success. Marriage guidance is a sore point, so their relationship is the background to Jamie’s, which adds depth to the author’s main theme and is a direct opposite to the events surrounding Jamie, Tadhg and Tess in the workshop.

“How to Build a Boat” was longlisted for the Booker prize in 2023 and has received much deserved praise, including on BBC “Between the Covers”, all well deserved. I can well see it being a great selection for book clubs as there is much within the text to prompt discussion, also a great holiday read. Now due out in paperback.