2019 Naoise Dolan (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group. Who said I liked you? he counters. I love the unconventional, the interpersonal, the relatable *but not talked about,* and this book had all of that and more. 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 by Naoise Dolan was published April 16th with Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as 'accessible, acerbic, smart and fun' Skip to content. "[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." This is one of the hottest debut authors of 2020, described as the new Sally Rooney and perfect for fans ofAnimalsandTrick Mirror. She said "completely" a lot and usually dropped the "t" in the middle. Judy Blume Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. (I mean, I love them both and what good company to be in! Exciting Times : A Novel [PDF] PDF Under: Categories eBooks & Readings. Everyone should read it right now. Surely, Dolan has much in common with the immensely popular Rooney in terms of themes and style. But now theyre co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. HarperCollins. Why do you like me? Ava asks him. Susan Blumberg-Kason is the author of . 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 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. If youre looking for likable and well-rounded characters, a happy love story, and everything packaged up in a neat box, this isnt it. And also coming out: Ava slowly falls for Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer. The Irish debut novel everyone is talking about.' - The Gloss. The years in between are related in brief segments by numerous characters, but mostly by Vix. His privilege is the invisible third party in the relationship. New RRP 14.99. And yet its so original. "Aimless Ava moves from Dublin to Hong Kong looking to find purpose for her life. , I think it's easy to dislike this and dismiss it; on the surface, it's a young woman who can't make up her mind while living for free in someone's flat. It seemed farcical that I even needed to explain to Edith . (Ecco, 256 pp., $16.99.) This book may be short, but it packs a huge punch. But the intellectual aura inserted across the novel felt taut and occasionally reaching. Unfortunately, I cant give this book the raving review I want to because not only is Ava aimless, but shes SO passive-aggressive within her relationships." Avas character provides us with biting social commentary. I think I may be experiencing a personal jadedness with these narratives that prevented me from fully enjoying my reading. With Ava still living in Julians apartment, she and Edith fall into a quick friendship that evolves into a relationship. Ava is an accurately drawn emblem of the zeitgeist, but as such, she stands apart from it, isolated. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Condition - Like New. I know everyone says this, but there are so many similarities I saw between this andNormal People. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend if you want to read something thats not the normal style." Related Post: Why You Should Buy a Kindle While there, Ava meets Julian, a rich banker from London, who invites her to move into his home. The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother. Do you re-read witty comebacks to try and bake them into your mind should you ever need them? 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. GENERAL FICTION, by Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. @bookcrazyblogger. 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 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.. [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. (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. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. @thefamilybookshelf, "Exciting Timesis a sharp, character-driven story about the complicated relationships of three 20-somethings.. Exciting Times is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Also, his father had been ill. The dialog is brilliant throughout. "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." As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. When Julian returns to London for six months for work, Ava meets Edith, a smart and beautiful Hong Kong lawyer. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. So while the storyline and characters didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Dolan puts out next. Feelings for Edith but, confusingly, also for Julian. "Telling Time to Minute" contains high-end 3D animations that explain abstract topics visually in detail to understand it more easily. This book also brought back so many memories from my trip to Hong Kong with my friends after college graduation (swipe!). RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022. None of them will be wrong, really, it's just one of those books. 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. It would definitely have been helpful to have a general idea of the geopolitics between Ireland/Britain/Hong Kong. Perhaps because Ava's first love interest, Julian, uncomfortably reminded me of someone from my past! [3] A college debater, she co-convened the Irish Mace competition in 2015/16. Overall. 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. More Books, Published Jun 2020 Given my absolute adoration of Rooney, its no surprise I loved this debut by a writer who counts Rooney as an inspiration and mentor. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2020 By Naoise Dolan. 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.. Bookshop For Authors Bookshop . Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. 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. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. The style is detached and detaching in an interesting way but if you like sinking teeth into a narrative this is not for you. "When you are craving a loveable story with depth and true character developmentthis should be your next read.". Edith is curious and enthusiastic, and Ava can no longer maintain her detached, ironical approach to life feelings flower all over the place. D I S C L A I M E RThese are all just my own opinion on the book. The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as the new Sally Rooney is nothing short of an insult to Rooneys work. Noting that the school hires only white people, she remarks: Like sharks teeth, teachers dropped out and were replaced. From the jump, Ava approaches the world with cleareyed humor. Ava, the narrator, is an Irish ex-pat living in Hong Kong. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan is published by W&N (14.99), Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. "Exciting Timesfollows 22-year-old Ava as she leaves Ireland to teach in Hong Kong. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER By Naoise Dolan. She's a young Irish woman, after all, and she'd written a . You liked the writing style ofNormal People. I know its frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. I cant believe it was written so geniously by someone so young. There are intimate moments here, even if they do occur at one remove. Have I compared this book to Sally Rooney enough times yet?? Oh my goodness. 3.79. Oh . Naoise Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times shares a lot of similarities to Sally Rooney's Normal People (and shades of Conversations with Friends). Emotions are dealt with baldly, dryly: Anyway, I hated her, says Ava about Victoria, a moneyed friend of Julians. 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 . Three-syllable words spread out like the spokes on an umbrella: "attaches" became "a-tach-iss.". The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. The more I think about this novel the more it suffers in my estimations. 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. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. 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 . Behind Ryles veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. I was more interested in her thoughts and experiences with class than her relationships, to be honest, even as they played proxy for amplifying her feelings around status. 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. It all adds up to a bracing, refreshing first novel, with hints of greater things to come. But on this occasion, its more than just a question of biography: Dolans writing does genuinely occupy similar territory. It reads fairly quickly and isnt long, so would make a great summer poolside story!" 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. 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 . Stories so good, you won't need a bookmark. 5.79. As for the ending, given the character development up to that point, it just felt really implausible. 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. 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. Nolan does a brilliant job of harnessing technology to her story, specifically the phone. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! GENERAL ROMANCE | [4] She identifies as queer. I love books about disaster women and unlike many of my bookish friends do not seem to tire of them at all. "I have to say I really liked this debut novel by Naoise Dolan. It read as slow-paced indecisiveness. During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. 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. "Dolan's preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. 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. Every complaint you've ever read about "millenial fiction"? Still, Naoise Dolan deserves her own praise. Im not sure how many of you will actually love this novel. Dolan seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race, colonialism, and language, though the result does not always bring depth of flavour. I really am. I wanted her life, Ava thinks. Get help and learn more about the design. I think these were used as great insights. - Booklist (starred review) Youre not a fan of unreliable narrators (hiit me), 3. Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. 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? In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. The book is perfect for those who wants to read contemporary, lgbt books. I cant wait to read what Dolan writes next. 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. Now 45% Off. RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020. I know its frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. Sally Rooney-endorsed. 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. Its good to know thats how I behave in this situation.. 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. With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are Exciting Times ahead.' - i-D. Never feel guilty about skipping book club again. But real life is messy and people are messy, and this book dramatizes that in a way that rings profoundly true. Abbi Jacobson $28.00 in cart add to cart About Support / Help Become an Affiliate Gift Cards Careers - We're hiring! Ava, a 22-year-old Dubliner living in Hong Kong, describes herself as good at men. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Him needing me was strange and new. 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