Waking hours

A love of books

I’m an early riser. I have my breakfast — porridge with seeds and fruit, and a cup of tea. Then I go back to bed and read for half an hour. I usually read the Bible. I choose a chapter at a go. It sets me up for the day.

The Bible is a delight to read. The stories are very unusual — they can be funny and dramatic. But as a Christian, I would read it looking for God as well. I’m a Protestant.

I live with three housemates in Harold’s Cross. They are absolute dotes. I cycle into work, and I love going really fast down a hill. Four days a week, I work in Hodges Figgis, and the fifth day is for college. I’m studying applied theology.

I’m usually on the ground floor of the bookshop. They have me in the front of the store because my main strength is customer service. I just love chatting to people. I would always veer towards getting out on the floor, meeting people, asking them if they want a hand.

I love when people come in with booklists, especially when their lists are all in different genres. I love the challenge of that. It’s like a little treasure hunt. They are delighted, because they don’t expect you to go running off all over the floors of the shop.

Some people don’t have a title or author’s name, but they’ve read a review in the newspaper. They are usually very apologetic, but I don’t mind. It’s like being a detective, and I enjoy it.

My regulars come in all the time. Some want a recommendation. I’ll ask them if they liked the last book I recommended, and we’ll chat about it. Then I’ll say, ‘How about this one?’ My work means the world to me. It gives me a focus.

When I first started working here, I had just dropped out of college. I wanted to be a primary teacher, but I couldn’t handle the crowd control. I was at a low ebb, and I was very shy. One of my colleagues encouraged me, because he knew that I was interesting. He was trying to get me

out of my shell, and he managed very well. It took a while, but then I was completely at home. Everyone was really nice here, and very encouraging. I started to get more confidence.

One of the managers noticed my passion and he said that he wanted me on his team on the ground floor. I was delighted with myself, because, obviously, that’s where all the action is. That’s where the customers are, and I read fiction, so that’s where I wanted to be.

My mom is an avid reader and she always encouraged us to read. It was the best gift she ever gave me. I would go with my brothers to the library, and eventually I wouldn’t take my nose out of a book. Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the

Prairie — I just loved them all. I got so into the characters and the different worlds. I could relate to them and their feelings and how they saw the world. By the time I got to secondary school, I was an avid reader. Books were a real comfort for me when I was feeling a little bit lonely, or feeling that I couldn’t cope with the world. I would retreat into my books. I loved the different worlds, and the characters felt like my friends. That has continued to this day.

I remember when Kindles first came out. I said, ‘I’m not even going to go there’. I love turning the pages of a book, the smell and the feel of the paper, and the look of a book. Editions would be very important to me.

I love my library at home. In my new place, I don’t have as much space for books, and I’m going bananas. I’m trying to think how can I fit extra books. One of my most beloved fictional characters ever is Soames in The Forsyte Saga .Heisso complex. One minute you want to strangle him, and the next, you want to give him a hug.

“I’m not interested in clothes and I don’t wear make-up. I keep all my money for books”

I’m not interested in clothes and I don’t wear make-up. I keep all my money for books. One week I was off, and when I came back, I wandered around the tables to see what was new in the store. I was so excited to see that there was a book by Tom Hanks. I absolutely adored him in the film

Forrest Gump. Also, I loved the book, The Trouble with Goats and

Sheep. I was thrilled that there was a new book by the same author — Joanna Cannon. It was a wonderful surprise. I have a quite quirky taste in books. I love Dickens, Shakespeare, Somerset Maugham, and when I discovered Margaret Atwood, I devoured her books. I simply couldn’t talk about anything else for months. I also loved Maeve Brennan’s The Springs of Affection.

My dog is used to the smell of books. She used to come with me to the library and curl up on my lap and fall asleep, while I read. One time we brought her to Galway on holidays. We were trotting along and she just veered to the left. She was heading straight for the library. We didn’t even know it was there. I was smitten with love for her. It was so sweet. I always have a book in my bag, and when I go on holidays, I always go to bookshops. I got to meet Marita Conlon McKenna at one of our events. I read her

Famine trilogy when I was very young. I had loads to say to her, but I just couldn’t get it out. I was too star-struck.

I moved out of home last year. It was very daunting, but a year later, I feel amazing and really independent. I’m delighted with myself. I’m able to cook and survive.

I lead a very simple life. In the evenings, I go to bed early with a book. I like to read fiction at night. It calms me down. I just have my books, and I’m happy.