Ultimately, this one was a miss for me.
5.79. "Hands down one of the most anticipated debuts of the yearA piercingly provocative look at modern love and power games." Exciting Times a book by Naoise Dolan - Bookshop And yet its so original. She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. 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. Stories that focus on social issues such as class and LGBTQ+ are of interest to you. When the two begin a romance, Ava pretends Julian is only a roommate. 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. If youre looking for likable and well-rounded characters, a happy love story, and everything packaged up in a neat box, this isnt it. "Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class . Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan - Review - Besos, Betty 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. I hope youll give her debut a tryit was exceedingly worth it!" Get ready to turn that frown upside down. "If I had to describe this book to someone in two sentences it would be like this:Eleanor OliphantandNormal Peoplegot together and had a baby. I really am. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan review - a witty, deadpan debut Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. Naoise Dolan will be an auto-buy for me in the future." "Exciting Times" by Naoise Dolan - asianreviewofbooks.com 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. Button, water, Tuesdayanything with two syllables zipped up then down like a Gothic steeple. GENERAL FICTION, by 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 . . Its not easy to sustain interest in someone so relentlessly floundering for self-knowledge, and the book flags once Ava and Edith are together. A widowed painter and her teenaged . Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan - 9781474613453 - Book Depository The Problem with Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times *a rant* Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times, is a smart, funny, . Naoise Dolan - Exciting Times Audiobook - Free Audiobooks But the intellectual aura inserted across the novel felt taut and occasionally reaching. Im sorry. Overall. Exciting Times? Naoise Dolan - Wikipedia If in part one, Ava feels held at a frustrating distance why is she so hard on herself? - Exciting Times [ Book Description ] When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. 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 Caitlin, whose own demons have been hinted at, will not be so lucky. 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 spends so much time telling us how lacking she is that I started to believe her. [4] She identifies as queer. During an evening stroll, she thinks: I didn't need to know how other women went about being together. 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. 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. (How can you tell whether you like someone? 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. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. 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. Naoise Dolan: seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race and language. Trouble signing in? Condition - Very Good. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. The dark and light sides of friendship breathlessly explored in a novel best saved for summer beachside reading. I'm highly anticipating another Naoise Dolan book, I wonder if there could be another instalment of Ava going by Exciting Times book ending. Related Post: Why You Should Buy a Kindle The middle section was slightly better than the beginning, there was an ounce of truth to it, but then it nosedived again. 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. More Books, Published Jun 2020
ROMANCE | 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 She hopes hell be as impressed by her youth and attractiveness as she is by his salary, which she has Googled, thoroughly. , Dry humor can be hard to execute on the page, but Naoise Dolan does so effortlessly and its evident from the very first pages. Which path does Ava end up taking? $15 for 3 months. Read an Excerpt From 'Exciting Times' By Naoise Dolan | Marie Claire Why do you like me? Ava asks him. This is one of the hottest debut authors of 2020, described as the new Sally Rooney and perfect for fans ofAnimalsandTrick Mirror. Sentences are short. New RRP 8.99. Naoise Dolan's debut novel, Exciting Times shares a lot of similarities to Sally Rooney's Normal People (and shades of Conversations with Friends). D I S C L A I M E RThese are all just my own opinion on the book. Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. She dissects language and her humor is so deadpan I sometimes read sentences twice. But on this occasion, its more than just a question of biography: Dolans writing does genuinely occupy similar territory. Everyone should read it right now. 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. And damn I wish I could figure out why exactly. Nolan does a brilliant job of harnessing technology to her story, specifically the phone. You like an unreliable narrator (thinkEleanor Oliphant) as you read. The novel goes on to discuss the history of colonialism by the British of the Irish and Hong Kong. When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. 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. 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. So while the storyline and characters didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Dolan puts out next. And others will find that not much happens and it's just meh. The characters are refreshing, I think particularly for me because they are not American, thus allowing for some exploration of how differing cultures analyze and observe class, race, and politics. Yet like many millennials, Ava exhausts the bulk of her mental energy on her bank account. 23 year old Ava moves to Hong Kong to escape Ireland. Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. She's sharing an Airbnb with roomies that don't like her. More Information |
Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. - Hilary Mantel. With a similar rhythm of detachment and sparsity found in Rooney and Ottessas writing, I can see why comparisons are being drawn, and I dont think this comparison does Dolan any disservice. Him needing me was strange and new. She studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University. Exciting Times Naoise Dolan. Marie Claire is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. 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.. 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. Read an excerpt from the bookhere (opens in new tab). 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. Judy Blume As they fall into a quasi-relationship, Ava moves into his apartment, where Julian allows her to live rent-free. ISBN-13: 9780062968746. 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. I often had to re-read passages, as subtext also plays a huge part in the book. 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. Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. "Much likeNormal Peopleby Sally Rooney, I expect there will be polarizing opinions onExciting Times. Dolan seasons the novel with insights about class, gender, race, colonialism, and language, though the result does not always bring depth of flavour. 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. 2. Heres how it works. 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. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan, Paperback | Barnes & Noble They trip her up and get in the way. She is known for her debut novel Exciting Times . (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. I wasn't immediately sucked inI think when Edith entered the picture, I became a lot more engaged. Are they as insensitive and indifferent as they seem to the foreign city they call home?
She talks to Ava about Ava, and delivers the odd riff on her mother or Judy Garland, but we never delve deep into her own feelings or get to see her vulnerabilities exposed. 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. Membership Advantages. dynamic. EXCITING TIMES, by Naoise Dolan. Books that read fast, cut fluff, and get to the point are your jam. Surely, Dolan has much in common with the immensely popular Rooney in terms of themes and style. With Naoise Dolan on the literary scene, there are Exciting Times ahead.' - i-D. . Her debut novel, Exciting Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for television. This book may be short, but it packs a huge punch. The most insightful and raw of these are the caustic observations about Irelands repressive attitudes to homosexuality and abortionand how they damage individual lives. . Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. Let the BookTokking Begin, New Colleen Hoover Book Sells 800K Copies, Colleen Hoover Dominated Book Sales in 2022. For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for theMarie Clairenewsletter. NY 10036. But while it had a similar vibe and a cast of millennials, it definitely had more of a dry and cutting tone to it. However, they did enjoy the political and historical references throughout the novel, albeit having to do a bit of research on the topics themselves. 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. 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.7 out of 5.0 5 Stars . I am not in my twenties although still full of angst. I am a huge Sally Rooney fan, ergo, this book was such a treat for me. Exciting Times: A Novel: Dolan, Naoise: 9780062968746: Books - Amazon.ca She, a . Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. They were playful, charged, strained. What I've Loved Reading 2023 - Bookshop.org Autism and LGBT identities - Wikipedia Figures such as Victoria serve to generate much of the books caustic wit. ), She and Edith are a love story, but also a fear story. Ava, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children. That said, I did not always love this book. 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. Book Club | Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan | April 2021 I don't do that often. Susan Blumberg-Kason is the author of . 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. 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. EXCITING TIMES | Kirkus Reviews I know everyone says this, but there are so many similarities I saw between this andNormal People. Unfortunately, Dolans superficial evocation of the island is conjured mostly through Instagram latte art geotagged on fashionable streets. RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan was published April 16th with Weidenfeld & Nicolson and is described as 'accessible, acerbic, smart and fun' Skip to content. Oh . Regardless of whether this will be a standout favorite for you, I believe we can all appreciate the hype it has whipped up and the skill of Dolans writing." Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan | Waterstones 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. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over. She's a long way from her home in Ireland. Emotions are dealt with baldly, dryly: Anyway, I hated her, says Ava about Victoria, a moneyed friend of Julians. 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 There are intimate moments here, even if they do occur at one remove.
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