From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)

Graeme Simsion

Start date: January 2, 2015

Finish date: January 3, 2015

Discussion: 2015 Challenge Prompts

Why we're reading this: Received several recommendations for ths.
[close] Received several recommendations for ths.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 51 topics — 2,511 comments total

2015 Challenge Prompts

Prompt 25: A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
By Ann · 67 posts · 993 views

last updated Jan 17, 2023 03:51PM

Prompt 39: A book with magic
By Ann · 48 posts · 447 views

last updated Jan 02, 2019 05:46AM

showing 10 of 45 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 11, 2014 Melissa rated it it was amazing

I was definitely impressed with this novel and had a great time reading it. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with some heartwarming ones. I felt like the ending fell a little flat after all the build-up, but it had a sweet message overall that made me think about my own life circumstances. It was also hard to keep names straight sometimes, as there were so many characters. Just something for Graeme Simison to keep in mind for his potential sequel.
I had a great time reading it and definitely ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2020 shalini rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tbrchallenge2020, quirky-humor

Our hero and narrator is Professor Don Tillman who has Asperger's syndrome (unknown to him) and is also mildly Autistic. He is fastidious about punctuality and working out well timed activities like shopping, cooking, etc to the last second. Don doesn't like being touched and takes things literally, which leads to much hilarity. He works as the Associate Professor of Genetics at the Melbourne University, Australia. So being academically inclined, makes him intellectually superior to most people. Our hero and narrator is Professor Don Tillman who has Asperger's syndrome (unknown to him) and is also mildly Autistic. He is fastidious about punctuality and working out well timed activities like shopping, cooking, etc to the last second. Don doesn't like being touched and takes things literally, which leads to much hilarity. He works as the Associate Professor of Genetics at the Melbourne University, Australia. So being academically inclined, makes him intellectually superior to most people. Something which precludes his social engagements to almost always end in a disaster.

So much so that he has never been on a second date. He does have an issue with intimacy but more so with people saying things that they don't mean. Don decides he will remain single till an acquaintance surprises him by complimenting him as great husband material. He ponders this for a bit and then is hit by a Eureka moment. Just like all the dating sites have a questionnaire to match the potentials, he decided he must design his own.

So begins the Wife Project where in he devises a sixteen page long questionnaire which he must now send out to all the probables out there. He would simply use analytical tools to find the "one" for him.

Hilarity ensues when he mistakes Rosie Jarman to be a candidate, sent to him by his friend and colleague Gene. Missing all the social cues, he peruses her as a specimen while she is bemused by his apparent sincerity over everything. Don mistakes Rosie's part time job as a barmaid as her full time occupation - something most unsuitable in his future partner. Also he is completely oblivious of Rosie's sarcasm and takes everything she says literally.

In fact he totally dismisses her based on his questionnaire as she is always late, vegetarian, smokes and doesn't cook. She never seems to follow any schedule too and takes things too far when she re-arranges his furniture. Don likes his life organized to the T and any disruption throws him off completely.

Yet he is drawn to Rosie, though he cannot say why as there was no doubt to her unsuitability as his future wife. Somehow he becomes enmeshed in the Father Project which he creates to help Rosie find her biological father. Don is after all an expert in the Genetics department.

So all their "dates" are about visiting probable candidates who could be her father and then getting DNA swabs off coffee cups or flicking toothbrushes from their homes. These are some of the really funny moments in the book though Don's social skills ones are incomparably OTT.

I wouldn't like to give out spoilers at this point and will just conclude the tale to say that you have to read this rib tickling book before watching the movie.

I have to hand it to the author for crafting this pair of most unlikely but genuinely original couple for this romantic tale who are drawn to each other against all odds. I was so reminded of Sheldon from TBBT and marveled at the ingenuity of the writer to imbibe that spirit in his hero. The best part about the book is that Don is our narrator and he is analyzing everyone's actions and words to hilarious results.

The writing is witty, fast paced and flows from one comic situation to the other. It helps that the hero takes everything literally while the heroine is sarcastic to boot. Never a boring moment in the book and that for me is a huge tick.

Are you surprised that its a 5/5 star rating? What a superbly crafted hilarious book that I couldn't put down and finished in two days flat. I am looking forward to picking the sequel and would recommend you to pick this one straight away. One of the best books in the humor genre for me, by far. ...more

1 like · Like · see review