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A review by sophieburkhardt
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If I wanted to hear stories about a wanker banker with no emotions and a self loathing expat who fell into teaching, I’d go to my high school reunion.
As a Hong Konger, it was exciting to read about my city in an authentic way, it’s just a shame it was through the eyes of characters with so few redeeming qualities that it makes the otherwise vibrant setting of Hong Kong seem as vapid as they are.
In spite of the above, Dolan makes some interesting and insightful connections between Dublin and Hong Kong, and the relationship between both places’ fraught history with the British Empire. The most interesting of these are the comparisons of the Irish, Cantonese, and English languages. Her descriptions of Hong Kong and the things twenty-something expats and returning international students get up to was amusing due to it’s almost-there accuracy. It was uncanny how someone was so close to understanding the nuance of life here, while simultaneously missing it completely. Had this book not been set in my home city, it would have been a “did not finish”.
As a Hong Konger, it was exciting to read about my city in an authentic way, it’s just a shame it was through the eyes of characters with so few redeeming qualities that it makes the otherwise vibrant setting of Hong Kong seem as vapid as they are.
In spite of the above, Dolan makes some interesting and insightful connections between Dublin and Hong Kong, and the relationship between both places’ fraught history with the British Empire. The most interesting of these are the comparisons of the Irish, Cantonese, and English languages. Her descriptions of Hong Kong and the things twenty-something expats and returning international students get up to was amusing due to it’s almost-there accuracy. It was uncanny how someone was so close to understanding the nuance of life here, while simultaneously missing it completely. Had this book not been set in my home city, it would have been a “did not finish”.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape