Don Tillman, a scientist and geneticist, has rampant Asperger’s Syndrome – but he doesn’t know it. Don takes everything in life seriously and literally. If someone says to him ‘give me a minute’ he will set the timer function on his wristwatch and count the seconds down. Unsurprisingly, Don has never been on a second date. Until he meets Rosie – subversive, unconventional, irreverent: everything he is not. Their subsequent adventures will have you in tears of laughter.The reviews for ‘The Rosie Project’ I have read all seem to indicate we are in for a fun read. The friend who suggested this novel to me also read it with her book club and it was greatly enjoyed. Sounds just what I need!!!
I wonder when was the last time we laughed out loud while reading a story?
Let’s hope it lives up to its hilarious reputation and brings a little warmth into your winter and happiness into our hearts.
Hello again Ladies,
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you can't sleep!! Multiple posts 'haha'
I know we have a big list of books this year but........what do you both think of,
The Likes Of Us by Neel Mukherjee
The Water Diviner by Andrew Anastasios and Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios
for sometime in the future.
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Nancy. It cannot be easy to pick up the pieces and move on after such a loss. Jay and I very much admire how you have given others so much credit for having helped/still helping you through when you have shown so much courage yourself. We admire your strength.
And I'm very grateful for the reading suggestions. They sound marvellous. Thank you.
Once again, the little library is having trouble finding me a book. It seems a local book group is reading "The Rosie Project". But the librarian assures me the copies will all be returned together and I'll have no problems reading one in time. I can only hope she's right.
It's getting colder here. You can tell: Jay left for Malaysia today and will not be back until the end of March. Hope it's not too bad where you are Katie. Love to you and you family.
Indeed, love to us all
Sue
Hello Ladies!
ReplyDeleteNancy, I hope you and your family are doing well. Franklin and I are still keeping you in our thoughts! Sue, I hope you aren’t missing Jay too much and that you’ve gotten your copy of the book already. I hope there are no spoilers in this post but I apologize if there are.
Nancy, let me start that I adored this novel! I read it in three days. I probably could have read it in a single day had work and home responsibilities not taken priority. I wouldn’t say laugh-out-loud funny, but I was frequently chuckling or smiling broadly while reading. I don’t know how much American television filters over to your countries but there is a TV show here called Big Bang Theory. One of the characters on the show is very much like Don. So reading about Don and his adventure with Rosie was very similar to watching Big Bang Theory (a show I very much enjoy!)
The love story was very endearing. It was typical of most romantic comedies but I suppose that’s what makes us enjoy them. While socially awkward, everything about Don’s Autism was not bad. His memory was incredible. (Certainly would not be a bad thing to have!) I love the point Don makes during his Autism presentation about how the Asperger children have the ability to look at situations from a different perspective than other people. I think that is a very positive way of looking at a disease that most of society (at least American society) seems to view as a negative.
Again, I enjoyed this novel very much!
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your kind thoughts at this difficult time. We are all coping as well as can be expected, our main focus has been on ensuring Dad is OK and so far he seems to be managing.
Ivars and I booked flights this week for our UK adventure, look out Sue, we arrive in London on 27April and will spend about 4 weeks tripping about before heading off to Ireland,Norway, Latvia, Denmark and Singapore! We may have gotten carried away with our plans, however, when the going gets tough…… We are both very excited and madly researching our destinations.
Katie, I also enjoyed The Rosie Project very much. The Big Bang Theory is aired in Australia and I found I morphed Don into looking like Sheldon from the show!!! While I found this a little distracting at times no real worries there. I also enjoy the show.
What I loved most about this story was Don Tillman was only one of the characters with a personality disorder. His friend Gene was a serial adulterer and Rosie herself had idiosyncrasies in her personality, because of misinformation given to her as a child. Graeme Simsion highlights the strengths and weakness in them all, and all have the ability to change and adapt their lives if they choose to and they did. I feel he is also saying personality disorders can be genetic or environmental, either way with a caring and educated approach they can be managed.
I didn’t laugh out loud either, but I was entertained and smiled a lot, so that was wonderful. The last time I remember laughing out loud at a story was in Jasper Jones when Charlie was comparing climbing out a window to being birthed. That shocked a laugh out of me {maybe that’s Aussie humour].
Love to you and your families
Nancy
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteNancy, so excited to think you will be with us soon. May is a good time to come - and such a wonderful trip. Thank you for including us in it. So when are you coming, Katie?
Jay is having a good time n Malaysia. I miss his calming effect on my parents. My mother in particular adores him.
The library did indeed deliver. Nevertheless, like you, Katie, I haven’t finished a book so quickly in ages – so easy to read, which must have required great skill from the writer. I had it with me in my writing class and was immediately accosted by ladies who have read and loved it. Clearly it will become a hugely successful film. I was trying to think who would play Don: Benedict Cumberbatch? Though he’s not Australian. We don't have the benefit of "The Big Bang Theory" (or not that I know of), so I've no idea who Sheldon is.
I don’t know enough about Asperger’s but assume Don is a realistic portrayal of a person with Asperger’s. Which means this novel provides terrific insight into the problem. Has anyone read Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time”? Central character is a younger person with Asperger’s.
Do we think men would enjoy this or are we looking at “chick lit”? Dreadful term. Seems so belittling of much writing that is thoughtful and entertaining. Not at all easy to be entertaining - as my writing class colleagues and I know only too well.
“The Rosie Project” was farcically and verbally funny, and tried to give useful insights into family and romantic relationships. What more could one want?
Perhaps for it to be a little shorter: the plot seemed to lose its way a bit when they left New York, overplaying the farcical aspects – the boxing scene, for example. It could be, though, that I was reading too quickly and trying to be a film director at the same time. And I didn’t laugh out loud either – but that didn’t matter because the entire book was wonderful escapism; just what was required.
Happy endings are always welcome: and such a traditional one, too. We may have been dealing with off-the-wall characters, but it turns out everyone wants the stereotypical fairy tale ending. I was delighted to read that.
I'm glad you both enjoyed it as much as I did. Thanks, Nancy.
Nancy, your trip sounds very exciting! I’m a little jealous! I also am surprised that Big Bang has transferred to Australia! Sue, I would love to make a trip over to England! I would love to follow the paths of the Tudors, hit up the tower of London, all that touristy stuff. Unfortunately, big travel is not in the plans right now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Sue. The plot did get a little lost on the journey to New York. Some of that got a little convoluted but was no less entertaining. Would I classify this as “chick-lit”, I’m afraid I might. But I enjoy “chick-lit” too. I have a friend whose son has Asperger’s. I’m afraid I’m not around him terribly much so I can’t say that he behaves exactly like Don (or Don like him). I do know that his mother coaches him often in social situations. She’ll say to him: “Well go on and shake his hand. That’s what men do when they greet each other.” He seems to forget some of the standard social activities sometimes but I wouldn’t say I’ve ever noticed anything too dramatically off.
Sorry for such a delay in this response. Work has been a little hectic. I hope you both enjoy your visit together! Much love to you both!