Stories that focus on social issues such as class and LGBTQ+ are of interest to you. Naoise Dolan, 2020. But that's what I really enjoyed about thisthe characters felt real and the uncertainty and non-committal situations also felt very real. audible mp3, ePUB (Android), kindle, and audiobook. Both are well-educated and earning a good living. 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. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. 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. In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. Naoise Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times shares a lot of similarities to Sally Rooney's Normal People (and shades of Conversations with Friends). Exciting Times Naoise Dolan $27.99 $26.03 in cart add to cart I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. In a novel where human connection is such a challenge, these flickering pixels provide one of the most affecting and powerful moments. Ava admires how Julian handles his advantages, how he could calmly note where he benefited from unfairness not self-indulgently like I often did, but factually. As their undefined relationship goes on, she begins to develop her own brand of romantic longing, which begins with a desire for his life of privilege. The book was first published in April 1st 2020 and the latest edition of the book was published in April 16th . She creates her own isolation, whilst being envious of those who are not lonely. , Dry humor can be hard to execute on the page, but Naoise Dolan does so effortlessly and its evident from the very first pages. In fact, Exciting Times (talk about a misleading title) reads like a dry, emotionless version of Conversations with Friends without the subtle characterization and psychological realism that made Rooney a household name. . However, its the authors style of writing that really grew on me. @thefamilybookshelf, "Exciting Timesis a sharp, character-driven story about the complicated relationships of three 20-somethings.. Who said I liked you? he counters. You didnt likeNormal Peopleor are not a fan of Sally Roonys writing style (like, I readNormal Peoplea year ago and still am unsure how I feel), 2. When Julian leaves for London on an extended work project, Ava meets Edith, a Hong Kong local and ambitious lawyer. Naoise Dolan captures perfectly the nauseating insecurity of growing up today. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. Ill update in the comments if I ever figure it out. Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. When Julian plans to return to Hong Kong, Ava must come clean to Edith and decide for herself which life she wants to live: one with romance and adventure or money and comfort. Not long after her arrival, she finds herself on a lunch date with Julian, an Oxford-educated British banker in his late 20s. GENERAL FICTION, by Don't the best books teach us something we don't know? Anyone can read what you share. 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. Until she got pregnant at fifteen, she'd . Its a Euro-centric story, despite its Asian setting." If you love prose sprinkled with sarcasm, characters who could use some serious self-improvement, and complicated love stories, thenExciting Timeswill likely appeal to you. From the jump, Ava approaches the world with cleareyed humor. @suzylew_bookreview, "Love triangle. "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." Summary. Or a good girlfriend? Spare by Prince Harry and Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld: The biggest new books of 2023,Expect a reading frenzy for Prince Harry's memoir to kick off a year that also sees releases from 'Exciting Times' author Naoise Dolan and 'Open Water' writer Caleb Azumah Nelson Tags: culture inews.co.uk uconn edu 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. Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. Politics, grammar, and morality are explored with quick jabs and sharp wording. 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 . 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. Your ultimate guide to the (arguably) best film genre: the romantic comedy. And yet its so original. Add to cart. Read an excerpt from the bookhere (opens in new tab). influencers in the know since 1933. by 2019 Naoise Dolan (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group. Like Rooney, Dolan writes in a deadpan style. HarperCollins. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. 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. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. Naoise Dolan and her debut novel, "Exciting Times." (Maria Bianchi / Ecco) The title of Naoise Dolan's debut novel, "Exciting Times," is a clever trick an ambivalent phrase that reads one way in millennial deadpan, an additional way as an earnest expression. Available in used condition with free delivery in the UK. Ava has left her life in Ireland behind to teach English to rich children in Hong Kong. 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! Those whove spent time in Hong Kong cant help wondering what its like to be among the Anglophone transplants who work and party there. 2. You liked the writing style ofNormal People. I hope youll give her debut a tryit was exceedingly worth it!" Do put it on your TBR and let me know what you think." Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. I laughed out loud at so many parts, especially in conversations with her parents! Its a story about intimacy, vulnerability, being alone, and being different versions of yourself with different people. Its a great pick for everyone whos sensitive and introspective, but also cynical and scared of relationships." Her sentences are sharp and confident, especially for a debut. Ava is 22 years old and teaches English to rich kids in Hong Kong. I definitely feltand enjoyedthat similar sparseness of language employed by both authors to cut to the crux of an emotion. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. Julian, her posh banker boyfriend, has such an apartment which is just as well, since he also has an arrogance to match his salary. [2] She experienced homophobic bullying in school. The dialog is brilliant throughout. Figures such as Victoria serve to generate much of the books caustic wit. This book really does navigate the muddle of thought and inaction cleverly. I could see it forever, for us: walking through cities, laughing at things that werent that funny. When Julian tells her hes returning to Hong Kong, she must navigate the precarious situation shes inadvertently created. Who said I liked you? he counters. Exciting Times is very funny in its cool observation and the way it takes us inside Avas spirals of overthinking. @kelseylovesbooks. Naoise Dolan: 'I'm not good at presenting myself as likable', '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', Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan review a bracing, witty debut, '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. 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. Why do you like me? Ava asks him. Omnipresent yet subtle, Hong Kong doesn't overshadow the characters and their struggles in trying to figure out life. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. 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. Are they as insensitive and indifferent as they seem to the foreign city they call home? Multiple friends of mine whove read Sally Rooneys phenomenally popular novel. Exciting Times PDF Details. But on this occasion, its more than just a question of biography: Dolans writing does genuinely occupy similar territory. I know its frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. 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. Just $45 for 12 months or exciting times naoise dolan ending explainedlivrer de la nourriture non halal. When the two begin a romance, Ava pretends Julian is only a roommate. Read an excerpt from Danielle Prescod's new memoir, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022. @cc_bookclub, "There is definitely some exciting fiction coming out of Ireland and it's hard not to compare this book to Sally Rooney's work. Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times is shortlisted for the 2020 Young Writer of the Year Award. 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.7 out of 5.0 5 Stars . Oh my goodness. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Honestly. @bookcrazyblogger. 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. Three-syllable words spread out like the spokes on an umbrella: "attaches" became "a-tach-iss.". in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. 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. The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. The protagonist, Ava, is an intelligent, 22-year-old loner who moves from her native Dublin to Hong Kong to teach English, with no discernible qualifications other than being white. Reviews: Trustpilot. She writes fiction, essays, criticism and features for publications including The London Review of Books, The Guardian and Vogue.Her 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 . @book_gal. Never feel guilty about skipping book club again. The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. I often had to re-read passages, as subtext also plays a huge part in the book. June 2, 2020. Margaret Verble is the author of several previous novels, including. LITERARY FICTION | Meanwhile, Atlas mother returns with shocking news. A literary and hilarious tour de force. A Hong Kongborn lawyer, striking and ambitious, Edith takes Ava to the theater and leaves her tulips in the hallway. I liked Exciting Times a lot more than the average GR reviewer. Related Post: Why You Should Buy a Kindle Besides school and uni . Do you re-read witty comebacks to try and bake them into your mind should you ever need them? 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. Do you marvel at clever sentence structure when encountered in a book? 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. I loved him potentially, she thinks. 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.. A young millennial finds herself in a love triangle with a man and woman. 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. Ultimately, this one was a miss for me. 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.. 4. Given my absolute adoration of Rooney, its no surprise I loved this debut by a writer who counts Rooney as an inspiration and mentor. But while it had a similar vibe and a cast of millennials, it definitely had more of a dry and cutting tone to it. Current research indicates that autistic people have higher rates of LGBT identities and feelings than the general population. 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 . Not so much. I know everyone says this, but there are so many similarities I saw between this andNormal People. Sentences are short. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. I wanted her life, Ava thinks. More Books, Published Jun 2020 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. 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. - Publishers Weekly Very . It also turned into a really beautiful queer love story, taking turns I hadnt anticipated at the outset of the novel. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. This month we are discussing. Ava is pulled into the orbit of wealthy, privileged banker Julian who comes from London. Politics, class, and race anxiously hover over the entire novel. 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. A widowed painter and her teenaged . They were playful, charged, strained. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. Another month has whizzed by, seriously where is 2021 going so fast, and it is time for the latest #BookClub with Melanie and I. 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. If in part one, Ava feels held at a frustrating distance why is she so hard on herself? Exciting Times Book Rating. Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times, is a smart, funny, . This book is incredibly fine. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2020 By Naoise Dolan. 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. She studied at Trinity College, followed by a master's in Victorian literature at Oxford. Exciting Times? The years in between are related in brief segments by numerous characters, but mostly by Vix. Books that read fast, cut fluff, and get to the point are your jam. She dissects language and her humor is so deadpan I sometimes read sentences twice. The prose is interesting; the way Dolan writes the dialogue is natural; the conversations back home with family felt real in a way that many writing about calling home don't. "Hands down one of the most anticipated debuts of the yearA piercingly provocative look at modern love and power games." Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the sites day-to-day editorial operations. With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are Exciting Times ahead.' - i-D. If you like this book that's totally up to you, I just wanted to share some of my own thoug. ), She and Edith are a love story, but also a fear story. Search: The more I think about this novel the more it suffers in my estimations. by Again, this recalls Rooney, who uses emails both sent and unsent as a potent fictional technique, and writes in Normal People that the network is a form of intelligence in itself, containing them both, and containing their feelings for each other. I also think the teaching English abroad aspect was well-researched and spot on. She studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University. But Caitlin, whose own demons have been hinted at, will not be so lucky. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The style is detached and detaching in an interesting way but if you like sinking teeth into a narrative this is not for you. 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. Do you take delight in words like "gormless"? Nolan does a brilliant job of harnessing technology to her story, specifically the phone.