When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. 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. The comparison was mentioned repeatedly in the book's marketing materials, in reviews, in interviews, and in the 28-year-old's author biographies. Perhaps because Ava's first love interest, Julian, uncomfortably reminded me of someone from my past! During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. - Publishers Weekly "When you are craving a loveable story with depth and true character developmentthis should be your next read.". - Kirkus Reviews Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. I have a feeling this one is going to be popping up on lots of summer 2020 must read lists! New RRP 14.99. m sorry. Telling neither the full truth about the other, Ava finds herself falling in love with Edith. Still, Naoise Dolan deserves her own praise. 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. However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. 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. She is in a constant battle of inner conflicttotal social apathy, whilst silently scathing of her prejudiced workplace. Ava, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children. 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 . Here, she grapples with her feelings towards Julian, a rich, witty but largely emotionless banker, and Edith, an ambitious and striking lawyer. In 'Exciting Times,' Echoes of Sally Rooney, but With a Queer Twist Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan, Paperback | Barnes & Noble Dolans writing is extremely sharp both cutting and tart but there are places where it feels overly cynical. Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. Exciting Times is a beautiful novel written by the famous author Naoise Dolan. - Exciting Times [ Book Description ] When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. Meanwhile, Atlas mother returns with shocking news. 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. dynamic. However, this isnt anotherNormal Peopleand dont expect it to be. 2 junio, 2022; couples challenge tiktok; dome structure examples . I related to it immensely. @book_gal. Yet like many millennials, Ava exhausts the bulk of her mental energy on her bank account. I really am. This is the kind of book that people are going to have vastly different opinions on. Add to cart. Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times is shortlisted for the 2020 Young Writer of the Year Award. - Library Journal The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. The rumors are true: This does read like Sally Rooney. Reviews | 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 The Stinging Fly while Rooney edited it. The Problem with Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times *a rant* Omnipresent yet subtle, Hong Kong doesn't overshadow the characters and their struggles in trying to figure out life. Like Rooney, Dolan writes in a deadpan style. Who said I liked you? he counters. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2020 By Naoise Dolan. @thefamilybookshelf, "Exciting Timesis a sharp, character-driven story about the complicated relationships of three 20-somethings.. 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. A young millennial finds herself in a love triangle with a man and woman. @compulsivereadersblog. Dolan has a great eye and I was poised over my Kindle highlighting witty dialogue and observations more than a few times. 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 know it's frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. Exciting Times: A Novel - Naoise Dolan - Google Books The forthcoming book from 'We Are Not Like Them' authors Jo Piazza and Christine Pride asks the question: Who gets to make the choice to be a mom? . [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. Eileen was six years older than me. @bookcrazyblogger. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER By Naoise Dolan. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. "Gaydars . It was as if someone else ironed everything for her her whole life, Ava thinks, and her role was to make new creases. Dolan is also funny about Irishness, pointing out the irony of Ava having to teach her young ESL students how to aspirate the th in things when, as a Dubliner, she has gone 22 years without once pronouncing it herself. I loved the IG stalking references, so current and fun to read. Which path does Ava end up taking? Ava is 22 years old and teaches English to rich kids in Hong Kong. Dolan is particularly good at capturing the way men talk to women whom they mistakenly think are not as smart as they are. 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. Anyone can read what you share. . Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. Some will find Ava absolutely intolerable and insufferable and won't be able to finish the first 25 pages. When Naoise Dolan 's debut novel Exciting Times was released last year, she was swiftly earmarked as the " next Sally Rooney ". RELEASE DATE: May 8, 1998. "Droll, shrewd and unafraida winning debut." This novel is a tedious account of one girls romantic flings during a year of living abroad in Hong Kong. Its a great pick for everyone whos sensitive and introspective, but also cynical and scared of relationships." Youre not easily pleased with how other people put sentences together, Julian accuses, but when it comes to money, youve got no taste. D I S C L A I M E RThese are all just my own opinion on the book. So lucky us, really. 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. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan - Goodreads (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. Thats partly because Edith herself is only lightly sketched in. Exciting Times By Naoise Dolan | Used | 9781474613446 | World of Books Categories: Click here and be the first to review this book! 5.79. From the jump, Ava approaches the world with cleareyed humor. The novel is shot through with moments of such startling self-awareness as this. While there, Ava meets Julian, a rich banker from London, who invites her to move into his home. Naoise Dolan. 256 pp. 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. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. New RRP 8.99. Those whove spent time in Hong Kong cant help wondering what its like to be among the Anglophone transplants who work and party there. 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. Youre not a fan of unreliable narrators (hiit me), 3. 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. Stories so good, you won't need a bookmark. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan | Goodreads In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. Never feel guilty about skipping book club again. I am not in my twenties although still full of angst. "Dolan's preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. In my opinion,Exciting Timesreads very similar. Her relationships are dysfunctional and we see her repeatedly make choices that we know (or think we know) are wrong for her. "Okay wow, what a great book! Exciting Times is an acerbic tale of sex and love, set in the social media age.' - The Herald Scotland. The years pass by at a fast and steamy clip in Blumes latest adult novel (Wifey, not reviewed; Smart Women, 1984) as two friends find loyalties and affections tested as they grow into young women. 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 . Since the content is visually instructed, it creates excitement in learning by the users and improves the retention rate to a greater extent which . 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. Genre: Literary Fiction A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. 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 . It felt authentic, less an added 'interesting' point, but a way of being that felt effortless. 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 lives in Berlin. But real life is messy and people are messy, and this book dramatizes that in a way that rings profoundly true. She's lost as well as lonely. Not long after her arrival, she finds herself on a lunch date with Julian, an Oxford-educated British banker in his late 20s. Judy Blume. Oh my goodness. She's a long way from her home in Ireland. June 2, 2020. Rushed in some places, dragged out in others. ISBN-10: 1474613446 . [3] A college debater, she co-convened the Irish Mace competition in 2015/16. 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. Just $45 for 12 months or Related Post: Why You Should Buy a Kindle 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. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the sites day-to-day editorial operations. When Julian returns to London for six months for work, Ava meets Edith, a smart and beautiful Hong Kong lawyer. ), She and Edith are a love story, but also a fear story. Phoebe Dynevor, the glamorous lead of Netflix's Bridgerton, is set to star and executive produce Exciting Times. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan was published April 16th with Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as 'accessible, acerbic, smart and fun' Skip to content. Bookshop For Authors Bookshop . Missed out on our June book club pick? And also coming out: Ava slowly falls for Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer. The dialog is brilliant throughout. By contrast, Avas written correspondences social media posts and emails she labors over, analyzes, doesnt send or sends by accident become increasingly vulnerable in their disclosures as the book moves along. 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. Politics FBI agents, prosecutors argued over Trump before raid 8:48pm Gophers Scoggins: Give . Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan | W&N - Ground-breaking, award-winning Already drawing comparisons to Sally Rooney's work, "Exciting Times," by Naoise Dolan, has many of the familiar tropes of the "millennial . I also think the teaching English abroad aspect was well-researched and spot on. exciting times naoise dolan ending explained Exciting Times: Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021 "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." 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. 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. 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. Exciting Times on the way with Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor set for new Throughout the book, Ava makes incisive observations about the legacy of colonialism in both HK and Ireland, in addition to funny musings about the rules of English grammar she teaches her students, but can hardly explain, let alone justify, herself. Aperus are . 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. 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. Her first novel. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. It was ok, but I was disappointed and wanted a little more." Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. Im sorry. Ava wants to be herand wants her. "Aimless Ava moves from Dublin to Hong Kong looking to find purpose for her life. (How can you tell whether you like someone? About the author (2020) Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. Naoise Dolan - Exciting Times Audiobook - Free Audiobooks Naoise Dolan - Exciting Times: A Novel Audiobook. In fact, Now longlisted for the 2021 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction and for the 2021 Women's Prize. 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. In her first months as an expat, she meets Juliana 28-year-old English bankerwho seems aloof about everything except his job. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Exciting Times a book by Naoise Dolan - Bookshop Characters who bottle up and wont say how they feel drive me crazy, and Ava was no exception here. 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. Naoise Dolan - Exciting Times - The Bobsphere Dolan seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race, colonialism, and language, though the result does not always bring depth of flavour. She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. The story follows Ava through two loosely defined relationshipswith Julian, a wealthy British banker, and with Edith, a Hong Kong born, Cambridge-educated lawyer. In November we went for brunch on Aberdeen Street with Ralph, pronounced 'Rafe', who'd gone to Balliol with Julian, now worked at . But even though shes divorced, Lily isnt exactly free. Julian, her posh banker boyfriend, has such an apartment which is just as well, since he also has an arrogance to match his salary. The style is detached and detaching in an interesting way but if you like sinking teeth into a narrative this is not for you. She, a . They trip her up and get in the way. 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. Shortly after, she meets native Hong Kong-turned-boarding-school-broad, Edith. Retrieve credentials. Exciting Times. Sigh. In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. ISBN-13: 9780062968746. 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. . 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. Exciting Times - HarperCollins Ava is positioned for a quarter life crisis. Politics, grammar, and morality are explored with quick jabs and sharp wording. Your ultimate guide to the (arguably) best film genre: the romantic comedy. 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. Read an excerpt from Danielle Prescod's new memoir, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. Find out exactly what #ReadWithMC loved and didn't love aboutExciting Times, below. 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. Don't get me wrong, it's not the story itself, the story as a concept it totally up my alley (it has to be, because it sounds like a Sally Rooney novel): A 22 year old Irish expat living in Hong Kong who finds herself in a love triangle with a cold English banker who doesn't want to be her partner but will let her live in his expensive appartment for free, and a young woman from Hong Kong. Exciting Times, which was acquired in a seven-way bidding war, more than lives up to the . Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times to be adapted for TV 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. - Vogue 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. I dove right in and read from beginning to end, and now Im giving thanks that such a book exists in the worldlight, sweet, sad, true. evenings that often end in drunken blackouts or in bed with her sort-of boyfriend Julian, who . Exciting Times Naoise Dolan $27.99 $26.03 in cart add to cart I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and. "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." Her sentences are sharp and confident, especially for a debut. $15 for 3 months. Fiction Friday: An Excerpt From Naoise Dolan's 'Exciting Times' The young Irish writers first novel is dry and sharp in its observation of twentysomething expat lives. Naoise Dolan. The book centres on Ava (Dynevor), an Irish woman who moves to Hong Kong . I wasn't immediately sucked inI think when Edith entered the picture, I became a lot more engaged. 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 story is told through Avas eyes and she often diverges on topics, which are not always explained. Search String: Summary | RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020. The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. I love books about disaster women and unlike many of my bookish friends do not seem to tire of them at all. Search: I am a huge Sally Rooney fan, ergo, this book was such a treat for me. Review | In Naoise Dolan's 'Exciting Times,' an Irish ex-pat in Hong In a novel where human connection is such a challenge, these flickering pixels provide one of the most affecting and powerful moments. Im not sure how many of you will actually love this novel. Do put it on your TBR and let me know what you think." Now 45% Off. I think I may be experiencing a personal jadedness with these narratives that prevented me from fully enjoying my reading. When Julian leaves for London on an extended work project, Ava meets Edith, a Hong Kong local and ambitious lawyer. I really am. <style> body { -ms-overflow-style: scrollbar; overflow-y: scroll; overscroll-behavior-y: none; } .errorContainer { background-color: #FFF; color: #0F1419; max-width . Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan - Review - Besos, Betty Nine months later, out popped their new child known asExciting Times. 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. Ava makes it her mission to get him to admit some feelings for her, purely because it would give her the upper hand. 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 . But Caitlin, whose own demons have been hinted at, will not be so lucky. The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.