What Books Are On Writer and Lecturer Elaine Feeney's Bedside Table?

Elaine Feeney is a writer and lecturer at the University of Galway. She has published three poetry collections and her debut novel, As You Were, won Dalkey Book Festival’s Emerging Writer Prize, The Kate O’Brien Prize and The Society of Authors’ McKitterick Prize. Her second novel, How to Build a Boat, was nominated for The Booker Prize and named Best Fiction 2023 by The New Yorker

“I’ve been on a good reading spree lately – I think it’s partly the weather and the return to routine. Or maybe I’m just avoiding my own writing! Either way, I’ve read some great books. The Women Behind The Door by Roddy Doyle is the latest novel in his Paula Spencer series. Paula is now in her 60s and navigating her life during lockdown. Her daughter Nicola plays a major role in this novel, and together, they form an emotional and moving portrayal of life shaped by past trauma and domestic violence. Doyle’s ability to capture the subtleties of human emotions and relationships is great. His dialogue is spot-on, it’s funny and moving, with the added comfort of endless cups of tea being made. I loved it.”

“I’ve been working through Percival Everett’s extensive backlist since I first discovered The Trees a couple of years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. His novel James recently made the Booker Prize list, but my favourite so far is his novel Erasure. It’s a brilliant, satirical book where Everett turns his focus to the literary world and the stereotypes that plague it. The protagonist, Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison, is a frustrated writer in a rut, who struggles to balance his identity with the demands and expectations placed on him by society. There’s a compelling novel within the novel here.

“I recently read and loved Galway poet, Rita Ann Higgins’ latest poetry collection, The Long Weekend. Based on her bank holiday poems for the Brendan O’Connor radio show, the book takes you through the cycles of the seasons with clever, sharp wit, her signature language, and a muchneeded unapologetic exploration of social issues and personal experiences. Higgins is the queen of juxtaposing humour and heartbreak, offering a unique voice that’s both accessible and deeply resonant. It’s a must-read for poetry lovers.”