The appearance of Edith, the Hong Kong lawyer with whom Ava becomes fixated, gives the novel some drama, as she delivers where Julian cannot in terms of affection and commitment. However, I did not find Julian all that “witty” his indifference and callousness with Ava is deflating. I did agree with the back cover’s assessment of Ava having a cold personality-which is evident in some of her interactions with students and colleagues. I found myself frustrated with its central group of characters (although that could have been Dolan’s intent). With a title like Exciting Times, I had page-turning high hopes, but overall the novel didn’t necessarily live up to the hype for me. Edith upsets the strange balance, leading Ava to question her whole relationship with Julian and ultimately her own identity. When Julian goes out of town for work, Ava meets Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer.
More companions than romantic partners, they enter into an undefined relationship that Ava continually struggles to decipher and maneuver. When petulant roommates threaten to destroy her sanity, Julian, a wealthy financier, offers her the chance to live a much swankier life than her teacher salary can afford. Exciting times ensue.In Exciting Times, Ava, Dublin born and bred, finds herself in Hong Kong teaching English to elementary school students while searching for happiness. When Ava leaves Ireland aged 22 to make her own money, she's not sure what to call it, but it involves: - a badly-paid job in Hong Kong, teaching English grammar to rich children - Julian, who likes to spend money on Ava and lets her move into his guest room - Edith, who Ava meets while Julian is out of town and actually listens to her when she talks - money, love, cynicism, unspoken feelings and unlikely connections. I found myself purring with pleasure.This is comic writing at the highest level' Craig Brown, DAILY MAIL When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. Some of Dolan's pithy observations of her characters are the best I've read since Edward St Aubyn' OBSERVER 'A frankly sensational book' Pandora Sykes on THE HIGH LOW 'In the tradition of Dorothy Parker, Joan Rivers and Nora Ephron. Likely to fill the Sally-Rooney-shaped hole in many readers' lives' IRISH TIMES 'Droll, shrewd and unafraid - a winning debut' Hilary Mantel, author of WOLF HALL 'I've been pushing Exciting Times on everyone I know. I loved it' David Nicholls, author of ONE DAY 'More than lives up to the hype. Kept me rapt until the final page' THE TIMES 'A sharp, smart, witty modern love story.
0 kommentar(er)
