Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times, is a smart, funny, . All Rights Reserved. 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 . Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan. Your ultimate guide to the (arguably) best film genre: the romantic comedy. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Categories: Lots of reviews are making the Rooney 'millennial lit' comparison which is fair but I'd add. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the sites day-to-day editorial operations. I love books about disaster women and unlike many of my bookish friends do not seem to tire of them at all. "Aimless Ava moves from Dublin to Hong Kong looking to find purpose for her life. Categories: Retrieve credentials. None of them will be wrong, really, it's just one of those books. This book also brought back so many memories from my trip to Hong Kong with my friends after college graduation (swipe!). 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. The book is fast-paced, but with finely-wrought moments of stillness. Not long after her arrival, she finds herself on a lunch date with Julian, an Oxford-educated British banker in his late 20s. When you not only stalk her on subreddits, but worry about whether the algorithm will reveal to her the true extent of your stalking. The story explores the freedoms and dangers of modern love and expression through Avas relations with these two people and her teaching of the often non-sensical semantics of the English language to her students. Ultimately, this one was a miss for me. Both intonations feel native to its 22 . And yet its so original. 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. 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. , RIYL: Sally Rooney. She's a young Irish woman, after all, and she'd written a . I hope youll give her debut a tryit was exceedingly worth it!" ISBN-13: 9780062968746. The story is told through Avas eyes and she often diverges on topics, which are not always explained. @thereaderignites. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Bookshop For Authors Bookshop . Article m sorry. 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! GENERAL FICTION, by More from Star Tribune. An entire novel in this vein might become wearing, but Dolan takes her narrative to a new level when she brings in a character Ava actually likes: Edith, a local who went to boarding school in England. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan was published April 16th with Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as 'accessible, acerbic, smart and fun' Skip to content. You like an unreliable narrator (thinkEleanor Oliphant) as you read. Ava eventually comes to recognise that her cynicism is the protective garb of youth, but it is something the book also struggles to shrug off. Politics FBI agents, prosecutors argued over Trump before raid 8:48pm Gophers Scoggins: Give . 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.. Telling neither the full truth about the other, Ava finds herself falling in love with Edith. 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. 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. Exciting Times is a fun, snappy read ordinarily, Id say its short chapters could be torn through on your commute, but itll brighten lockdown too. The years in between are related in brief segments by numerous characters, but mostly by Vix. 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. Publication Information. Its good to know thats how I behave in this situation.. The characters are refreshing, I think particularly for me because they are not American, thus allowing for some exploration of how differing cultures analyze and observe class, race, and politics. Until she got pregnant at fifteen, she'd . I'm highly anticipating another Naoise Dolan book, I wonder if there could be another instalment of Ava going by Exciting Times book ending. This gives the novel a strangely solipsistic feel, like a hall of mirrors, where every attempt to gaze outward is met only by your own face. In her first months as an expat, she meets Juliana 28-year-old English bankerwho seems aloof about everything except his job. Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. Here, she grapples with her feelings towards Julian, a rich, witty but largely emotionless banker, and Edith, an ambitious and striking lawyer. I rolled my eyes a few times. This can be really interesting territory for a novel, but it didn't completely work for me here. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) You have to understand that this is the kind of story I have very high standards for because the plot is an evergreen plot: young person at loose ends making her way in the world and deciding who to love. An exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving memoir of family and identity. 256 pp. But the intellectual aura inserted across the novel felt taut and occasionally reaching. Exciting Times is very funny in its cool observation and the way it takes us inside Avas spirals of overthinking. I laughed out loud at so many parts, especially in conversations with her parents! She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. I found her style of writing very unusual and can see why people would compare her to Sally Rooney based on that. [3] A college debater, she co-convened the Irish Mace competition in 2015/16. ), On a personal level, I found Avas character very insular and detached, but the moments that worked their way under my skin were those where she drafted text messages which she didnt send. 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. Soon they are sleeping together, and Ava moves into Julians flat. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2020 By Naoise Dolan. Judy Blume Some will declare Ava sharp and wise and funny, a hyper-relatable protagonist. 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. Membership Advantages. The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as "the new Sally Rooney" is nothing short of an insult to Rooney's work. RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022. Get ready to turn that frown upside down. EXCITING TIMES is an acerbic tale of sex and love, set in the social media age * The Herald Scotland * Incredibly readable * Belfast Telegraph * With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are EXCITING TIMES ahead * i-D * The Irish debut novel everyone is talking about * The Gloss * I savoured every shrewd line * Dazed * A sharp, witty and . 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. But even though shes divorced, Lily isnt exactly free. During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. Ava makes it her mission to get him to admit some feelings for her, purely because it would give her the upper hand. Everyone should read it right now. However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. 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? Exciting Times was also nominated in the Best Newcomer Category at the An Post Irish Book Awards. Droll, shrewd and unafraid - a winning debut. A refreshingly wry and insightful debut." About the author (2020) Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. 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. Por supuesto que la historia de esta joven irlandesa buscndose la vida como profesora de ingls en Hong Kong y tratando de sobrevivir a dos amores casi opuestos (aunque no tan diferentes) es maravillosa, sexy, extica y fascinante, pero es que ese personaje protagonista est tan bien construido que el libro sera igual de interesante si no le pasase nada de todo lo extraordinario que le sucede. They form a digital counterbalance to Avas aloof and guarded in-person presence, and through this duality Dolan captures perfectly the nauseating insecurity of growing up today. She creates her own isolation, whilst being envious of those who are not lonely. 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. I have a feeling this one is going to be popping up on lots of summer 2020 must read lists! Don't the best books teach us something we don't know? Its not easy to sustain interest in someone so relentlessly floundering for self-knowledge, and the book flags once Ava and Edith are together. Susan Blumberg-Kason is the author of . The literary rumor mill portrays Naoise Dolan as the new Sally Rooney, and that suggestion alone might push a writer onto the bestseller list these days. After a local waiter replies to her English greeting in Cantonese, an irritated Edith points out one of Avas blind spots: Youre not noticing because youre white, she says, people see me and assume Im from here. Edith might let Ava off the hook, but why should todays reader do the same? Were glad you found a book that interests you! I wanted her life, Ava thinks. The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. The book is perfect for those who wants to read contemporary, lgbt books. What does she see in this man? If Sally Rooney couldn't write, was more cynical and forgot everything about subtlety and realistic characterisation and dialogue. I 'm sorry. Available in used condition with free delivery in the UK. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan, review: a wily, caustic debut novel about young love Soon Ava falls for sternly witty British banker Julian - for his mind in a way, and certainly for his wallet. An upcoming glossy series based on the debut novel of the same name by 29-year-old Irish author Naoise Dolan - and streaming giant Amazon will be behind it. Phoebe Dynevor, the glamorous lead of Netflix's Bridgerton, is set to star and executive produce Exciting Times. EXCITING TIMES is a joy from start to finish, and the perfect balm for these times-fresh, funny, sharp. 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 know it's frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.7 out of 5.0 5 Stars . "I have to say I really liked this debut novel by Naoise Dolan. "Okay wow, what a great book! 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. Honestly. So while the storyline and characters didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Dolan puts out next. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend if you want to read something thats not the normal style." The comparison was mentioned repeatedly in the book's marketing materials, in reviews, in interviews, and in the 28-year-old's author biographies. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. She has been shortlisted and longlisted for several prizes, including The Women's Prize for Fiction, the Dylan Thomas Prize and The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year . (I mean, I love them both and what good company to be in! While Julian is back in London for six months, Ava meets Mei Ling Edith Zhang, a corporate lawyer from a well-off Hong Kong family. As they fall into a quasi-relationship, Ava moves into his apartment, where Julian allows her to live rent-free. Naoise Dolan has been compared to Sally Rooney, and I definitely think fans ofConversations With Friendsmay like this one more than I did!" @bookish_molly. After high school, Caitlin travels the world and cant understand why Vix, by now at Harvard on a scholarship and determined to have a better life than her mother has had, wont drop out and join her. She is in a constant battle of inner conflicttotal social apathy, whilst silently scathing of her prejudiced workplace. Naoise Dolan Often when I read a queer novel some of it feels forced; this was seamless. Rooney writes more stream of consciousness and this is more tightly bound, but the emotions and ways of being felt so similar." Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. I loved him potentially, she thinks. Ava is 22 years old and teaches English to rich kids in Hong Kong. "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." When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. I loved Exciting Times and could see within the first few chapters why it's on lots of best books 2020 lists. This debut novel tells the story of a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer 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. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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. Thats partly because Edith herself is only lightly sketched in. I cant believe it was written so geniously by someone so young. Enter Edith. She's a long way from her home in Ireland. Ahead, we're showcasing the best fashion and beauty looks you can recreate now. Oh my goodness. 6 min read. The book centres on Ava (Dynevor), an Irish woman who moves to Hong Kong . Eek! Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. Both are well-educated and earning a good living. . Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjectsa pigdevelops the capacity for human speech. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. Him needing me was strange and new. Ava is an accurately drawn emblem of the zeitgeist, but as such, she stands apart from it, isolated. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. . Only 2 left. The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. [2] She experienced homophobic bullying in school. However, as a TEFL teacher, Ava struggles with a myriad of contemplative problems and inner issues as she comes to terms with her feelings for both Julian and Edith. This model of relationship-as-power-struggle is hardly new, but Dolan brings a fresh 21st-century sensibility to it. Edith Zhang Mei LingEnglish name Edith, Chinese name Mei Ling . In Naoise Dolan's 'Exciting Times,' an Irish ex-pat in Hong Kong lands in a love triangle. 40+ in stock. Let the BookTokking Begin, New Colleen Hoover Book Sells 800K Copies, Colleen Hoover Dominated Book Sales in 2022. New RRP 8.99. "[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." Omnipresent yet subtle, Hong Kong doesn't overshadow the characters and their struggles in trying to figure out life. Results for "Exciting Times" "Naoise Dolan" 12,128 results. What listeners say about Exciting Times Average Customer Ratings. East and West collide in a timely and bittersweet novel of loyalty, love, and the siren call of freedom. by More Information | Our parents had divorced when I was a baby, and now lived in different counties in the west of Ireland. I loved the IG stalking references, so current and fun to read. Yet like many millennials, Ava exhausts the bulk of her mental energy on her bank account. Naoise Dolan. This is one of the hottest debut authors of 2020, described as the new Sally Rooney and perfect for fans ofAnimalsandTrick Mirror. Intermixed with some "politics" about late stage capitalism, marxism and the class systems. 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. Get help and learn more about the design. A widowed painter and her teenaged . Trouble signing in? Summary. [1] For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Naoise Dolan . Exciting Times is her first novel, an excerpt from which was published in The Stinging Fly by Sally Rooney. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan $27.99 $26.03 in cart add to cart I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and. 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. Title Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan is published by W&N (14.99), Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Naoise is an author I know Ill follow throughout her writing career, and that excites me. That said, I did not always love this book. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. Very . In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a life--and announces herself as a singular new voice. Do you re-read witty comebacks to try and bake them into your mind should you ever need them? Still, Naoise Dolan deserves her own praise. More Books, Published Jun 2020 I really am. But real life is messy and people are messy, and this book dramatizes that in a way that rings profoundly true. However, I soon grew to really like this, as I became used to her inner thoughts. I enjoyed his money and he enjoyed how easily impressed I was by it.. Caitlin, determined never to be ordinary, is always testing the limits, and in adolescence falls hard for Von, an older construction worker, while Vix falls for his friend Bru. It reads fairly quickly and isnt long, so would make a great summer poolside story!" Ava wants to be herand wants her. Ava herself would give much the same impression, which is a sign the book is successful even if it doesn't make it universally appealing. "Exciting Timesfollows 22-year-old Ava as she leaves Ireland to teach in Hong Kong. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. With a similar rhythm of detachment and sparsity found in Rooney and Ottessas writing, I can see why comparisons are being drawn, and I dont think this comparison does Dolan any disservice. 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. Edith has much in common with Julian: an Oxbridge pedigree and a high-powered, high-paying job. None of the English-speaking characters seek to venture beyond their established social circles, where even brief references to elections or the conditions of domestic workers are dismissed as white savior-ish. They barely notice the Chinese characters on street signs, let alone try to understand them. I found this an invigorating respite from how people usually assessed women.. Though this model of relationship-as-power-struggle is hardly new, Dolan brings a fresh 21st-century sensibility to it. Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. She said "completely" a lot and usually dropped the "t" in the middle. 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. Exciting Times. Read an excerpt from Emiko Jean's new novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. And others will find that not much happens and it's just meh. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. However, this isnt anotherNormal Peopleand dont expect it to be. Avas character provides us with biting social commentary. It seemed farcical that I even needed to explain to Edith . And also coming out: Ava slowly falls for Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer. Exciting Times is a wily, caustic story about young love.It is set in Hong Kong in 2016, where Ava, a recent graduate from Dublin, has moved to teach English, ostensibly until she works out what . Do you take delight in words like "gormless"? Similarly to her feelings about Julian, Ava becomes obsessed with Edith, to the point where she begins wondering if Edith will be her girlfriend. Her relationships are dysfunctional and we see her repeatedly make choices that we know (or think we know) are wrong for her. By Naoise Dolan. Unfortunately, Dolans superficial evocation of the island is conjured mostly through Instagram latte art geotagged on fashionable streets. Some will find Ava absolutely intolerable and insufferable and won't be able to finish the first 25 pages. It would definitely have been helpful to have a general idea of the geopolitics between Ireland/Britain/Hong Kong. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry Fiercely intelligent, brutally funny and written with such heart, Exciting Times announces an impressive new voice in literature. Exciting Times. It finds her teaching English while abroad and indecisive about two lovers. Exciting Times : A Novel [PDF] PDF Under: Categories eBooks & Readings. Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon.