Graeme Simsion

THE ROSIE PROJECT was a cute and quirky story about an unconventional romance between a brilliant, socially awkward genetics professor and the woman who is totally wrong for him – at least on paper. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Dan O’Grady. He captured Professor Don Tillman’s persona perfectly.

Don Tillman was a unique main character I couldn’t help loving. Highly intelligent yet socially inept, Don based his way of life on rigid routines and scientific facts. show more After years of unsuccessful romantic pursuits, Don is convinced he’s either unlovable because of his quirks, or incapable of loving someone else because his brain is wired differently. (That made me sad!)

In a final attempt to find a partner, Don creates “The Wife Project,” a scientifically-based method of attracting the most suitable “candidates.” Enter Rosie. On paper, she’s completely wrong for Don as a possible mate, but he agrees to help her with her own project – finding her biological father. His relationship with Rosie is an eye-opening experience for Don, and he learns a lot about himself, friendship, and love.

I enjoyed THE ROSIE PROJECT. It was something different than what I usually read, and I caught myself giggling many times. Don was a memorable character, and I was rooting for him throughout the book.

Sweet, funny, moving. Give it a listen!

Source: Review copy from the Publisher show less

This brilliant, hilarious, thought-provoking novel, The Rosie Project, is Graeme Simsion's debut and what a debut it is.

The main character, Don Tillman, is the first person narrator, a highly intelligent, very literal science professor who has absolutely no social skills. He has had a total of three friends his entire life. He's cisgender and has had numerous first dates, but no follow-up relationships. If the reader is even mildly familiar with "being on the spectrum,' she will realize show more immediately that Tillman is Aspergers.

Being a scientist, Tillman approaches his social deficiencies as characteristics which can be altered with sufficient background reading of scholarly articles and sex manuals, as well as asking women to fill out a survey he's designed that will allow him to eliminate unsuitable wife candidates before he wastes his time. That is until he meets Rosie Jarman, the Rosie referred to in the novel's title.

This novel is ultimately about learning who you are and embracing yourself no matter how out-of-step you are with what is considered normal. show less

My appreciation of fiction goes well beyond the story or its characters. I am drawn to and connect with particular writing styles, and Graeme Simsion’s ranks among my favourites. His trademark quick-witted and frank, but authentically earnest narrative voice shines in his latest release with partner Anne Buist, Two Steps Onward.

This novel is one of those rare sequels I will strongly recommend not reading as a standalone. To do so would be short-changing yourself. The contextual breadcrumbs show more and signposts duly offered by Simsion & Buist at this novel’s opening cannot replicate the depth, layering and nuance of Zoe and Martin’s mid-life awakenings depicted in Book 1, Two Steps Forward.

With the early romantic spark and initial sizzle between our leads covered in the first novel, Two Steps Onward delves deeper into the complexities of maintaining relationships later in life. It’s about negotiating a path through familial ties, friendships and even career obligations that can split loyalties and divide our attention and focus. It’s about acknowledging the baggage we carry and making a conscious decision whether to continue carrying that for the remainder of the journey. It’s about interrogating our belief systems and patterns of behaviour, and truly understanding what we want and why. Read full review >> https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2021/06/two-steps-onward-graeme-simsion-ann... show less

Don Simpson is a genetics professor in Australia. Nearing 40, he's also looking for a wife, so embarks on "The Wife Project," an extensive endeavor that involves a 16-page questionnaire for his prospects. If that sounds intense, it's because, well, Don is a bit intense. While it's not explicitly stated, he'd probably rank on the autistic or Asperger scale. He has a series of quirks, and his life is carefully planned, right down the same meals eats each week - same meal on the same day, show more prepared the same way, and eaten at the exact same time. But when Don meets Rosie, she threatens to disrupt the fabric of his carefully created life. Don wouldn't mind, except Rosie has immediately failed the wife questionnaire. So why does he continue to spend time with her?

This was a book I've heard about for a while and been meaning to read for ages. There's a sequel out by now, so the outcome wasn't exactly a surprise (though I doubt it would have been even if I didn't know about the sequel), but it was still a lovely journey to embark upon. Don is extremely well-written and his personality comes across the pages amazingly well. The book does an excellent job of conveying a range of emotions from haunting sadness to just pure amusement. Don is amusing, but I never felt like the laughs came at his expense. If anything, you come to love him. His voice is captured precisely (and like several of my friends, I often pictured him as Sheldon Cooper). His journey to fit in in the world is not an easy one, and Simpson portrays it quite well. Many times I just wanted to hug Don (although I wouldn't, as I knew he'd hate it!). Rosie is an excellent foil for Don and seeing him through her eyes is magical in its own way. The book is not a conventional love story, but it's lovely and sweet, funny and sad, and really quite enjoyable. I'll definitely check out the sequel at some point, too. show less