Between the Lines: The Rosie Project

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This month for Between the Lines with Anne and Kristyn, we read and are reviewing The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (buy it from Amazon or from iTunes!).

The Book Synopses via Amazon: 

The art of love is never a science: Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially inept professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers.

Rosie Jarman possesses all these qualities. Don easily disqualifies her as a candidate for The Wife Project (even if she is “quite intelligent for a barmaid”). But Don is intrigued by Rosie’s own quest to identify her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate  on The Father Project, Don is forced

to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie―and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.



Here is a video from Graeme Simsion himself talking about the book!

And now on to the Blogger Book Club Questions:

1. Were you surprised at the ultimate revelation of Rosie’s biological father? Did you suspect someone else?
About half way through I kinda suspected the outcome. It's so funny, though, that Don was able to help Gene work on his own relationship in the end after all Gene's help with Don's.

2. Do Don’s Asperger’s conditions help him or hinder him? Does Don’s having autism offer any advantages in his life?
I think he did quite well for himself. His schedule and thought process worked for him. But falling in Love alters just about everything in your life, and the fact that he was willing to change for Rosie is a wonderful thing! Change is pretty hard for people with Asperger's and Autism, so it was HUGE for him to do it.

3. Do you feel happy for Don when he gets rid of some of his unique mannerisms in order to win Rosie or do you feel that he lost a part of himself?
I feel proud of him rather than happy for him. Like I said, it takes a lot for people to change, but through in Asperger's or Autism and it's even harder. I don't think he lost himself, I think he grew as a person. I think he and Rosie were able to make some compromises around his mannerisms, that is part of the reason she fell for him ya know!

4. Does Gene get his comeuppance? What do you think of his marriage situation?
I felt bad for Gene's wife, Claudia, the entire book. She always seemed so sad when her marriage was brought up. She was trying to be a "good wife" by giving Gene what he wanted, but it ultimately taxed their relationship far more than she expected. What's horrible, is that Gene didn't even notice. I don't think he wanted to. I applaud Don for standing up to Gene and opening his eyes about the state of his marriage.

My personal thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book! I have recommended it several times already, and I really want to read the sequel, The Rosie Effect (buy it on Amazon or iTunes!). I feel like it was extremely well written and provided a refreshing change reading a love story from the male perspective. The added element of Asperger's was an interesting twist. I felt like I could totally relate and understand Rosie's reactions to Don's schedule, unique way of thinking, and his scientific honesty about everything. I enjoyed the similarities between Don and Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, even if Simsion wasn't intending for this to be the case. If you haven't read this, add to you list now!


Next Month we are reading All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (buy it on Amazon or iTunes!)


Have you read The Rosie Project? 
Are you going to participate in next months Between The Lines Blogger Book Club?

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