Monday, November 25, 2013

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion
5/5 stars
Simon & Schuster, 2013
292 pages
Adult Contemporary Romance

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this book and kind of skipped over it as pleasant but not necessarily must-read. Then I saw a review comparing the feelings it evokes to those elicited by Rainbow Rowell's fabulous Attachments, immediately sending this book to the top of my to-read list. And I'm so glad because it worked out very well for me!

Don is a professor of genetics who has reached the age of thirty-nine without meeting a suitable partner. He decides to tackle this lack by creating a questionnaire for what he dubs The Wife Project. Soon after he meets Rosie who he deems completely unsuitable but something about her interests him and he begins to help her with her own quest to find her father, discovering that not everything can be quantified on paper including but especially love.

It is suggested by the text that Don has Asperger's or is at least on some part of the autism spectrum evincing many of the symptoms of that diagnosis though it is never explicitly stated. He has a rigid schedule and is upset when it's disrupted, he is compulsively orderly, and he struggles with social cues, maintaining only a handful of friends. However his time with Rosie disrupts his well-ordered days and introduces him to a wide variety of new acquaintances who actually appreciate his ability to consume information such as a barman who is impressed with Don's knowledge of cocktails or the baseball fan who discusses stats with Don. I loved seeing Don's world open up and how his skills were appreciated rather than looked down upon.

The book reads very cinematically, appropriate as it is my understanding that it began as a script and it falls within the framework of a screwball/romantic comedy, made even clearer toward the end when Don studies various romcoms to win Rosie. I don't want to go in to too much detail but there are so many funny moments as I previously hinted at above.

But for the most part, it's just the way this book made me feel. I know that's not very descriptive to you, a potential reader of this book, yet that's the way it is. I would love to provide concrete examples of why this book worked for me but it's the total package that pleased me and has me singing its praises. This will definitely make my faves list of 2013 and will be pushed on various persons of my acquaintance in the hope that it brings them as much pleasure as it did me.

Overall: Simply an excellent feel-good read. Left me feeling all sweet and fuzzy. I definitely second the Rainbow Rowell comparison as well as Tara Catogge's comparison to the fantastic A Confederacy of Dunces with its bold, not the norm hero.

26 comments:

  1. I loved this book and I'm glad you did too. It's the kind of story that just puts a smile on your face while you are reading. I hope that it will be made into a movie (as long as it's done right!).

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  2. I was definitely wondering about this book. I've seen it around but hadn't read any reviews for it on the blogs I follow, even though some are romance readers. It sounds really good, though!

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    1. It's definitely an adult rather than YA book but I would recommend it to most readers because it's just that good.

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  3. I still have to read Attachments! But this sounds great. Adding to my list :)
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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  4. Sounds good - I enjoy a nice romantic comedy now and then.

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    1. I love these kinds of stories and I'm so glad I had a chance to read this one.

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  5. That's great you ended up loving this more than you thought. I'm definitely curious!

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    1. I was just nervous it wouldn't meet my expectations but I'm so glad to be wrong.

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  6. I've seen this one around so much lately! Your review and others have convinced me that it's a book I would enjoy, so I'm glad that I already put it on hold at the library. I can't wait to check it out!

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  7. Oh, this sounds so cute. I don't use to read books with covers like that, but I certainly want to add this to my list.
    Happy reading!
    Lis @ The reader lines

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    1. I wish the cover was a bit more vibrant but it works for me.

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  8. I'm glad that you enjoyed this one so much. It is new to me, and it does sound good too.

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  9. I just heard about this book today but haven't read one review until yours. You have me sold. I loved Confederacy of Dunces, and of course, Attachments, and I just love books that make me feel. Thanks so much for the solid review!

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    1. I would be curious to see how you'd compare it to those two reads-they are just the ones that came into my head while reading and reflecting.

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  10. I've seen good reviews of this and I'm on the wait list for it at the library. I can't wait to read it! Great review!

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    1. I hope you love it Susan-I love hearing that I've steered you toward a great read!

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  11. This got really positive reviews and hype, especially after it was on First Tuesday Book Club and I remember watching their discussion and thinking that it sounded like Attachments or like a Nick Hornby novel, which I remember comparing Attachments to.

    I didn't get it at the time because it had so many reserves but I might take a closer look now.

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    1. I wish I had heard about it sooner as it's just my kind of read!

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  12. This one FINALLY came in to the library for me and I completely credit you for making me want to read it. I'm completely looking for a book that is going to be hilarious and sweet and make me laugh hysterically. Thank you so much for reading this one!

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