I randomly saw this book at a thrift store on my way to a cafe and it seemed like the perfect “small” book to buy and take along. I ended up reading 6 chapters in the short time I was at the cafe. I love character driven novels, so this was right up my alley. I ended up having a great time by myself in the ‘basement’ of a quiet cafe but this post is not to talk about the cafe but about Naoise Dolan’s Exciting Times.
My thoughts
Exciting Times follows Ava, a young Irish woman working as an English teacher in Hong Kong. She crosses paths with Julian, a banker educated at Oxford (a point often emphasized in the story) and soon moves in with him.
I didn’t hate this book. I also didn’t love it either, but I found it interesting to read, especially as it’s so character-driven which I typically enjoy. Ava and Julian’s dynamic is intriguing, especially considering their differences in age and life experience. While I initially found Ava’s low self-regard frustrating, especially in how she tolerates Julian’s detached attitude, I came to understand that each fulfills a different need for the other. Oddly, I didn’t dislike Julian for his blunt honesty—I’d rather read about an unlikable man who’s genuine than one who lies.
I excused her relationship choices as I tried to remember she’s quite young; and it shows in the way she seems to be in awe of Julian and eager to be seen as “cool” even when she’s uncomfortable. Interestingly enough, I found her self-awareness refreshingly honest, and I appreciated that openness.
The one aspect that sorta disappointed me was the setting. Hong Kong could’ve been such a rich backdrop, but it felt like that wasn’t focused on. There’s no strong plot here, and at times, it reads like a collection of inner monologues. But if you’re into character-driven books, this could be a good café read.
You will likely enjoy Exciting Times if you like the books below:
- The Rachel incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
- Normal people by Sally Rooney
- Conversation with friends by Sally Rooney
- Lister by Raven Leilani
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