How to Build a Boat

** SHORTLISTED FOR BEST NOVEL OF THE YEAR, IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023 ** ** LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023 ** Meet Jamie and his community on the west coast of Ireland in the most uplifting and tender book of the year 'A gorgeous gift of a novel' Douglas Stuart, no.1 bestselling author of Shuggie Bain 'Heart-rending and delightful' Louise Kennedy, no.1 bestselling author of Trespasses Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of many objects, books with dust jackets, cats, rivers and Edgar Allan Poe. At age 13 there are two things he especially wants in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind these things are intimately linked. And at his new school, where all else is disorientating and overwhelming, he finds two people who might just be able to help him. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy and his mission transforms the lives of his teachers, Tess and Tadhg, and brings together a community. Written with tenderness and verve, it's about love, family and connection, the power of imagination, and how our greatest adventures never happen alone. 'A heart-stopping read' - Sinéad Gleeson, author of Constellations 'Bursting with soul' - Lisa McInerney, author of The Rules of Revelation 'I can't wait for readers to fall in love' - Jan Carson, author of The Raptures

** SHORTLISTED FOR BEST NOVEL OF THE YEAR, IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023 ** ** LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023 ** Meet Jamie and his community on the west coast of Ireland in the most uplifting and tender book of the year 'A gorgeous gift of a novel' Douglas Stuart, no.1 bestselling author of Shuggie Bain 'Heart-rending and delightful' Louise Kennedy, no.1 bestselling author of Trespasses Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of many objects, books with dust jackets, cats, rivers and Edgar Allan Poe. At age 13 there are two things he especially wants in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind these things are intimately linked. And at his new school, where all else is disorientating and overwhelming, he finds two people who might just be able to help him. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy and his mission transforms the lives of his teachers, Tess and Tadhg, and brings together a community. Written with tenderness and verve, it's about love, family and connection, the power of imagination, and how our greatest adventures never happen alone. 'A heart-stopping read' - Sinéad Gleeson, author of Constellations 'Bursting with soul' - Lisa McInerney, author of The Rules of Revelation 'I can't wait for readers to fall in love' - Jan Carson, author of The Raptures

Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize - Shortlisted for the 2023 An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year - One of the Globe and Mail 's "Sixty-Two Books to Read This Fall" - One of the Globe 100's Best Books of 2023 - A New Yorker Best Book of 2023 - A NYPL Book of the Day Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of certain objects, books with dust jackets, rivers, cats, and Edgar Allan Poe. At age thirteen, there are two things he wants most in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother, Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind, these things are intimately linked, and at his new school, despite the daily barrage of bullies and cathedral bells, he meets two teachers who might be able to help him, though each struggles against inertias of their own. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy's irrepressible dream finds expression through a community propelled by love out of grief. Lyrical and compassionate, it's a novel about the courage of conviction and the power of the imagination to transform-and how sometimes the best way to break free of old walls is to build something beautiful within them.

Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize - Shortlisted for the 2023 An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year - One of the Globe and Mail 's "Sixty-Two Books to Read This Fall" - One of the Globe 100's Best Books of 2023 - A New Yorker Best Book of 2023 - A NYPL Book of the Day Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of certain objects, books with dust jackets, rivers, cats, and Edgar Allan Poe. At age thirteen, there are two things he wants most in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother, Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind, these things are intimately linked, and at his new school, despite the daily barrage of bullies and cathedral bells, he meets two teachers who might be able to help him, though each struggles against inertias of their own. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy's irrepressible dream finds expression through a community propelled by love out of grief. Lyrical and compassionate, it's a novel about the courage of conviction and the power of the imagination to transform-and how sometimes the best way to break free of old walls is to build something beautiful within them.