Naoise Dolan is an Irish novelist. 40+ in stock. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. What does she see in this man? Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. She is known for her debut novel Exciting Times . 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. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. "Telling Time to Minute" contains high-end 3D animations that explain abstract topics visually in detail to understand it more easily. However, I soon grew to really like this, as I became used to her inner thoughts. 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 . Like Rooney, Dolan writes in a deadpan style. Rushed in some places, dragged out in others. Stars = 4 / 5. I think these were used as great insights. More Information | The rumors are true: This does read like Sally Rooney. - Vogue Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! I cant believe it was written so geniously by someone so young. Exciting Times? The book is fast-paced, but with finely-wrought moments of stillness. Let the BookTokking Begin, New Colleen Hoover Book Sells 800K Copies, Colleen Hoover Dominated Book Sales in 2022. [4] She identifies as queer. 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. Not long after her arrival, she finds herself on a lunch date with Julian, an Oxford-educated British banker in his late 20s. Oh my goodness. 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. Article While there, Ava meets Julian, a rich banker from London, who invites her to move into his home. East and West collide in a timely and bittersweet novel of loyalty, love, and the siren call of freedom. GENERAL ROMANCE | Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. It felt authentic, less an added 'interesting' point, but a way of being that felt effortless. I also really loved how the author addresses the Irish English references in the novel and wondered if non-Irish readers understand them. 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. In this, shes reminiscent of Sally Rooneys precarious young women, whose struggle for self-affirmation is so snarled up with the power dynamics of sex. This book really does navigate the muddle of thought and inaction cleverly. Or a good girlfriend? Lots of reviews are making the Rooney 'millennial lit' comparison which is fair but I'd add. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. . 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. Also, his father had been ill. The book is perfect for those who wants to read contemporary, lgbt books. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. She studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Naoise Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times shares a lot of similarities to Sally Rooney's Normal People (and shades of Conversations with Friends). Its a Euro-centric story, despite its Asian setting." The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as the new Sally Rooney is nothing short of an insult to Rooneys work. Dolan has a great eye and I was poised over my Kindle highlighting witty dialogue and observations more than a few times. Similarly to her feelings about Julian, Ava becomes obsessed with Edith, to the point where she begins wondering if Edith will be her girlfriend. When Naoise Dolan 's debut novel Exciting Times was released last year, she was swiftly earmarked as the " next Sally Rooney ". A sharp, witty and ultimately moving debut . 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 Politics, grammar, and morality are explored with quick jabs and sharp wording. The answer Exciting Times seems to offer is yes, in this case they are just as shallow and myopic as one would assume. I found this an invigorating respite from how people usually assessed women.. Missed out on our June book club pick? Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. "The angst of your twentiestrying to figure out who you are can be exhaustingyoure trying on identities like outfits. This book is incredibly fine. 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. I loved the IG stalking references, so current and fun to read. Click here and be the first to review this book! LITERARY FICTION | 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 . Behind Ryles veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. About the author (2020) Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. 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. Read an excerpt from Emiko Jean's new novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. Naoise Dolan Edith is a local, sophisticated, and enthusiastic lawyer who falls in love with Ava and isnt afraid to say so. Multiple friends of mine whove read Sally Rooneys phenomenally popular novel. Exciting Times is an acerbic tale of sex and love, set in the social media age.' - The Herald Scotland. Noting that the school hires only white people, she remarks: "Like sharks' teeth, teachers dropped out and were replaced.". It all adds up to a bracing, refreshing first novel, with hints of greater things to come. Julian is a banker. "Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class . Everyone should read it right now. But boy, this novel feels so liveless and fake. Condition - Like New. Dolans writing is extremely sharp both cutting and tart but there are places where it feels overly cynical. A literary and hilarious tour de force. Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times is shortlisted for the 2020 Young Writer of the Year Award. And also coming out: Ava slowly falls for Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer. 3.79. Ava, the narrator, is an Irish ex-pat living in Hong Kong. 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. Rooney writes more stream of consciousness and this is more tightly bound, but the emotions and ways of being felt so similar." Deadline reports that the actress will star in and produce Exciting Times, a "contemporary romance with a twist" adapted from Irish author Naoise Dolan's novel of the same name. Dolan seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race, colonialism, and language, though the result does not always bring depth of flavour. "Droll, shrewd and unafraida winning debut." Naoise is an author I know Ill follow throughout her writing career, and that excites me. For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for theMarie Clairenewsletter. Overall. New RRP 14.99. A young millennial finds herself in a love triangle with a man and woman. GENERAL FICTION, by If youre looking for likable and well-rounded characters, a happy love story, and everything packaged up in a neat box, this isnt it. 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. But when she asks whether he loves her, he cannot say more than "I like you a great deal." , Something small I enjoyed was the depiction of Ava's queerness. Do you take delight in words like "gormless"? Current research indicates that autistic people have higher rates of LGBT identities and feelings than the general population. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "Gaydars . PDF Preview: PDF Title : Exciting Times : A Novel: Total Page : 200 Pages: Author: Naoise Dolan: PDF Size : 592 KB: Language : English: . <style> body { -ms-overflow-style: scrollbar; overflow-y: scroll; overscroll-behavior-y: none; } .errorContainer { background-color: #FFF; color: #0F1419; max-width . A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. My main problem was Ava. "Dolan's preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. The story of how this casual invitation turns the two girls into what they call "Summer sisters" is prefaced with a prologue in which Vix is asked by Caitlin to be her matron of honor. EXCITING TIMES. Why do you like me? Ava asks him. "I have to say I really liked this debut novel by Naoise Dolan. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Do put it on your TBR and let me know what you think." Three-syllable words spread out like the spokes on an umbrella: "attaches" became "a-tach-iss.". Ava is an accurately drawn emblem of the zeitgeist, but as such, she stands apart from it, isolated. With Julian away, the women bond and Ava must interrogate herself over a whole new range of feelings. Every complaint you've ever read about "millenial fiction"? If Sally Rooney couldn't write, was more cynical and forgot everything about subtlety and realistic characterisation and dialogue. This novel is a tedious account of one girls romantic flings during a year of living abroad in Hong Kong. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a lifeand announces herself as a singular new voice. @thereaderignites. Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. HarperCollins. 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. @thefamilybookshelf, "Exciting Timesis a sharp, character-driven story about the complicated relationships of three 20-somethings.. Why do you like me? Ava asks him. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan is published by W&N (14.99), Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Stories that focus on social issues such as class and LGBTQ+ are of interest to you. - Library Journal 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. 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. In Naoise Dolan's 'Exciting Times,' an Irish ex-pat in Hong Kong lands in a love triangle. DAS APASIONANTES es una novela social (casi generacional) disfrazada de historia de amor. Besides school and uni . In Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan's debut novel, the characters have better problems than most of us do. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. 1. Edith has much in common with Julian: an Oxbridge pedigree and a high-powered, high-paying job. 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. 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. The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. [1] For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Naoise Dolan . There is just something I really appreciate about women writing about women making terrible choices and being honest about that while they are doing it. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. 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? Meanwhile, Atlas mother returns with shocking news. "Exciting Timesby Naoise Dolan follows a young 20-something as she flees Dublin for Hong Kong in search of a life that matches her desires. The story centers on conflict within Ava, the main character. influencers in the know since 1933. by Susan Blumberg-Kason is the author of . It also turned into a really beautiful queer love story, taking turns I hadnt anticipated at the outset of the novel. GENERAL FICTION, by [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. Read an excerpt from Danielle Prescod's new memoir, here, then dive in with us throughout the month. Heres how it works. Exciting Times is the debut novel from Irish writer Naoise Dolan (and one of the Headstuff Picks of 2020 ). Genre: Literary Fiction Ava makes it her mission to get him to admit some feelings for her, purely because it would give her the upper hand. The fact that Naoise Dolan is being touted as "the new Sally Rooney" is nothing short of an insult to Rooney's work. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. Exciting Times is a sad, yet hopeful coming of age story set in a Hong Kong immediately recognizable to the many expats like Julian, Ava and globalized locals like Edith who end up there. I wasn't immediately sucked inI think when Edith entered the picture, I became a lot more engaged. "Exciting Timesfollows 22-year-old Ava as she leaves Ireland to teach in Hong Kong. Exciting Times was also nominated in the Best Newcomer Category at the An Post Irish Book Awards. "Okay wow, what a great book! If you, like me, answered yes to all three of those questions, then you're in for a treat. white authors writing books that are set in asia, but have a set of characters that are 98% white with only a few token, stereotypical asian characters . 2. The story follows Ava through two loosely defined relationshipswith Julian, a wealthy British banker, and with Edith, a Hong Kong born, Cambridge-educated lawyer. Categories: Title . 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. Her sentences are sharp and confident, especially for a debut. After confiding that she called her college savings account her abortion fund, she says: I knew some women who saved with their friends, and they all helped whoever was unlucky. So while the storyline and characters didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Dolan puts out next. - Hilary Mantel. evenings that often end in drunken blackouts or in bed with her sort-of boyfriend Julian, who . Yet like many millennials, Ava exhausts the bulk of her mental energy on her bank account. I really am. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. 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. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. [3] A college debater, she co-convened the Irish Mace competition in 2015/16. @kelseylovesbooks. Sally Rooney-endorsed. In fact, Now longlisted for the 2021 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction and for the 2021 Women's Prize. Some will find Ava absolutely intolerable and insufferable and won't be able to finish the first 25 pages. 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. Naoise Dolan, 2020. Buy Exciting Times: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2020 By Naoise Dolan. 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. Reviews: Trustpilot. It would definitely have been helpful to have a general idea of the geopolitics between Ireland/Britain/Hong Kong. . 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. This book also brought back so many memories from my trip to Hong Kong with my friends after college graduation (swipe!). Im sorry. 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. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. 23 year old Ava moves to Hong Kong to escape Ireland. You like an unreliable narrator (thinkEleanor Oliphant) as you read. In sixth grade, when Victoria Weaver is asked by new girl Caitlin Somers to spend the summer with her on Marthas Vineyard, her life changes forever. EXCITING TIMES, by Naoise Dolan. 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 . The most insightful and raw of these are the caustic observations about Irelands repressive attitudes to homosexuality and abortionand how they damage individual lives. What listeners say about Exciting Times Average Customer Ratings. With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are Exciting Times ahead.' - i-D. (Ecco, 256 pp., $16.99.) 256 pages 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.7 out of 5.0 5 Stars . 1. Naoise Dolan will be an auto-buy for me in the future." This book may be short, but it packs a huge punch. June 2, 2020. , RIYL: Sally Rooney. She dissects language and her humor is so deadpan I sometimes read sentences twice. On a sentence level the novel delivers one perfect zinger after another. Everyone should read it right now. 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. ISBN: 9781474613446. I cant wait to read what Dolan writes next. The Irish debut novel everyone is talking about.' - The Gloss. 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. Trouble signing in? How to Join Marie Claire's Online Book Club. Just $45 for 12 months or 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. Do you re-read witty comebacks to try and bake them into your mind should you ever need them? By Naoise Dolan. Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. Youre not easily pleased with how other people put sentences together, Julian accuses, but when it comes to money, youve got no taste. Its unusual and contemplative and just very different. Avawho has struggled throughout the novel to be vulnerable in often maddening waysmust make a decision: live comfortably or live truthfully. Honestly. June 3, 2020 7 AM PT. - Publishers Weekly D I S C L A I M E RThese are all just my own opinion on the book. Are they as insensitive and indifferent as they seem to the foreign city they call home? - Book Riot I rolled my eyes a few times. Get ready to turn that frown upside down. Read more. His privilege is the invisible third party in the relationship. I really am. Aperus are . Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Judy Blume. I also think the teaching English abroad aspect was well-researched and spot on. Exciting Times is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Her first novel. Categories: Queer romance. Ava feels safer, more shielded from harm with Julian, but happier with Edith. 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 . 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. 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. And damn I wish I could figure out why exactly. Nordstrom has been the go-to destination for fashion editors alike, and this season is no different. She hopes hell be as impressed by her youth and attractiveness as she is by his salary, which she has Googled, thoroughly. ISBN-13: 9780062968746. Exciting Times : A Novel [PDF] PDF Under: Categories eBooks & Readings. 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. Surely, Dolan has much in common with the immensely popular Rooney in terms of themes and style. Droll, shrewd and unafraid - a winning debut. Categories: This model of relationship-as-power-struggle is hardly new, but Dolan brings a fresh 21st-century sensibility to it. - Exciting Times [ Book Description ] When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. Ahead, we're showcasing the best fashion and beauty looks you can recreate now. Nenia I yeet my books back and forth Campbell, review of Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan on LonesomeReader. She hinges on the idea of a strong female, but then plays out the stereotype. 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 not only stalk her on subreddits, but worry about whether the algorithm will reveal to her the true extent of your stalking. As for the ending, given the character development up to that point, it just felt really implausible. Avas character provides us with biting social commentary. I know its frustrating that any new young female writer must find themselves compared to Sally Rooney. "[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." She said "completely" a lot and usually dropped the "t" in the middle. Soon they are sleeping together, and Ava moves into Julians flat. A young Dubliner in Hong Kong struggles to connect in this fresh and funny debut about love and self-knowledge. NY 10036. Thats partly because Edith herself is only lightly sketched in. Exciting Times. Characters who bottle up and wont say how they feel drive me crazy, and Ava was no exception here. Here goes apologies if this review gets a bit ranty. Never feel guilty about skipping book club again. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Here, she grapples with her feelings towards Julian, a rich, witty but largely emotionless banker, and Edith, an ambitious and striking lawyer. 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. A banker who likes to spend money on Ava, to have sex and discuss fluctuating currencies with her. However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. Intermixed with some "politics" about late stage capitalism, marxism and the class systems. 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. anyway i picked this novel up solely because of the sally rooney comparisons and in the second chapter itself a sentence begins like because i lacked warmth [] which reminded me of the quote in rooney's second novel that goes [..] marianne lacks warmth, by which she means the ability to beg for love from people who hate her. what i will say in my measured judgement is that rooney's writing, especially considering. Add to cart. 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.

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