The Rosie Project (2013)

I really really loved it!!!

I've not read a lot of books with main characters who are on the autism spectrum, but this has got to be my favourite! I liked how the author used the perspective of Don, and made the book really funny in a way....not making-fun-of-autistic-people way, but more how-autistic-people-see-it-differently-way.

I'm writing this review a bit after I read it, and just today I watched the movie The Accountant with my family. And I really liked the movie, and the way it shows that autism is like a different scale. You can't measure compare apples with oranges; they're just not the same. And, what I'm trying to say is, that this book made me feel the same way.

I'm not on the spectrum(to my knowledge, and personally don't think I might be) and I don't know anyone who is on the spectrum (rather who knows they're on the spectrum), and so this book was like a learning experience too, for what it is like for people who think differently.

Now, to make a confession, I really really like characters who are badass (in any way), and are competent. Like any character with out-of-this-world kinda skills, I love the character. Especially if they're overcoming some bumps in the road. And, so you might have probably guessed it, but my favourite scene in this book was the scene where they pretend to be bartenders, and he just really enjoys it, and does all the math in his head, and just I loved it!!!

The romance was also well written, and boy, was I glad that it was clean. I really liked Rosie, and how she seems to just not care, or maybe not register (in a way) how different Don is. Different compared to neurotypicals, of course.

I really liked it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance (completely clean)(though there were a lot of sex-jokes, and one of the characters is a serious asshole, and tries to sleep with a woman from every country in the world), a feel-good book, slight angst, competent characters, and science. ( )

Wanted something quick & light so I reread this in anticipation of reading the sequel. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. It seems to characterize a person with autism fairly accurately, at least it is similar to other things I have read. The humor helped show what some people must face and come to terms with. Don Tillman, a genetics associate professor at a university in Melbourne, Australia, sets out to find a life partner by creating a questionnaire which he distributes widely (The Wife Project). However, the questionnaire is very specific. His friend and colleague, Gene, sends a psychology graduate student, Rosie, to see him. She is looking for her biological father and he decides to help her by collecting DNA samples from all of the possibilities (The Father Project). When he finally realizes that he has feelings for Rosie, the Rosie Project begins. ( )

Loved this. Funny and poignant. Perfect pandemic read. ( )

It's as if Sheldon decided to find a wife. But, you know, with a well constructed character. ( )