However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. She is in a constant battle of inner conflicttotal social apathy, whilst silently scathing of her prejudiced workplace. Read an excerpt from the bookhere (opens in new tab). The more I think about this novel the more it suffers in my estimations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. this book is insane because not only does the protagonist have the same birthday as me but also the male love interest has the same birthday as the man i didn't shut up about all of last year.
Dolan was born in Dublin, Ireland. Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. Ava, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children. The story follows Ava, a quick witted, self-loathing Irish 22-year-old teacher and Julian, an almost-30-year-old British banker, both living as expats in Hong Kong. Publication Information. Figures such as Victoria serve to generate much of the books caustic wit. GENERAL FICTION, by Written in a Woolf-esque internal monologue from Ava's perspective, we are met with an inner conflict that struggles to reconcile her disapproval of capitalism and a hyper-sensitivity to class structures . She is highly attuned both to the power dynamics at play (do you want me to depend on you? she asks him) and to her moral predicament, as she adds up how much money she is saving on rent, as well as on the clothes and meals Julian pays for with the funds he doesnt know what to do with. Its a brilliantly concise summation of her take on relationships, which she sees as a power game, an ultimately shallow emotional transaction in which the greatest potential benefit might be that you get to move into an apartment better than anything you can afford on your own. June 2, 2020. Categories: I related to it immensely. I know it's frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. Her relationships are dysfunctional and we see her repeatedly make choices that we know (or think we know) are wrong for her. This book is very clever and very busy being very clever making it tiring to read but being a millennial seems pretty exhausting so perhaps its captured a lived experience. Reviews: Trustpilot. Now I know what the phrase razor sharp wit really means. Despite the chip on her shoulder, she falls in with Julian, an Eton-educated English banker who she enjoys being with because they (supposedly) arent that interested in each other: It wasnt like normal friendships where I worried if the other person still liked me. She moves into his swanky apartment, rent-free, and they have sex. Instead of just a romance or coming-of-age narrative, Dolan dives a bit deeper to probe what we carry into the relationships we form (like our personal politics and gendered expectations) and how those either weigh us down or perhaps end up setting us free., Exciting Timeslost me a bit in the second half with its pacing. You like an unreliable narrator (thinkEleanor Oliphant) as you read. I know its frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. It also turned into a really beautiful queer love story, taking turns I hadnt anticipated at the outset of the novel. Publisher: Ecco, 256 pages, $27.99. Just $45 for 12 months or
But I didnt trust anyone.The richer I got, the harder it would be for anyone to force me to do anything. Dolans preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television.
Politics FBI agents, prosecutors argued over Trump before raid 8:48pm Gophers Scoggins: Give . But real life is messy and people are messy, and this book dramatizes that in a way that rings profoundly true. And no squeamishness about asking for it, discussing it, hoarding it. Ava doesnt flinch. @suzylew_bookreview, "Love triangle. But Julians impending return means Ava must decide not so much between her lovers as between Edith and the expensive flat that she doesnt pay for. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. Naoise Dolan is an Irish novelist.
@brigittesbookshelf, "Lovers of Sally Rooney will absolutely devour this book. That, or I wanted to be him., Ava is hyper-verbal and exacting, and Dolans writing excels when Ava turns her analytical eye on the intersections between English syntax, zeitgeist technology and interpersonal relationships: Because I lacked warmth, I was mainly assigned grammar classes, where children not liking you was a positive performance indicator. Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. Susan Blumberg-Kason is the author of . (Image credit: Design By Morgan McMullen), (Image credit: Design by Morgan McMullen), We're InspiredCrisp Suiting and Bold Beauty is All We Can Currently Think About, Revolve Is Having a Huge One-Day-Only Saleand You Can Get $100 Off These Legendary Gucci Sunglasses, Jo Piazza and Christine Pride Tackle the Complicated Topic of Motherhood in 'You Were Always Mine', 'Token Black Girl' Is Our October Book Club Pick, 25 Books by Latinx Authors You Should Read Immediately, Join #ReadWithMC: Marie Claire's Virtual Monthly Book Club, 'Mika In Real Life' Is Our September Book Club Pick. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry I liked Exciting Times a lot more than the average GR reviewer. audible mp3, ePUB (Android), kindle, and audiobook. RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020. Meanwhile, Atlas mother returns with shocking news. But there are nuances that made me literally stop reading and think about what Dolan had wrote. Youre not easily pleased with how other people put sentences together, Julian accuses, but when it comes to money, youve got no taste. Unfortunately, I cant give this book the raving review I want to because not only is Ava aimless, but shes SO passive-aggressive within her relationships." Aperus are . The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as "the new Sally Rooney" is nothing short of an insult to Rooney's work. I would have liked for Dolan to explore the experiences of native Hong Kong residentsfor instance, she allude to coffin homes and student protests without going into detail. The Irish author, who will appear virtually at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, set her multi-award winning novel in Hong Kong Some will find Ava absolutely intolerable and insufferable and won't be able to finish the first 25 pages. Every time she typed out a note in her phone to send to the other characters, only to delete it, my soul died a little. The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother. Author
Ava makes it her mission to get him to admit some feelings for her, purely because it would give her the upper hand. Straight romance. Though the wedding briefly revives Vixs old feelings for Bru, whom Caitlin is marrying, Vix is soon in love with Gus, another old summer friend, and a more compatible match. What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading, you wish the author that wrote it was a Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! . If in part one, Ava feels held at a frustrating distance why is she so hard on herself? She hopes hell be as impressed by her youth and attractiveness as she is by his salary, which she has Googled, thoroughly. With Julian away, the women bond and Ava must interrogate herself over a whole new range of feelings. EXCITING TIMES, by Naoise Dolan. This information about Exciting Times was first featured
Bookshop For Authors Bookshop . The actual experiences of local people her age have no effect whatsoever on Ava, the details of their lives mentioned, by the author, only in passing. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. She has been short-listed and long-listed for several prizes, including the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Dylan Thomas Prize, and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. She spends so much time telling us how lacking she is that I started to believe her. The story is told through Avas eyes and she often diverges on topics, which are not always explained. [3] A college debater, she co-convened the Irish Mace competition in 2015/16. Its the closest well ever come to telepathy: she realises Edith is thinking about her at that moment, and it changes everything. Naoise Dolan'sExciting Times (opens in new tab)drew instant comparisons to Sally Rooney'sConversations with Friends (opens in new tab)(2017) andNormal People (opens in new tab)(2019)perhaps because Dolan and Rooney are both brilliant Irish writers who instill a dry sense of humor in their characters. This is the kind of book that people are going to have vastly different opinions on. About the author (2020) Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Title
@book_gal. Dolan skilfully reveals to us how Avas choices are all made with self-protection in mind: her constant irony, her low expectations, her chilly relationship with Julian. The dark and light sides of friendship breathlessly explored in a novel best saved for summer beachside reading. Overall, the #ReadWithMC community had trouble relating to Ava, mainly due to her passive aggressiveness and inability to speak the truth to fellow characters in the book. The answer Exciting Times seems to offer is yes, in this case they are just as shallow and myopic as one would assume. Don't the best books teach us something we don't know? This is one of the hottest debut authors of 2020, described as the new Sally Rooney and perfect for fans ofAnimalsandTrick Mirror. LITERARY FICTION | Naoise Dolan's debut novel Exciting Times is to be made into a television series in the United States by Black Bear Pictures, whose credits include the 2014 Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game. 1. But that's what I really enjoyed about thisthe characters felt real and the uncertainty and non-committal situations also felt very real. Ahead, we're showcasing the best fashion and beauty looks you can recreate now. "Much likeNormal Peopleby Sally Rooney, I expect there will be polarizing opinions onExciting Times. So while the storyline and characters didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Dolan puts out next. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Get help and learn more about the design. And sometimes youre just not sure anything looks good and nothing quite fits right. Condition - Very Good. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. Her first novel. Sentences are short. Avas character provides us with biting social commentary. Its unusual and contemplative and just very different. Dolan encapsulates this in a perfect image near the end of Exciting Times, when Ava is tensely watching the three little dots on her messaging app: Edith is typing reads her screen. Until she got pregnant at fifteen, she'd . The book is perfect for those who wants to read contemporary, lgbt books. Politics, class, and race anxiously hover over the entire novel. Stars = 4 / 5. As they fall into a quasi-relationship, Ava moves into his apartment, where Julian allows her to live rent-free. Ava is a 21-year-old who leaves Ireland, where shes convinced everyone hates her, to become a teacher of English as a foreign language in Hong Kong. Exciting Times is a beautiful novel written by the famous author Naoise Dolan. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. She talks to Ava about Ava, and delivers the odd riff on her mother or Judy Garland, but we never delve deep into her own feelings or get to see her vulnerabilities exposed. That doesnt make for a worthy heroineor it might make me 'too old' to empathize. Queer romance. I think these were used as great insights. Categories: The Irish debut novel everyone is talking about.' - The Gloss. She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. Lily wont send Emerson to her fathers house overnight until shes old enough to talkSo she can tell me if something happensbut she doesnt want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. NOTE: I am coming in here a little over a year after writing this because I have changed a bit as a reader and reviewer, and want this, which is still getting eyes on it pretty constantly, to reflect that. In Irish author Dolan's debut novel, 22-year-old narrator Ava relocates from Dublin to Hong Kong to teach grammar at a school for English-language learners. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. Exciting Times is the debut novel from Irish writer Naoise Dolan (and one of the Headstuff Picks of 2020 ). But while it had a similar vibe and a cast of millennials, it definitely had more of a dry and cutting tone to it. Have I compared this book to Sally Rooney enough times yet?? "Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class . Those whove spent time in Hong Kong cant help wondering what its like to be among the Anglophone transplants who work and party there. I enjoyed his money and he enjoyed how easily impressed I was by it.. [2] She experienced homophobic bullying in school. As for the ending, given the character development up to that point, it just felt really implausible. In this, shes reminiscent of Sally Rooneys precarious young women, whose struggle for self-affirmation is so snarled up with the power dynamics of sex. I like cool detached styling, I like complex unlikeable protagonists, I like dissections of class, I like explorations of sexuality. ), She and Edith are a love story, but also a fear story. Overall. Already drawing comparisons to Sally Rooneys work, Exciting Times, by Naoise Dolan, has many of the familiar tropes of the millennial novel covered: Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class and privilege. Click here and be the first to review this book! Feelings for Edith but, confusingly, also for Julian. "Okay wow, what a great book! . In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. The young Irish writers first novel is dry and sharp in its observation of twentysomething expat lives. An intimate, bracingly intelligent debut novel about a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer. Blume knows the way kids and teens speak, but her two female leads are less credible as they reach adulthood. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. Millennials floundering in the realms of the heart. I wanted her life, Ava thinks. , Dry humor can be hard to execute on the page, but Naoise Dolan does so effortlessly and its evident from the very first pages. Exciting Times, which was acquired in a seven-way bidding war, more than lives up to the . I wasnt good at most things but I was good at men, Ava confides in the reader, and Julian was the richest man Id ever been good at.. Incredibly readable.' - Belfast Telegraph. This novel is a tedious account of one girls romantic flings during a year of living abroad in Hong Kong. "Dolan's preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. "[A] wry, tender debutDolan's smart, brisk debut works as charming comedy of manners, though it packs less of a punch when it comes to class consciousness." Read an excerpt from Emiko Jean's new novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan is published by W&N (14.99), Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning.
Though the novel had mixed reviews, one thing readers did agree on is that Dolan is a unique and smart writer who they'll continue to support throughout her career. Already drawing comparisons to Sally Rooney's work, "Exciting Times," by Naoise Dolan, has many of the familiar tropes of the "millennial . None of them will be wrong, really, it's just one of those books. white authors writing books that are set in asia, but have a set of characters that are 98% white with only a few token, stereotypical asian characters . It finds her teaching English while abroad and indecisive about two lovers. Ava, a 22-year-old Dubliner living in Hong Kong, describes herself as good at men. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. In Irish author Dolan's debut novel, 22-year-old narrator Ava relocates from Dublin to Hong Kong to teach grammar at a school for English-language learners. In fact, Now longlisted for the 2021 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction and for the 2021 Women's Prize. I also think the teaching English abroad aspect was well-researched and spot on. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan. They trip her up and get in the way. A sharp, witty and ultimately moving debut . [4] She identifies as queer. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television.
1. Now 45% Off. Condition - Like New. When he leaves to go work in London again, Ava is left wondering what their exact relationship status is, caught between being a sugar baby or being Julians girlfriend. Unfortunately, Dolans superficial evocation of the island is conjured mostly through Instagram latte art geotagged on fashionable streets. The comparison was mentioned repeatedly in the book's marketing materials, in reviews, in interviews, and in the 28-year-old's author biographies. The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. Genre: Literary Fiction
Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin.
Like New Very Good Good. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER By Naoise Dolan. When Julian leaves for London on an extended work project, Ava meets Edith, a Hong Kong local and ambitious lawyer. The following is excerpted from Naoise Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times, an excerpt of which was published in The Stinging Fly by Sally Rooney. A young Dubliner in Hong Kong struggles to connect in this fresh and funny debut about love and self-knowledge. Honestly. Eek! Exciting Timesis a smart and funny book that deals with class, money, bisexuality, and the uncertainties of modern love through the eyes of a narrator that is scared to be loved. What listeners say about Exciting Times Average Customer Ratings. More Information |
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Three-syllable words spread out like the spokes on an umbrella: "attaches" became "a-tach-iss.". Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.7 out of 5.0 5 Stars . . I took some time getting used to the narrators voice, but once I did, I became completely absorbed in Avas story. Youre not a fan of unreliable narrators (hiit me), 3. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend if you want to read something thats not the normal style."
Books that read fast, cut fluff, and get to the point are your jam. DAS APASIONANTES es una novela social (casi generacional) disfrazada de historia de amor. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. - Library Journal
During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. I think I may be experiencing a personal jadedness with these narratives that prevented me from fully enjoying my reading. Offline, shes likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop. I have a feeling this one is going to be popping up on lots of summer 2020 must read lists! Oh my goodness. "This debut novel about an Irish expat millennial teaching English and finding romance in Hong Kong is half Sally Rooney love triangle, half glitzy Crazy Rich Asians high livingand guaranteed to please." Available in used condition with free delivery in the UK. Add to cart. EXCITING TIMES is a joy from start to finish, and the perfect balm for these times-fresh, funny, sharp. Available in used condition with free delivery in the UK. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. Given my absolute adoration of Rooney, its no surprise I loved this debut by a writer who counts Rooney as an inspiration and mentor. Julian is a banker who likes spending time with Ava, but incapable (or simply unwilling) to express his feelings for her. Its not easy to sustain interest in someone so relentlessly floundering for self-knowledge, and the book flags once Ava and Edith are together. The story of how this casual invitation turns the two girls into what they call "Summer sisters" is prefaced with a prologue in which Vix is asked by Caitlin to be her matron of honor. I personally see the appeal for Sally Rooneys fans (and thats why I chose it as my next rec), but I also think that Dolan deserves praise of her own. I 'm sorry. Ill update in the comments if I ever figure it out. The novel is shot through with moments of such startling self-awareness as this. Categories: ROMANCE | Founded in 2009, The Rumpus is one of the longest running independent online literary and culture magazines.Our mostly volunteer-run magazine strives to be a platform for risk-taking voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over. Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. Judy Blume. GENERAL ROMANCE | I cant believe it was written so geniously by someone so young. And then Julian writes to tell Ava he is coming back to Hong Kong Should Ava return to the easy compatibility of her life with Julian or take a leap into the unknown with Edith? Some will declare Ava sharp and wise and funny, a hyper-relatable protagonist. Do you marvel at clever sentence structure when encountered in a book? Omnipresent yet subtle, Hong Kong doesn't overshadow the characters and their struggles in trying to figure out life. . Its a great pick for everyone whos sensitive and introspective, but also cynical and scared of relationships." After graduating from Trinity, Dubliner Ava moves to Hong Kong to teach Englishthe only thing she is qualified to doand gets hired mostly because she is white. Exciting Times takes place in Hong Kong around 2015, when 22 year-old Ava leaves Ireland to take a job as a TEFL teacher and find her own way in the world.This is a novel of many layers. A variety of explanations for this have been proposed; The Lancet's "Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism" commented that it "might be part of a different concept of self, less reliance on or reference to social norms, or part of a . [5] Dolan obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 [6] [2] and later a Master's in Victorian literature from Oxford University. Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. Naoise's debut novel EXCITING TIMES was published by W&N in the UK and by Ecco in the US in 2020, and became a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated and optioned for TV. A literary and hilarious tour de force. You get annoyed when a book includes references to politics/political issues/cultural references and you have NO IDEA what they mean (lots of info on politics in Ireland and Hong Kong, neither of which I knew OR cared to Google), While this style is definitely not for me, if you were a fan ofNormal PeopleandEleanor Oliphant,I can see you really enjoying this read and encourage you to try. If youre looking for likable and well-rounded characters, a happy love story, and everything packaged up in a neat box, this isnt it. ISBN-13: 9780062968746. Let the BookTokking Begin, New Colleen Hoover Book Sells 800K Copies, Colleen Hoover Dominated Book Sales in 2022. While there, Ava meets Julian, a rich banker from London, who invites her to move into his home. As Ava grapples with the newfound vulnerability Edith has exposed in her, she finds herself observing her own actions like a zoologist peering into a cage. Dolan has a great eye and I was poised over my Kindle highlighting witty dialogue and observations more than a few times.
Julian, her posh banker boyfriend, has such an apartment which is just as well, since he also has an arrogance to match his salary. By this I mean that Naise Dolan also focuses on love from a millennial point of view. Exciting Times was also nominated in the Best Newcomer Category at the An Post Irish Book Awards. Victoria, or more commonly Vix, lives in a small house; her brother has muscular dystrophy; her mother is unhappy, and money is scarce. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. The book was first published in April 1st 2020 and the latest edition of the book was published in April 16th . Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. "Volleying dialogue, rich interiority, and perceptive writing on money, politics, and classA clever and deep novel of sex, connection, and the complexities of self expression."
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