What We Thought: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion

Don Tillman’s goal is to find a wife. He says, “There is something about me that women find unappealing. I have never found it easy to make friends, and it seems that the deficiencies that caused this problem have also affected my attempts at romantic relationships.”

"All of us have to make some accommodations and allowances if we are to live with another person.”  -- The Rosie Project

Book Club members were in agreement that The Rosie Project was very entertaining and a great read. Comments about the quirky character traits of Don and his “friend” Rosie Jarman were generally well received. There were some outrageous scenes in the course of the story but all in all the characters were portrayed realistically. After Don made accommodations in his professional and daily life, he set his sights on improving his social life. Although he made the search for a wife more complicated than was necessary, he met his match in Rosie, who was not looking for a mate and who at first struck Don as highly unsuitable. Their adventures together changed their feelings for each other. They had so much fun together that their story evolved into a romantic comedy, surprising both of them!

Don’s best friends, his fellow genetics professor Gene and his wife Claudia, a psychologist, formed the major part of Don’s social life before Rosie enters the picture. Gene mentored Don about his search for a wife even though he was a poor role model of domestic bliss. Gene’s goal to sleep with a woman from every country challenges the tolerance of his wife. Don may not be the only person who has character flaws interfering with his social life.

Some of Don’s traits worked to his advantage, he had a terrific memory and a determination to use it beyond what ordinary people could have imagined. He memorized an entire book of alcoholic drinks and mixed them so well at a fancy party that he impressed the owner of the club who offered him a job on the spot. His proficiency in DNA collection and testing demonstrated his empathy for Rosie in her successful search for her biological father.

There was some discussion about Don having some traits of Asperger’s syndrome. Some said that he reminded them of the character Sheldon in the TV comedy The Big Bang Theory, and that the same actor would be a great choice to play Don Tillman in the movie version of The Rosie Project. The celebrity who came to mind to play Rosie was Cyndi Lauper in her younger days.

Book club members are looking forward to the next book about Don and Rosie married and living in New York City. The Rosie Effect is scheduled for release in December of this year.

Have you read The Rosie Project? Share your thoughts with the Evening Readers Book Club in the comments!

If you haven't read it yet, check out the opening of the book here.