The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, reviewed by Eleanor

Author: graemesimsion.com/twitter
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 298 pages
Buy this book: Amazon

What is this book about?

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. So Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper. (Goodreads)

Who should read this book? The main characters are all adults but this does not make it an adult book. 'The Rosie Project' is definitely suitable for older teens as well.

Star Rating: 4 Stars

Question 1. What character would you most like to have tea with?

Don. Because he is a scientist and so am I. And also, he's just such an interesting person!

Question 2. What character would you most like to throw tea at?

Don again. Because although he has a very high academic ability, his Asperger syndrome causes him to sometimes misunderstand things in social situations and so he says some pretty abrupt things. And these things are occasionally worthy of lots of thrown cups of tea.

Question 3. What do you think of the cover?

I really like this cover. Simple is best.

Question 4. Can you read the tea leaves from the beginning or are there twists in the plot?

There aren't really any plot twists in this book, the 'main part' of the ending is fairly predictable... i.e. 'The Rosie Project,' but, for me, this is what makes the book so lovable. As the reader you can see what is happening and where the story is going but Don Tillman is COMPLETELY oblivious. This makes the book more about his own self discovery rather than surprising the reader and I think this is what made the book work so well.

Question 5. Favourite quote!

“You know what I like about New York?” he said. “There are so many weird people that nobody takes any notice. We all just fit right in.”

Overall: I really really loved this book. It made me laugh out loud at some points and my eyes to fill with tears at others. The main characters are just so great, the love story realistic and the story is well paced so it becomes very difficult to put the book down. In some ways it was a little similar to 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' by Mark Haddon, which is another book that I very highly recommend! Overall, definitely pick up this book, it's a very special one that you'll want to tell everyone about.

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