4.21

5

Mar 10, 2013

‘The Rosie Project’ by Graeme Simsion is so wonderful.
I’m going to attempt to enumerate my enjoyment of the novel;

1. Don Tillman is an Associate Professor of genetics at the University of Melbourne. He has a black-belt in Akikido, and can cook a mean lobster salad. He also has Asperger syndrome – but he doesn’t know that. Don just thinks that there’s something missing that leaves him baffled by human behaviour and unappealing to other people (especially the opposite sex). But after his dear ‘The Rosie Project’ by Graeme Simsion is so wonderful.
I’m going to attempt to enumerate my enjoyment of the novel;

1. Don Tillman is an Associate Professor of genetics at the University of Melbourne. He has a black-belt in Akikido, and can cook a mean lobster salad. He also has Asperger syndrome – but he doesn’t know that. Don just thinks that there’s something missing that leaves him baffled by human behaviour and unappealing to other people (especially the opposite sex). But after his dear old neighbour tells him that he would make someone a good husband, Don decides to get married – and to limit the fallout of incompatibility and highly ineffective dating detection, Don decides to make a questionnaire to find himself the perfect wife. Thus, ‘The Wife Project’. This is not insane. It has actually happened, to Amy Webb from Baltimore who found her husband by using math and analytics to narrow the dating field.

2. Rosie Jarman is not a potential partner for Don’s Wife Project. She’s a barmaid who is perpetually late and vegetarian. But she is also beautiful and smart. And she’s on her own quest to find someone – her biological father. Rosie has bright red hair, dresses to impress no one but herself and calls em’ like she sees em’. But she is not a ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’. She does not want to ‘fix’ Don, she’s tough and imperfect and very aware of her failings. She is one of the best romantic-comedy heroines I've ever read.

3. This scene of Don speed-dating (which I read while on the train, and attracted many curious looks as I snorted my way through it);

‘I've sequenced the questions for maximum speed of elimination,’ I explained. ‘I believe I can eliminate most women in less than forty seconds. Then you can choose the topic of discussion for the remaining time.’
‘But then it won’t matter,’ said Frances. ‘I’ll have been eliminated.’
‘Only as a potential partner. We may still be able to have an interesting discussion.’
‘But I’ll have been eliminated.’
I nodded. ‘Do you smoke?’
‘Occasionally,’ she said.
I put the questionnaire away.
‘Excellent.’ I was pleased that my question sequencing was working so well. We could have wasted time talking about ice-cream flavours and make-up only to find that she smoked. Needless to say, smoking was not negotiable. ‘No more questions. What would you like to discuss?’

4. Don Tillman is described as being a dead-ringer for Gregory Peck, circa Atticus Finch. *le sigh*

5. ‘The Rosie Project’ started as a screenplay. Graeme Simsion then decided to turn it into a novel – but still used film-writing techniques and his writing partners were film-industry experts. This is why ‘The Rosie Project’ is destined for the big-screen. The dialogue is so tight and pitch-perfect, the lines just leap up at you and it’s as though characters are speaking from the page. I want to see this film adapted – move over Harry & Sally, it’s all about Don & Rosie!

6. At one point, Don and Rosie travel to New York where, Don says, “being weird is acceptable.” I am going to New York this year. I’m planning an entire day at the Natural History Museum, thanks to Don. I can’t wait!

7. The cover is in-your-face-magnificence. It called to me from the bookshelf, and loudly announced itself to fellow commuters as I read it on the train. I liked this. Very much.

8. Throughout the novel Don starts to question if it’s him that’s missing some vital human-connection component, or if maybe other people are the problem . . . this is encapsulated in the relationship Don has with his best friend and fellow teacher, Gene. Gene is fifty-six and happily married to a beautiful woman with whom he has two children. But Gene’s wife, Claudia, has agreed to an open-marriage and Gene is currently attempting to sleep with a woman from every country. Gene dispenses romantic advice to Don. This is not a good idea, and was a fantastic counter-point to Rosie and Don’s romantic shenanigans.

9. I would actually love a follow-up to ‘The Rosie Project’ because when I got to the last page I immediately missed Don Tillman and wanted him back! But whatever Graeme Simsion decides to write next, I’ll be reading because he’s now an automatic-buy author for me.

10. I could keep going and going and going because I adored ‘The Rosie Project’, but let’s agree that ‘10’ is a good place to stop espousing on all the reasons everyone should read this book. ...more

4

Oct 05, 2013

Sheldon in love.

Adorable and fun. Probably one of the most enjoyable chick lit books I've read, ironically, written by a man.

On the other hand, not nearly enough sex in it.

2

May 06, 2013

This does for Autism what Pretty Woman did for prostitutes. It uses it for entertainment, it plays on it for laughter. It's a 1970's sitcom of a book.

The character of (Shel)Don feels like little more that fan-fiction of The Big Bang Theory and Rosie seems like the perfect emulation of The Cool Girl as described in Gone Girl. She's too trite and quirky to be believable. Don himself is simply a figure of fun, he moves form scene to scene for our amusement in a "what will he do now?" manner as This does for Autism what Pretty Woman did for prostitutes. It uses it for entertainment, it plays on it for laughter. It's a 1970's sitcom of a book.

The character of (Shel)Don feels like little more that fan-fiction of The Big Bang Theory and Rosie seems like the perfect emulation of The Cool Girl as described in Gone Girl. She's too trite and quirky to be believable. Don himself is simply a figure of fun, he moves form scene to scene for our amusement in a "what will he do now?" manner as Julia Roberts did in Pretty Woman. The book groans plot wise, nothing is surprising and though it is an easy read it is an utterly underwhelming one.

I spent most of the book thinking of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in our Stars or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, books with exceptional narrators that show rather than tell. At every stage Don tells. He is created simply to move thorough the scenery. Given the subject matter the book should have been more than a collection of "smirk at the autistic dude, it's ok cause the author had him say we could" sequences.


http://atheistdad74.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.wattpad.com/story/18231712... ...more

3

Apr 05, 2013

What a shame!
What a shame Graeme Simsion wrote this offering "quickly" and that he went with a "comedy rather than a drama".
What a shame that the opportunity to educate and illuminate was squandered and traded for gratuitous laughs ,extreme generalisations and blatant stereotyping.
My initial delight at realising the subject matter of this book meant I was immediately enrolled in ' the project'. A third of the way into the book, I became uncomfortable with the tenor and theme. The premise that What a shame!
What a shame Graeme Simsion wrote this offering "quickly" and that he went with a "comedy rather than a drama".
What a shame that the opportunity to educate and illuminate was squandered and traded for gratuitous laughs ,extreme generalisations and blatant stereotyping.
My initial delight at realising the subject matter of this book meant I was immediately enrolled in ' the project'. A third of the way into the book, I became uncomfortable with the tenor and theme. The premise that higher functioning individuals on the Autistic Spectrum , or anyone for that matter who sits outside societies 'normal' framework accepts their position matter-of-factly is absurd.
Don knows he is 'weird' , inappropriate and that people make fun of him and the author suggests that Don is OK with it. So accepting of ridicule is he that he purposefully resorts to self-promotion as the class clown and nutty professor as a means of gaining some form of acceptance or acknowledgment. Don tells us that he is "an expert at being laughed at" , but Simsion never let him tell us how he felt about being so. Instead the author invites us to laugh along with an inexhaustable number of accounts of 'crazy' behaviours , thoughts and incidents throughout this 'comedy'. I waited and hoped for for the opportunity to feel Don's pain; but unfortunately his distress, sadness, vulnerability and loneliness if touched on were labels without feeling, what we regular people experience, but Asperger individuals ( according to Simsion) only know if they score highly on a questionnaire! The idea that the Don's of this world do not feel the aguish associated with isolation and rejection is no less inaccurate than they are incapable of feeling empathy or knowing how to show love.

In the 1997 movie "as Good As It Gets " ( mentioned in The Rosie Project), screenwriter Mark Andrus ensures that whilst revealing the prescriptive anxiety-provoking world of Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder , he never loses sight of the anguish and humanity that underscores the day to day reality of a person who fails to conform to societal norms. He offers the audience an opportunity to empathise as well as laugh at seemingly 'weird' behaviours of the main character Unfortunately, in his 'Rosie Project' , Simsion misses the opportunity to be a champion for his protagonist, failing to show that although Don is hard-wired neurologically to behave and respond in what makes make him a target for ridicule and isolation , that his acute awareness of how he is perceived comprimises his inner struggle and peace. Even at the end, when it seems Don has found happiness and acceptance, it was dependant on his adjustment and conformity to societies sensabilities.

Obviously I found some positives in this book. Well written, engaging and with plenty of local flavour being set in Melbourne , making for an enjoyable read. The insights offered about the inconsistencies of what society accepts of human behaviour depending on who you are or your position in life were welcomed. I also felt heartened that along with laughing at Don, the audience were also shown that if you move beyond the visible and audible irregularities of a person, we all have something to offer; that we all have value and strengths and all deserve respect and to be treated with dignity. I hope that maybe, some readers will also see beyond the comedy to the human side and perhaps even accept that maybe, we 'neurotypicals' all need to change a little , tolerate a little bit more and accept a different way of seeing things so that the marginalised in society can fit in a little bit more.
I share my life with a 'Don' and I think 'the Rosie Project' has not done his cause any favours and does not represent him faithfully, with respect or the humanity he deserves.
Again... What a shame! ...more

2

Jan 27, 2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Don Tillman is an Associate Professor of Genetics with (probably) Asperger’s Syndrome who has decided that, as he is nearing 40, he will solve “the wife problem” (ie. not being married) by creating a questionnaire that will ascertain, for him, the perfect wife and then marry her. That is until he meets Rosie, a grad student working part-time in a gay bar who’s looking for her biological father, and slowly Don’s “Wife Project” becomes “The Rosie Project” as he realises he’s falling in love with Don Tillman is an Associate Professor of Genetics with (probably) Asperger’s Syndrome who has decided that, as he is nearing 40, he will solve “the wife problem” (ie. not being married) by creating a questionnaire that will ascertain, for him, the perfect wife and then marry her. That is until he meets Rosie, a grad student working part-time in a gay bar who’s looking for her biological father, and slowly Don’s “Wife Project” becomes “The Rosie Project” as he realises he’s falling in love with her.

I say that Don probably has Aspergers because it’s never explicitly stated but as he narrates the book in the first person, the reader is immediately aware that he sees the world differently than the rest of us. It’s kind of like having Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory” talking to you - Don is a genius with no social skills who’s unable to read facial expressions and has a highly regimented lifestyle and peculiar way of speaking. Couple that with the opening scene where he gives a talk on Aspergers and it’s highly suggested that he has it. Not knowing anyone with Aspergers, I can’t tell whether he sounds convincingly like someone with it but what little I know of the condition suggests that his personality is unlikely to change as dramatically as Don’s does throughout the book. It’s almost like his meeting Rosie reverses the condition. I mean, he’s unable to feel love - but he can? He’s unable to read facial expressions or understand social conventions - but then he can?

Nevertheless I thought the first 200 pages of the book were charming. Don is a likeable guy whose eccentric lifestyle makes a change of pace to the usual rom-com formula and the different angle it gives to the genre made me interested in it even though romantic comedies aren’t usually my thing. There were also some excellent scenes that stuck out memorably like Don and Rosie’s first date, from using aikido on the waiters to altering time and having dinner on a whiteboard (not as surreal as it sounds but nice touches anyway), and Don and Rosie’s moonlighting as cocktail waiters and Don using his remarkable memory (eidetic?) to take complex drink orders for dozens of people at a time. I read the first two-thirds of the book in a couple days, smiling a lot throughout. And then I got to the final third which took me over a week and ruined the book for me.

The first 200 pages had been unique to the rom-com genre and felt highly original which is why I responded so well to it - it wasn’t going over the same ground countless other stories had gone over before. The final third is all about convention and it opens with a scene in New York. The story is set in Australia but because Don and Rosie are hell bent on finding Rosie’s biological father, their search takes them to two possible fathers in NY. This 50 page section felt completely contrived and could’ve been cut from the book entirely.

This book was originally a screenplay and these scenes felt very cinematic and included so that film backers would have recognisable locations for their film to make it easier to sell, rather than serving the story. Yes, the finding Rosie’s real dad storyline is in play but if you took those two people away from NY and cut it entirely, the book would’ve been snappier. As such it feels really contrived and dull, like the scene in the movie where the two romantic leads get to do a kind of montage sequence of things. It also constantly references other romantic comedy movies the entire time too, adding to the feeling that this is a homage to the genre and included because that’s what’s expected when you do something like this.

Then the final 70 or so pages are about Don winning Rosie back and it’s done in such a conventionally rom-com way that I totally lost interest. Worse, Don’s character didn’t seem consistent in this part either (see the criticisms in the Aspergers section above).

I’ve used the label “romantic-comedy” throughout because that’s what the marketing says it is but it’s not. It’s romantic, sure, but it’s not funny. I didn’t laugh once and didn’t think Don’s numerous social faux pas to be particularly funny either. Worse still are the scenes which are clumsily designed to be funny and feel very forced, like when Don is learning sexual positions from a book and uses a skeleton (he’s at the university for this scene so it’s not a Dahmer moment or anything) and the Dean walks in on him. It feels like the kind of scene in a sitcom where the canned laughter goes on and on as the camera switches from Don’s face to the Dean’s and back again while the audience begins to clap and laugh at the same time. It might as well be labelled “funny scene”. And it’s not.

Despite my criticisms, I was quite happy to give this book 3 stars - until I read the end. Now I know the ending shouldn’t have more importance over any other aspect of the story, whatever the genre, but the ending to this book is especially bad. So Rosie, at the very start when she’s introduced to Don, tells him about her dad Phil, a man who raised her alone after her mum died when Rosie was 12, who’s a person whom she doesn’t particularly get along with (largely because of a minor quibble which she’s unreasonably held against him for her entire life) - but no more so than any other person who doesn’t get along with their mum or dad for whatever reason. Except she’s convinced herself he can’t possibly be her real dad and that her real dad must be out there somewhere. This is basically the motivation for everything Don and Rosie do in this entire book and right off, I thought “I bet it turns out Phil IS her real dad after all”. Well... I won’t give it away but you can kind of guess what happens in the end. And I really, really hated that. Don all but says what I was feeling in the second-to-final sentence of the book and I immediately dropped the book down another star.

This book definitely has some good moments and Don is a memorable and oftentimes delightful character, but the final third of the book really frustrated me. If the book had been more tightly edited with the NY sequence thrown out and had had a less predictable ending, I would be enthusiastically recommending this novel. As it is, it is a flawed debut novel that’s well written but severely lacking in crucial parts of the story reducing it from a charmingly quirky romance story to yet another rom-com with no surprises and a sloppily rushed final act. Graeme Simsion can write and he might one day write a brilliant novel but sadly “The Rosie Project” is not that book. ...more

4

Nov 10, 2014

Ultracharming & very very, uh, cute. The singular voice of the main character is enough to convince the reader that a love story exists in anything. This rom-com takes some DNA from various films, especially, it seems, 1997's "As Good As It Gets." Worth a read, its very likely to become a film soon (the novel was originally written as a, yup, screenplay!).

4

Mar 16, 2015

Actual rating : 3.5 stars

From the moment I finished it I knew I had one critical task to perform : To review this project book.



Although the timing is particularly annoying, I realized that the several options I faced made my choice incredibly clear.

Not reviewing this book, resulting in damage to this book's fame, which would be appalling due to the fact that it's fucking awesome.

Rescheduling this review to another time, resulting in loss of memories and leading to a probable abandonment of

Actual rating : 3.5 stars

From the moment I finished it I knew I had one critical task to perform : To review this project book.



Although the timing is particularly annoying, I realized that the several options I faced made my choice incredibly clear.

➊ Not reviewing this book, resulting in damage to this book's fame, which would be appalling due to the fact that it's fucking awesome.

âž‹ Rescheduling this review to another time, resulting in loss of memories and leading to a probable abandonment of the task in the long term.

➌ Reviewing this book, resulting in loss of time to read others books, including Stolen Songbird which I already started (with good vibes), fact that increased my eagerness to resume it.

After a prompt analyze of this data, I take the decision to write this review which will be as evidence-based as possible, that is to say, close to none. ← Please refer to option #3 to understand why.

â–§ Subject 1 : Don, narrator.
✔ Gender : Male
✔ Age : 39
✔ Appearance : Average, but the presence of a six-pack due to extreme Aikido training deserves to be mentioned. The clothing is practical, highly influenced by a) the weather, b) that's about it. Please don't talk about jacket if your meaning is limited to "conventional jacket", otherwise you would have to face an hilarious misunderstanding. Now that I think about it, please mislead us, that's too deliciously funny to forget.

"But why, why, why can't people just say what they mean?"
✔ Relationship status : After realizing that many women didn't get his over-organized way of living, Don decided to start the Wife Project, following the batshit crazy idea where women have to apply to a questionnaire - I KNOW!! - to decipher if a relationship would be sustainable.

â–¶ Sub-mentioned project will lead to :

a) Awkward and head-desk situations which still always remain smile-inducing and never maddening (it seems important to mention because the Wife Project can appear to objectify women (it does - but that's clear from the beginning that Don is wrong). Well, you'll probably be annoyed by him at some point, but don't worry, subject 2 is coming.

b) As previously mentioned, hilarious misunderstandings.

"I turned to see him - he was large and angry. In order to prevent further violence, I was forced to sit on him.
'Get the fuck off me. I'll fucking kill you,' he said.
On that basis, it seemed illogical to grant his request."
c) Adorable and swoon-worthy scenes from the moment subject 2 is introduced. Yes, because there is EVOLUTION in Don's character. I know, big word, right? Exciting.

â–§ Subject 2 : Rosie, troublemaker.
✔ Gender : Female

Oh, FUCK THAT. I'm not a scientist by any means. You want to know who Rosie is?

â–¶ Let me tell you : she's an utterly likeable female lead who's going to bring the unexpected in Don's life, shatter his (numerous) believes and stereotypes, and make you love her in the process. Smart, strong-minded, sarcastic, sure of her value as a person, the madness she personifies stirs up the winds of freedom in Don's life and damn, I enjoyed that something fierce. Note that by madness I mean "not as overly strict as Don", so her description can be applied to any woman who doesn't want to be imprisoned in an artificial straightjacket, and loathes that some guys think that women are only good to cook and fuck. I say yes to this.

â–§ Controversies : The Butterfly Problem.
At this point you might wonder why I'm only giving it 3.5 stars. The fact is, as awesome as I found the idea and the execution of it, I felt underwhelmed at times. In a word, it lacked feels for me. As it is, I'm able to point that's The Rosie Project is an original and cute read, but the butterflies were too rare, even if they were here for sure (note that several scenes will make you Awww out loud). What can I say? I need my shoot at butterflies. However, I can't deny that the character of Don, the fact that's his POV, drives this lack of feels so maybe that's the point, you know? That's why I rounded up my rating to a 4.

â–§ Results : Why should you read this book?
Because The Rosie Project is a tale of metamorphose, by the acceptance of others for who they truly are and the acceptance of who WE are. Can I say? For all his awkwardness, and surely because of it, Don is an adorable and heartbreaking character whose desire to fit in moved me - because the world we're living in doesn't always accept differences and that's a shame in my opinion. A fucking huge one.

In a word? Such an originally written cute romance.

"I asked you here tonight because when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
[ Last edited : June 2016 ]

For more of my reviews, please visit:
...more

5

Apr 10, 2013

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very amusing and clever. The protagonist Don is definitely a clichéd version of someone with Asperger's, but I think he had to be for the purposes of the novel. He sits on the very end of the spectrum and embodies every single stereotypical attribute of an Aspie. At one point I cringed at the end of the book when he is struggling about whether he feels love or not. Not accurate for someone with Asperger's - they actually have intense emotions but are unable I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very amusing and clever. The protagonist Don is definitely a clichéd version of someone with Asperger's, but I think he had to be for the purposes of the novel. He sits on the very end of the spectrum and embodies every single stereotypical attribute of an Aspie. At one point I cringed at the end of the book when he is struggling about whether he feels love or not. Not accurate for someone with Asperger's - they actually have intense emotions but are unable to express them very well. But the author redeems himself by communicating that in the end and adds a very insightful point which is that perhaps Rosie needs to also be more accepting and not expect Don to change his core being. Very much a neurodiversity message.

I absolutely LOVE Don's address to the parents of young Asperger's students. It is brilliant and very amusing.

And I knew I liked Don the moment he decided the following about Asperger's:

"I formed a provisional conclusion that most of these were simply variations in human brain function that had been inappropriately medicalised because they did not fit social norms - constructed social norms - that reflected the most common human configuration rather than the full range." ...more

5

Jan 30, 2013

How addictive was this book? I read it in a day - a day when I should have been doing other things.

It's a fun, quirky and erudite love story. It's laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly touching.

Don is a wonderfully offbeat narrative character and Rosie is his perfect foil. Graeme Simsion writes both characters pitch perfect.

I think one of the reasons the story is so appealing is that it's written by a man, from a man's perspective. And it's definitely not lad lit.

This book is going to be a huge How addictive was this book? I read it in a day - a day when I should have been doing other things.

It's a fun, quirky and erudite love story. It's laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly touching.

Don is a wonderfully offbeat narrative character and Rosie is his perfect foil. Graeme Simsion writes both characters pitch perfect.

I think one of the reasons the story is so appealing is that it's written by a man, from a man's perspective. And it's definitely not lad lit.

This book is going to be a huge hit and deservedly so. Highly recommended. ...more

2

Feb 25, 2014

My first note written about this novel is a 1 intolerably woeful but a night's sleep has made me feel a little more generous so I've amended it to 2it was ok. The whole premise felt predictable, horribly predictable, I found that main character incredibly annoying and the humor did not amuse me. I know I am swimming against the tide of most readers, especially my GR friends but it was just all very ho-hum for me. Sorry, folks. 2
My first note written about this novel is a 1 ★ intolerably woeful but a night's sleep has made me feel a little more generous so I've amended it to 2★it was ok. The whole premise felt predictable, horribly predictable, I found that main character incredibly annoying and the humor did not amuse me. I know I am swimming against the tide of most readers, especially my GR friends but it was just all very ho-hum for me. Sorry, folks. 2★ ...more

4

Jun 26, 2015

I actually ended up enjoying this book much more than I originally thought I would.
At the forefront it seems extremely sexist and not that great plot-wise, but it definitely addresses those issues and works through them with character development, which I found to be fantastic.
The only thing I'm not sure on is the depiction of Asperger's. I am not an expert in any way, so I'm not sure if this portrayal was accurate/correct/well done. If someone wants to tell me that would be awesome!
Overall I actually ended up enjoying this book much more than I originally thought I would.
At the forefront it seems extremely sexist and not that great plot-wise, but it definitely addresses those issues and works through them with character development, which I found to be fantastic.
The only thing I'm not sure on is the depiction of Asperger's. I am not an expert in any way, so I'm not sure if this portrayal was accurate/correct/well done. If someone wants to tell me that would be awesome!
Overall enjoyable and pretty interesting romance. ...more

5

Apr 25, 2013

Read this over two very busy days. I fell in love with Don, the protagonist. I loved the ways he measured and evaluated life. I want to embrace his rigid meal plan and have lobster in my bathtub every Tuesday night.
Although Don is a highly esteemed genetics scientist, he views life with a beautiful naivety, he knows the workings and technicalities of people, but just can't grasp that element that makes us chaotic, individual works of art.
And I laughed! Yep, I finally came to understand the Read this over two very busy days. I fell in love with Don, the protagonist. I loved the ways he measured and evaluated life. I want to embrace his rigid meal plan and have lobster in my bathtub every Tuesday night.
Although Don is a highly esteemed genetics scientist, he views life with a beautiful naivety, he knows the workings and technicalities of people, but just can't grasp that element that makes us chaotic, individual works of art.
And I laughed! Yep, I finally came to understand the intent behind LOL. There is a particularly amusing dance scene. I also enjoyed the talk on Aspergers. Go Aspies!
Don is obviously bordering on being dysfunctional in life and yet, his idiosyncracies started to make sense to me. I found myself agreeing with his practical approach many times.
Now there needs to be a movie!
This has become a favourite, and I'd read it again. ...more

3

Oct 28, 2015

This book started out really great. For the first 100 pages I was entertained and even got a kick out of the quirky narration. Then I sat back and thought about who I was reading into the mind of. Don is a sort of disturbed man. I was very uncomfortable throughout the last half of this book because he needed serious help dealing with the world that he wasn't receiving. Rather, people-- his friends-- would watch his actions and laugh. Don was such an unreliable narrator and what was an attempt at This book started out really great. For the first 100 pages I was entertained and even got a kick out of the quirky narration. Then I sat back and thought about who I was reading into the mind of. Don is a sort of disturbed man. I was very uncomfortable throughout the last half of this book because he needed serious help dealing with the world that he wasn't receiving. Rather, people-- his friends-- would watch his actions and laugh. Don was such an unreliable narrator and what was an attempt at making a unique character read as someone who was creepy and deranged, and I disagree with how this book ended. I'm gonna have to ponder this one for a while. Very mixed feelings. ...more

4

Mar 05, 2013

This book made me laugh. Not many books can do that. This was a truly delightful book to read and I would never ask for a minute of the time spent reading it back.
Made all the more amazing by the fact that it is the first novel of Melbourne writer Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Project will rank highly amongst my 2013 reads.
Written from a unique perspective, this is one of the few, if not the only, romantic comedies with a male protagonist. And not only male, but autistic.
Don Tillman is a This book made me laugh. Not many books can do that. This was a truly delightful book to read and I would never ask for a minute of the time spent reading it back.
Made all the more amazing by the fact that it is the first novel of Melbourne writer Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Project will rank highly amongst my 2013 reads.
Written from a unique perspective, this is one of the few, if not the only, romantic comedies with a male protagonist. And not only male, but autistic.
Don Tillman is a brilliant scientist, but a hapless socialist (I mean that with no political leanings, Don literally sucks at being social.)
Rosie is beautiful, smart and nowhere close to what Don sees as a perfect life partner.
This book is one of those rare gems that most people could relate to on some level. Does he love me? Does she love me? Can two people really be destined for one another? Is mankind meant for monogamy? Can anyone really love?

Written with a one of a kind voice, you experience all of Don's ups and downs as he over-analyses, fears and then embraces change and eventually learns how to love.

This is a beautiful love story. ...more

5

Jan 04, 2014

4.5 'Nerds Need Love Too' stars.

This wasn't a traditional romance novel, but I enjoyed the romantic aspect of this story quite a bit. There was also a fun and interesting journey with Don and Rosie gathering dozens of samples of DNA to determine who might be Rosie's biological father. It made me laugh quite a few times!



The hero, Don Tillman, is a 39 y/o socially inept scientist who lives his life based on strict rules. He never believed that love, romance and marriage was for him. But when a
4.5 'Nerds Need Love Too' stars.

This wasn't a traditional romance novel, but I enjoyed the romantic aspect of this story quite a bit. There was also a fun and interesting journey with Don and Rosie gathering dozens of samples of DNA to determine who might be Rosie's biological father. It made me laugh quite a few times!



The hero, Don Tillman, is a 39 y/o socially inept scientist who lives his life based on strict rules. He never believed that love, romance and marriage was for him. But when a friend comments on his likeliness of being an excellent husband, he rethinks his possibilities.

Because of his lack of social awareness he reaches out to his friend and co-worker, a professor of psychology, who is experienced in human relationships. They devise a plan to help Don find a wife, and his buddy (along with his wife) advises Don nearly every step of the way.

In his quest to find the perfect wife, he creates an online dating profile with an extensive survey based on a wide range of desirable attributes, but in the meantime while he is waiting for Ms Perfect he devotes his time to helping a lady named Rosie find her biological father.



This story had a lot of fun twists and turns, and a few predictable parts. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey these two took that ultimately had them discovering more about themselves and what is truly important.

At first I couldn't imagine how the author was going to convince me that these two seemingly opposite types could fall in love and have a chance for happily-ever-after, but by the end I was a believer.

The Rosie Project is less of a romance and more of a tale of one mans journey to find love and discover some truths about himself.

By the way, I listened to this one on audiobook, and loved the narrator! I highly recommended the audio format. ...more

4

Nov 12, 2015

I was completely charmed by this novel. Sure, it's basically Sheldon Cooper Tries to Find a Wife, but I liked it.

Don Tillman is a genetics professor in his late 30s who sets out to find a spouse by devising an elaborate questionnaire. Don is very fussy and regimented in his life, and allusions are made to him having Asperger's. Don thinks he can weed out any unsuitable partners and find someone well-matched for him. Meanwhile, he bumps into a woman named Rosie, who Don agrees is totally I was completely charmed by this novel. Sure, it's basically Sheldon Cooper Tries to Find a Wife, but I liked it.

Don Tillman is a genetics professor in his late 30s who sets out to find a spouse by devising an elaborate questionnaire. Don is very fussy and regimented in his life, and allusions are made to him having Asperger's. Don thinks he can weed out any unsuitable partners and find someone well-matched for him. Meanwhile, he bumps into a woman named Rosie, who Don agrees is totally unsuitable, but he likes spending time with her anyway.

This novel is essentially a romantic comedy, so if you like that genre, you will probably enjoy this. The writing is clever and amusing, and I frequently laughed out loud while reading. Of course Don makes social gaffes, but what I liked is how practical and resilient he was in such situations. He recognized his gifts, such as being smart, dedicated and having an excellent memory, and he used those talents to help him navigate this new world involving Rosie.

I was pleased to hear that a sequel was released earlier this year, and I look forward to reading more about Don and Rosie's adventures.

Favorite Quotes
"A questionnaire! Such an obvious solution. A purpose-built, scientifically valid instrument incorporating current best practice to filter out the time wasters, the disorganized, the ice-cream discriminators, the visual-harassment complainers, the crystal gazers, the horoscope readers, the fashion obsessives, the religious fanatics, the vegans, the sports watchers, the creationists, the smokers, the scientifically illiterate, the homeopaths, leaving, ideally, the perfect partner, or realistically, a manageable short list of candidates."

"Asperger's isn't a fault. It's a variant. It's potentially a major advantage. Asperger's syndrome is associated with organization, focus, innovative thinking, and rational detachment."

"Throughout my life I have been criticized for a perceived lack of emotion, as if this were some absolute fault. Interactions with psychiatrists and psychologists ... start from the premise that I should be more 'in touch' with my emotions. What they really mean is that I should give in to them. I am perfectly happy to detect, recognize, and analyze emotions. This is a useful skill and I would like to be better at it. Occasionally an emotion can be enjoyed — the gratitude I felt for my sister, who visited me even during the bad times, the primitive feeling of well-being after a glass of wine — but we need to be vigilant that emotions do not cripple us." ...more

4

Nov 07, 2015

Don, If you were real I would marry you in a heartbeat.

Don, If you were real I would marry you in a heartbeat. ♡♡♡♡

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4

Feb 18, 2017

Buddy Read with Murugesh.

This book is Absolutely Adorable. I think I had a BIG GRIN the entire time I was reading this book.

Don Tillman at the start reminded me strongly of Sheldon Cooper from 'The Big Bang Theory', he has strong resemblance to Sheldon but still has characteristics of his own, and very cute ones I must say!

Don meets Rosie and his life changes for the best.
"In less than fifteen minutes, my entire schedule had been torn apart, shattered, rendered redundant. Rosie had taken over." Buddy Read with Murugesh.

This book is Absolutely Adorable. I think I had a BIG GRIN the entire time I was reading this book.

Don Tillman at the start reminded me strongly of Sheldon Cooper from 'The Big Bang Theory', he has strong resemblance to Sheldon but still has characteristics of his own, and very cute ones I must say!

Don meets Rosie and his life changes for the best.
"In less than fifteen minutes, my entire schedule had been torn apart, shattered, rendered redundant. Rosie had taken over."

Rosie was a good character too but the STAR of this book was definitely Don.
Don was just soo naive, cute and adorable. Something serious said by him, had me laughing.
"We could not choose between two candidates shirts and bought both. My wardrobe would be overflowing."

If you are looking for a light fun-hearted read this is just the right book for you.

The ending is just soo perfect and even with the light tones the message in this book is apt.
"Claudia had told me I was being too picky but Rosie had demonstrated in New York that my assessment of what would make me happy was totally incorrect."

We aren't always happy with what we perceive will make us happy.True, Isn't it? ...more

5

Oct 14, 2013

I enjoyed every single minute of this book! I knew it'd be a favorite because I've lived it! There is a "Don" in my life, and I was very clearly put on the "unsuitable" list, but we've remained good friends. It's hard not to love these sort of characters (real or fictitious).

I wager that this will be a film in the not too distant future. Even though it's an Australian book, I can't help but peg Lizzy Caplan as Rosie.

*sigh* Just need a few more minutes to let it all sink in...

4

Mar 20, 2017

Don Tillman is a 39-year old genetics professor who doesn't fit in well in social settings. When a friend tells him he'd make a good husband, he proceeds on a mission to find a suitable wife. As he proceeds with the Wife Project, another friend sends him a potential candidate, Rosie Jarman, who couldn't be more unsuitable (based on Don's criteria) but he becomes intrigued with her desire to find her biological father. As the two collaborate on the Father Project, they begin an often hilarious Don Tillman is a 39-year old genetics professor who doesn't fit in well in social settings. When a friend tells him he'd make a good husband, he proceeds on a mission to find a suitable wife. As he proceeds with the Wife Project, another friend sends him a potential candidate, Rosie Jarman, who couldn't be more unsuitable (based on Don's criteria) but he becomes intrigued with her desire to find her biological father. As the two collaborate on the Father Project, they begin an often hilarious and always fascinating pursuit to identify Rosie's father through DNA.

Left to my own devices, I never would have given this book a second glance without my GR friends' recommendations so I'm grateful to them for this story. Don was just delightful in his painful honesty, almost like that of a child but a highly educated one. Rosie couldn't have been more perfect for him as she accepted him unconditionally. One of my most favorite scenes was the bartending gig as it showed Don in his true element, succeeding socially without really trying.

I listened to the story and while the narrator nails Don, his storytelling was a bit too fast paced between transitions. However, it still was funny and tragic and heartwarming and...just right. I'm not sure I'll read the second book because I loved how this one ended. Sometimes it's best to leave good memories alone. ...more

5

Jul 12, 2015

Don Tillman is an absolute hoot! I loved his odd, technical way of speaking. Don is a professor of genetics and he's looking for someone to share his life with. He's socially-awkward, lonely, and over- analytical to a fault. He's pushing 40 and he's had a difficult time in the romance department. One day, he decides to start a project - which he hilariously calls, "The Wife Project". It's basically a detailed, yet rambling questionnaire of the requirements/preferences he's searching for in a Don Tillman is an absolute hoot! I loved his odd, technical way of speaking. Don is a professor of genetics and he's looking for someone to share his life with. He's socially-awkward, lonely, and over- analytical to a fault. He's pushing 40 and he's had a difficult time in the romance department. One day, he decides to start a project - which he hilariously calls, "The Wife Project". It's basically a detailed, yet rambling questionnaire of the requirements/preferences he's searching for in a long-term partner. Enter Rosie Jarman, a 29 year-old psychology grad student who "interrupts" Don's world dramatically. Rosie is Don's polar opposite. She smokes, drinks like a fish, hates working out, fashionably late, and "suffers" from emotional problems. Rosie needs Don's help. She is looking for her biological father. Her mother died in a car accident when she was a little girl, and she never learned his true identity. Since Don's profession is all about facts/genetics - he "reluctantly" agrees to help her (The Father Project) even though she's totally unsuitable as a potential wife. "The Rosie Project" is a light and breezy novel from start to finish. Don is so rigid and precise and Rosie is so untidy and doesn't like to mince words. Will the old saying, "opposites attract" become a factor in Don and Rosie's new friendship? Well, you'll just have to read this hilarious and sweetly unique novel to find out. Enjoy! ...more

4

Oct 19, 2018

I would never, in a million years, imagine that one day I would cheer and laugh out loud at a room full of children chanting for someone to “kill the baby!”, but that was before I picked this book up. Because in reality that scene was so hilarious and entertaining!

I was utterly elated: I laughed, I smiled and I “Awww Don” and “Oh Don” through the whole thing. All in all, I had a beatific couple of days reading this book.

It is a smart book with smart characters doing intelligent things thinking I would never, in a million years, imagine that one day I would cheer and laugh out loud at a room full of children chanting for someone to “kill the baby!”, but that was before I picked this book up. Because in reality that scene was so hilarious and entertaining!

I was utterly elated: I laughed, I smiled and I “Awww Don” and “Oh Don” through the whole thing. All in all, I had a beatific couple of days reading this book.

It is a smart book with smart characters doing intelligent things thinking intelligent thoughts while simultaneously un-cleverly living their lives.

And though I know it can be silly and condescending at times but you gotta admit, it has the charm factor down pat. It reminds me of the first two seasons of The Big Bang Theory. Emphasis on the first two seasons because after that the show starts to lost its way and got quite misogynistic. Unlike The Rosie Project which held out pretty well to the end.

It got me thinking about basic human instincts and how we are involuntarily influenced by our DNA.


rating: ★★★★½

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3

Apr 17, 2015

An unconventional take on the Rom-Com genre, but with the same tropes.


Here we have Don Tillman (view spoiler)[ No, not Don Draper. Though I will be sad when Mad Men finishes in a few weeks. I mean, where else am I going to get my sartorial inspirations from? Oh, right: GQ (hide spoiler)], a genetics researcher who has his life organized to the last minute and finally decides to take a wife. In order to do so, he creates a questionnaire in order to filter out all unsuitable women. (Why he doesn’t An unconventional take on the Rom-Com genre, but with the same tropes.


Here we have Don Tillman (view spoiler)[ No, not Don Draper. Though I will be sad when Mad Men finishes in a few weeks. I mean, where else am I going to get my sartorial inspirations from? Oh, right: GQ (hide spoiler)], a genetics researcher who has his life organized to the last minute and finally decides to take a wife. In order to do so, he creates a questionnaire in order to filter out all unsuitable women. (Why he doesn’t just use eHarmony is beyond me, since apparently they have a long ass test to take on there too.)

Though he is described as a Cary Grant lookalike, I read him more as Zachary Levi.


Don’s search to find a wife takes a turn when Rosie enters his office, and all sorts of Rom-Com hijinks ensue. (Sidenote: Just due to her name, I can’t see the character as being played by anyone other than Rosie O’Donnell. It doesn’t fit the description at all, but it’s one of those weird word association things. But how great would it be to see Rosie O’Donnell in a movie with Zachary Levi? It could either be terrible or awesome. *Rings up Hollywood, uses old timey voice: “We gotta get these two in a picture, see?” Taps ash off cigar*)

”Humans often fail to see what is close to them and obvious to others.” P. 82
Coincidentally, Don is giving a presentation about Asperger Syndrome at the beginning of the book, but doesn’t see that he may be on the spectrum himself until much later in the novel. This is a simple case of dramatic irony as readers will be well aware that he has tendencies associated with Asperger’s due to his rigid scheduling and obliviousness to social norms. As Don becomes more self aware, he notices similarities within himself and those he has read up on.

“But my reconfigured mind, sustained by huge doses of positive reinforcement, accepted the proposition.” P.207
Oh My Fair Genetic Reseacher, does Don change over the course of the novel. Since it’s so short, it’s almost like a montage. The twist here is that the girl doesn’t change for the guy, nor does the girl change the guy; it’s that he learns on his own and does it of his own volition… like a robot learning to love.

”Love is a powerful feeling for another person, often defying logic.” P.280
Don’s own logic is challenged and he sees his original plan with the questionnaire was flawed due to several romantic clichés that I won’t repeat here. But you get the gist, right? I mean, come on, that quote is basically the book…and almost every romantic movie…ever.
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5

Sep 17, 2016

I loved this romantic comedy and it's main character, Don Tillman, a socially inept genetics professor. Deciding he would like a wife he devises a questionnaire for his "wife project". He filters out all the unsuitable candidates through an extensive list of questions. Just hilarious. His best and only friend, Gene, another professor, sends Rosie his way although unbeknown to Don is totally unsuitable according to his criteria. There friendship starts a wonderful and charming set of events.

I I loved this romantic comedy and it's main character, Don Tillman, a socially inept genetics professor. Deciding he would like a wife he devises a questionnaire for his "wife project". He filters out all the unsuitable candidates through an extensive list of questions. Just hilarious. His best and only friend, Gene, another professor, sends Rosie his way although unbeknown to Don is totally unsuitable according to his criteria. There friendship starts a wonderful and charming set of events.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator. He sounded in every way the undiagnosed Aspie who is wired differently than those of us not On the Spectrum. Don is very smart, socially awkward, relentless in his scheduling every moment of his day, and totally loyal.

One of my favorite scenes was when Rosie and Don were bartending. Don memorized a bartenders guide and could quote any drink with its entire ingredients to his customers. Quite funny and amusing.

I thank all of my GR friends who rated this book so high. I never would have read this otherwise. People must have thought me strange as I'm driving to Maine for a family visit and having so much fun laughing while listening to The Rosie Project.

Highly recommend for everyone, whether you like romantic comedy or not.
A big 5 out of 5 stars.

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4

Jul 30, 2014

4.5 stars

I went through a fluffy novel/chick lit phase during my late teens and early twenties and vowed I would never pick up such a book again. However, this book came highly recommended so I decided to give it a go.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Don Tillman is a socially inept university professor, with very few friends and an extremely rigid lifestyle. He has designed a questionnaire, "The Wife Project", to find himself a wife. Unfortunately his standards are incredibly high. 4.5 stars

I went through a fluffy novel/chick lit phase during my late teens and early twenties and vowed I would never pick up such a book again. However, this book came highly recommended so I decided to give it a go.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Don Tillman is a socially inept university professor, with very few friends and an extremely rigid lifestyle. He has designed a questionnaire, "The Wife Project", to find himself a wife. Unfortunately his standards are incredibly high. However, his project is put on the backburner when he meets the very unconventional Rosie and helps her out with her own project.

The writing style was great. As I'm currently in academia, some of the depictions of academics and their thought process really made me laugh. I liked Don's personal development through the course of the book, and also learning how he sees life. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, I think Don has Asperger's Syndrome. I don't know much about this condition but reading it helped me realize not everyone thinks and sees things in the same way.I also loved the deadpan writing of the narrator. I think the story will get you thinking about a lot of things, for example empathy, authenticity, human connection. I'm so glad I read it.
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