Trouble signing in? Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. 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. I cant wait to read what Dolan writes next. Button, water, Tuesdayanything with two syllables zipped up then down like a Gothic steeple. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. Dolan was born in Dublin, Ireland. Ava is pulled into the orbit of wealthy, privileged banker Julian who comes from London. Exciting Times was also nominated in the Best Newcomer Category at the An Post Irish Book Awards. The novel takes place a few years after the 2014 Umbrella Movement, peaceful demonstrations that galvanized Hong Kongs youth, who were demanding open elections, in a renewed spirit of protest. But on this occasion, its more than just a question of biography: Dolans writing does genuinely occupy similar territory. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. It would definitely have been helpful to have a general idea of the geopolitics between Ireland/Britain/Hong Kong. RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022. I enjoyed his money and he enjoyed how easily impressed I was by it.. The story follows Ava through two loosely defined relationshipswith Julian, a wealthy British banker, and with Edith, a Hong Kong born, Cambridge-educated lawyer. She's sharing an Airbnb with roomies that don't like her. As for the ending, given the character development up to that point, it just felt really implausible. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. If you like this book that's totally up to you, I just wanted to share some of my own thoug. I found her style of writing very unusual and can see why people would compare her to Sally Rooney based on that. Noting that the school hires only white people, she remarks: "Like sharks' teeth, teachers dropped out and were replaced.". Exciting Times. 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. Who said I liked you? he counters. Sure, her salary is good compared to the locals, but ending things with Julian would mean shed have to, gasp, live like they do, in coffin homes.. Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times, is a smart, funny, . Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), 6 Queer Debuts To Read During Pride Month, Shortlists for Dalkey Literary Awards Are Revealed, Colleen Hoover Is Back. Youre not easily pleased with how other people put sentences together, Julian accuses, but when it comes to money, youve got no taste. I love the unconventional, the interpersonal, the relatable *but not talked about,* and this book had all of that and more. Here goes apologies if this review gets a bit ranty. However, its the authors style of writing that really grew on me. Stories so good, you won't need a bookmark. Stars = 4 / 5. Fiercely intelligent, brutally funny and written with such heart, Exciting Times announces an impressive new voice in literature. 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. Do put it on your TBR and let me know what you think." Like New Very Good Good. 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. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. Membership Advantages. Queer romance. Search String: Summary | Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. Victoria, or more commonly Vix, lives in a small house; her brother has muscular dystrophy; her mother is unhappy, and money is scarce. And no squeamishness about asking for it, discussing it, hoarding it. Ava doesnt flinch. In her first months as an expat, she meets Juliana 28-year-old English bankerwho seems aloof about everything except his job. Characters who bottle up and wont say how they feel drive me crazy, and Ava was no exception here. Its unusual and contemplative and just very different. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. Which path does Ava end up taking? New RRP 14.99. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as "the new Sally Rooney" is nothing short of an insult to Rooney's work. Categories: GENERAL FICTION, by "[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." Colleen Hoover My main problem was Ava. Colleen Hoover. @thefamilybookshelf, "Exciting Timesis a sharp, character-driven story about the complicated relationships of three 20-somethings.. Not so much. Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother. Theres a certain dry, almost deadpan quality in her observation of the lives of her twentysomething characters the complications of attraction, and the gap between whats felt and whats spoken; calmly articulated self-loathing, and precise capturing of class differences that both authors nail down dead. , Dry humor can be hard to execute on the page, but Naoise Dolan does so effortlessly and its evident from the very first pages. 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. Don't the best books teach us something we don't know? The project, based on Irish writer Naoise Dolan's debut novel, hails from U.S. financier-producer Black Bear Pictures, which optioned rights to the book ahead of its June 2020 U.S. release to . A Hong Kongborn lawyer, striking and ambitious, Edith takes Ava to the theater and leaves her tulips in the hallway. GENERAL FICTION, by "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." Reviews: Trustpilot. Blume knows the way kids and teens speak, but her two female leads are less credible as they reach adulthood. 3.79. - Kirkus Reviews You like an unreliable narrator (thinkEleanor Oliphant) as you read. I personally found that to be utterly fascinating. HarperCollins. 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. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. 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. 256 pp. Its good to know thats how I behave in this situation.. 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. What listeners say about Exciting Times Average Customer Ratings. Read an excerpt from Danielle Prescod's new memoir, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. Similarly to her feelings about Julian, Ava becomes obsessed with Edith, to the point where she begins wondering if Edith will be her girlfriend. Es un libro en el que la protagonista est tan bien retratada y es tan cruda y llena de aristas que, realmente, casi da igual lo que le pase a ella personalmente, porque lo que te interesa como lector es su voz, su forma de ver el mundo y su forma de verse a s misma. She, a . It all adds up to a bracing, refreshing first novel, with hints of greater things to come. Edith Zhang Mei LingEnglish name Edith, Chinese name Mei Ling . When Julian leaves for London on an extended work project, Ava meets Edith, a Hong Kong local and ambitious lawyer. ISBN: 9781474613446. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Regardless, I encourage you to seek outExciting Timesfor yourself because I know so many of you are hungry for reading experiences that capture the complexities of love, personal politics, and the precariousness that comes with being young and lost and in love. RELEASE DATE: May 8, 1998. "Gaydars . @kelseylovesbooks. 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. 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. 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. @booktrax. Multiple friends of mine whove read Sally Rooneys phenomenally popular novel. 2. Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. Sigh. Some will declare Ava sharp and wise and funny, a hyper-relatable protagonist. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. I loved the IG stalking references, so current and fun to read. As for Julian, he is a closed book he wouldnt fulfil his function in the storyline otherwise and the rest of the characters, barring Avas hilariously frank Mam on the phone from Ireland, are similarly unforthcoming. Visit our corporate site. However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. I also think the teaching English abroad aspect was well-researched and spot on. 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. I wasn't immediately sucked inI think when Edith entered the picture, I became a lot more engaged. Title Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, (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.) 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. [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. And damn I wish I could figure out why exactly. Not long after her arrival, she finds herself on a lunch date with Julian, an Oxford-educated British banker in his late 20s. Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times drew instant comparisons to Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends (2017) and Normal People (2019)perhaps because Dolan and Rooney are both brilliant Irish . "Okay wow, what a great book! 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! 6 min read. Just $45 for 12 months or While there, Ava meets Julian, a rich banker from London, who invites her to move into his home. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. It also turned into a really beautiful queer love story, taking turns I hadnt anticipated at the outset of the novel. 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. Add to cart. , RIYL: Sally Rooney. Exciting Times, which was acquired in a seven-way bidding war, more than lives up to the . I am not in my twenties although still full of angst. (I mean, I love them both and what good company to be in! Thats good to know about me, she thinks. 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. Publication Information. This years Womens Prize for Fiction longlist includes quite a few of these disaster women books and I for one am really pleased with that. "Telling Time to Minute" contains high-end 3D animations that explain abstract topics visually in detail to understand it more easily. 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. Until she got pregnant at fifteen, she'd . Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan was published April 16th with Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as 'accessible, acerbic, smart and fun' Skip to content. <style> body { -ms-overflow-style: scrollbar; overflow-y: scroll; overscroll-behavior-y: none; } .errorContainer { background-color: #FFF; color: #0F1419; max-width . Rooney writes more stream of consciousness and this is more tightly bound, but the emotions and ways of being felt so similar." Find out exactly what #ReadWithMC loved and didn't love aboutExciting Times, below. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. She spends so much time telling us how lacking she is that I started to believe her. Another month has whizzed by, seriously where is 2021 going so fast, and it is time for the latest #BookClub with Melanie and I. East and West collide in a timely and bittersweet novel of loyalty, love, and the siren call of freedom. 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 . She hinges on the idea of a strong female, but then plays out the stereotype. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan $27.99 $26.03 in cart add to cart I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and. This information about Exciting Times was first featured Oh my goodness. Feelings for Edith but, confusingly, also for Julian. NY 10036. Everyone should read it right now. This is one of the hottest debut authors of 2020, described as the new Sally Rooney and perfect for fans ofAnimalsandTrick Mirror. In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. Three-syllable words spread out like the spokes on an umbrella: "attaches" became "a-tach-iss.". Naoise Dolan, 2020. Nine months later, out popped their new child known asExciting Times. Its not easy to sustain interest in someone so relentlessly floundering for self-knowledge, and the book flags once Ava and Edith are together. All Rights Reserved. Him needing me was strange and new. Avas character provides us with biting social commentary. Ava, the narrator, is an Irish ex-pat living in Hong Kong. I need to have a protagonist I can rally behindand Avas self-pitying rants just made me irritated and wanting her to find a good therapist. Naoise Dolan. Exciting Times Book Rating. Summary. Perhaps because Ava's first love interest, Julian, uncomfortably reminded me of someone from my past! Ava, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children. The answer Exciting Times seems to offer is yes, in this case they are just as shallow and myopic as one would assume. Welcome to Hong Kong, where Julian (English) is a banker and Ava (Irish) is a leech. More Information | Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan. I related to it immensely. Unfortunately, Dolans superficial evocation of the island is conjured mostly through Instagram latte art geotagged on fashionable streets. Margaret Verble is the author of several previous novels, including. In June, we're reading author Naoise Dolan's debut book, Exciting Times a novel about an Irish millennial expat in Hong Kong who finds herself in a love triangle with a male banker and a female . (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. 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. I loved him potentially, she thinks. exciting times naoise dolan ending explainedlivrer de la nourriture non halal. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. - Vogue I have no love for a novel which only uses my home town as a colorful backdrop and doesn't give a shit about what is happening to the local people. This book really does navigate the muddle of thought and inaction cleverly. ROMANCE | But that's what I really enjoyed about thisthe characters felt real and the uncertainty and non-committal situations also felt very real. As I started reading this novel, I realized I had to take my time with it. Exciting Times : A Novel [PDF] PDF Under: Categories eBooks & Readings. 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 EXCITING TIMES, by Naoise Dolan. Anyone can read what you share. She is known for her debut novel Exciting Times . She's instructing the dispassionate topic of grammar to youngsters in Hong Kong. Have I compared this book to Sally Rooney enough times yet?? This book may be short, but it packs a huge punch. Ava has left her life in Ireland behind to teach English to rich children in Hong Kong. Get ready to turn that frown upside down. The more I think about this novel the more it suffers in my estimations. Besides school and uni . Its a layered book because of these factors, and it works in the storys favor. 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. Given my absolute adoration of Rooney, its no surprise I loved this debut by a writer who counts Rooney as an inspiration and mentor. When you not only stalk her on subreddits, but worry about whether the algorithm will reveal to her the true extent of your stalking. When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Its a story about intimacy, vulnerability, being alone, and being different versions of yourself with different people. RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020. Or a good girlfriend? She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. Judy Blume This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. In Exciting Times, Echoes of Sally Rooney, but With a Queer Twist, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/books/review/exciting-times-naoise-dolan.html. 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. Reviews: Trustpilot. When Julian returns to London for six months for work, Ava meets Edith, a smart and beautiful Hong Kong lawyer. Dolan explores the uncertainty that can come with queer dating in Exciting Times, Ava spending hours analysing Edith's Instagram for clues about her sexuality when they first meet. Ava is an accurately drawn emblem of the zeitgeist, but as such, she stands apart from it, isolated. 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. I took some time getting used to the narrators voice, but once I did, I became completely absorbed in Avas story. 40+ in stock. Julian is a banker. Absent the textures of a real city that is sharply divided along generational, ideological and class lines, Dolans novel could have taken place in any other major Asian metropolis. And sometimes youre just not sure anything looks good and nothing quite fits right. Very . Every complaint you've ever read about "millenial fiction"? Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. This book also brought back so many memories from my trip to Hong Kong with my friends after college graduation (swipe!). Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Its a Euro-centric story, despite its Asian setting." Heres how it works. Since the content is visually instructed, it creates excitement in learning by the users and improves the retention rate to a greater extent which . Nenia I yeet my books back and forth Campbell, review of Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan on LonesomeReader. A widowed painter and her teenaged . June 2, 2020. Both are well-educated and earning a good living. Naoise Dolan is in her late 20s and has often been compared to Sally Rooney. Naoise Dolan will be an auto-buy for me in the future." When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Get help and learn more about the design. Naoise is an author I know Ill follow throughout her writing career, and that excites me. With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are Exciting Times ahead.' - i-D. They trip her up and get in the way. @readtotheend. Julian, her posh banker boyfriend, has such an apartment which is just as well, since he also has an arrogance to match his salary. But boy, this novel feels so liveless and fake. She dissects language and her humor is so deadpan I sometimes read sentences twice. Were glad you found a book that interests you! 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 . But did I like Exciting Times? Here, she grapples with her feelings towards Julian, a rich, witty but largely emotionless banker, and Edith, an ambitious and striking lawyer. 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. Enter Edith. It reads fairly quickly and isnt long, so would make a great summer poolside story!" This month we are discussing. But now theyre co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Rushed in some places, dragged out in others. She studied at Trinity College, followed by a master's in Victorian literature at Oxford. Judy Blume. Both intonations feel native to its 22 . 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. In addition to appearing in best selling lists in the original English, it has also been translated into Italian where it has got rave reviews. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER By Naoise Dolan. There are intimate moments here, even if they do occur at one remove. His privilege is the invisible third party in the relationship. Heavily influenced by Sally Rooneys Normal People in terms of the tiresome indecisiveness of committing to a relationship, its as if Exciting Times is just Normal People set in China with some extra LGBT content packed in. But Im going to just get it out of the way, for Naoise Dolan is Irish, in her mid-20s, and her debut was previewed in literary magazine, Naoise Dolan: 'I'm not good at presenting myself as likable', Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan review a witty, deadpan debut, 'The stakes were really high': the stars bringing Sally Rooney's Normal People to TV, 'My family are too frightened to read my book': meet Europe's most exciting authors, Sally Rooney: 'I want the next thing I do to be the best thing Ive ever done', 'All words are not equal': the debut novelist who's become a lockdown sensation, Tiger King and a bloody mary: Hilary Mantel, Simon Armitage and other writers on lockdown life, Introducing our 10 best debut novelists of 2020. I like cool detached styling, I like complex unlikeable protagonists, I like dissections of class, I like explorations of sexuality. The book is perfect for those who wants to read contemporary, lgbt books. Ava is constantly trying to make sense of her situation by framing it in terms of identity: does sleeping with Julian make her a bad feminist?