The Rosie Project; Graeme Simsion
(arc and audio book)
Don Tillman at age 39 is a brilliant professor of genetics at an Australian university. He' so very smart, but so socially awkward that he never gets beyond a first date. He hates intimate gestures and he seems to exhibit the tendencies of people with Aspergers syndrome. Oddly enough, as the story opens Don has agreed to do a lecture for his friend Gene on the subject of Aspergers.
When his friend suggests it is time Don found himself a
wife, Don reacts by designing: “The Wife Project,” which
consists of a creative questionnaire of all the things that Don sees as important in a mate. His perfect partner must be punctual, tidy,
logical, and NOT a smoker!
Meet Rosie --- she does not possess the "perfect partner qualities" on Don's
list. Rosie's a bartender, she smokes and even arrives late for her
appointment with Don. Rosie, however, has an agenda of her own. She's
looking for her biological father, and thinks a genetics expert like
Don might be just the one to help her, especially since he has access
to his university's lab and could run some DNA tests there if necessary. Rosie's mother
died when she was 10, and had told her that her father was one of her
medical school classmates. It isn't long before the "Wife
Project" is put on hold, so that Don can help Rosie find out about her
father. As their
unlikely relationship blooms, Don realizes that love can't always be best predicted by a questionnaire.
The story is told from Don's point of
view, and was quite funny at times, but listening to this one on audio
had a way getting on my nerves after a while. It wasn't really the
narrator's fault either.The narrator Dan O'Grady did a decent job, it was just
that the story was too quirky and cutesy for my taste . Don't go by
me though as I think readers who enjoy romantic comedies and quirky
characters will probably enjoy this debut novel.
3.5/5 stars
I'm drawn towards books with autism, but I'm not sure about this one. I know a lot of people love it, but I suspect I'll feel the same way you did. Maybe I'll try it next year....
ReplyDeleteI like rom/com but not too cutesy so will have to think about this one. I did hear recently the US movie rights had been purchased. I might see that. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI almost think it would make a better screen play than a novel Mary
DeleteI'm listening to this one now. I like it so far - been giggling a lot.
ReplyDeleteOh, too bad. I loved this one. I didn't even feel it was a romance, it felt more like comedy to me. Don reminded me a lot of Sheldon on The Big Bang, a favorite of of mine. I guess I just like quirky!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I dislike The Big Bang Theory as well....just too silly for me. Yet Seinfeld I love.
DeleteI was thinking Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory too!
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while to warm up to the Big Bang Theory but now I love it! I'm intrigued by characters on the spectrum so I'll have to add this to my wish list.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I'm pretty particular about romantic comedies in books (although I LOVE them in movies!). Think I'll pass on this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest review. I want to try this one. Sometimes I itch for something different and this sounds like it.
ReplyDeleteI like quirky and cutesy sometimes so that's likely why I liked this one more than you. I really enjoyed the audio.
ReplyDelete