The Rosie Effect (Don Tillman, #2)

by Graeme Simsion

I was still adapting to being a component of a couple. I sometimes spent longer in the bathroom than was strictly necessary.

Rare nugget #1.

“Plus the Indians and Chinese and Indonesians wanting to have our standard of living.”

putting consistency ahead of the fact that I was not a new mother.

I want to give you the maximum surprise without exceeding your tolerance. Turn the pages until you’re happy. The fewer the better.

Rare nugget #2.

“I know zero about this. I don’t even understand the title.” I did recognize the word attachment and remembered Gene’s advice to “run a mile,” but I let David continue. “That’s fine. The underlying question is: Does a baby benefit from having a parent of each gender, as opposed to one parent only, or two women, or two men? What do you think, Don?” “I still know zero about the topic. How can I have an opinion?” “And that’s why I want you to take the medical school seat on the project.

Alarm bells were going off in my head, but apparently to Don Tillman this is how heroes are made.

“You know this is an all-women project? With substantial finance from the Women Working for Women Foundation?” “Was an all-women project,” said the dean. “Don, as you can see, changes the picture. I believe the funding is contingent on the College of Physicians and Surgeons approving the research design and the analysis.

Oh! Of course! Just threaten an all-women team that you’ll cut off their funding if they don’t take on an unqualified man to lead them. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Pathetic.

Claudia delivered her analysis almost as soon as I had finished. “She’s looking for perfect love. She’s idealized something that she lost before she could understand that love is never perfect.”

Woman’s fault. Immediate diagnosis. And we don’t hear a single word from this woman’s own point of view.

After B1 had left, the dean congratulated me on my persistence. “They tried to cut you out, Don. I think most researchers would have walked away. Refusing to take no for an answer has given us a good result.”

“I recommend avoiding a name associated with your ethnicity. To reduce prejudice,” I said. “I think you might be the one bringing your prejudices with you,” said Madison. “This is New York, not Alabama.”

I assumed Lydia had concluded I had two wives, both named Rosie, both pregnant and living in the same house, and referred to as Rosie I and Rosie II to avoid confusion.

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this. Can I just say that Don’s example has helped me overcome a . . . prejudice. Thank you, Don.” Lydia’s testimony was a little less emotional, which was a relief. I was surprised that my arguments had persuaded her of the acceptability of eating unsustainable seafood.