Simsion, Graeme- The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1); Informal Buddy Read:Starts December 15, 2014

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

I just cracked open my copy and I love the first passage inside the dust jacket!

"The art of love is never a science"

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Thoughts from Chapter 1

I can't help but liken Don to Sheldon from TV's Big Bang Theory. The first few pages had me laughing because I found Don adorable - maybe because we just met? I don't know if I'll still think him adorable when in the next few pages but considering Sheldon is a favorite character of mine, it's safe to say I'll adore Don just as well.

[Rebecca]

Kathleen wrote "I can't help but liken Don to Sheldon from TV's Big Bang Theory..."

I agree! I felt the same way, but when more of his character was brought out I lost that feeling eventually. Don really is his own man.

[Audrey Jane]

Just finished the book. (view spoiler)[ I preferred the first half of the book than the second. I liked Don and Rosie, but for some kind of reason I was less invested in the Father Project. My favourite scenes were Don's attempts at dating, and the cocktail reunion party. Some random notes:
The academic ball and opening dance with Bianca: I really felt for Don. He put so much effort into it, and as a reader it was easy to feel he was lost and confused.
p. 171: When Don says that he hasn't really noticed Rosie's attractiveness because he didn't want her to feel objectified, I really wished at that moment that Rosie could read Don's thoughts because I thought it was quite considerate and romantic. (hide spoiler)] Although I'm new to the genre, I'm glad I read it.

@Rebecca: (view spoiler)[ I was a bit suspicious throughout the book because it seemed that both Claudia and Gene were aware of their open relationship but as I suspected Gene was abusing/taking a bit too much advantage of their 'agreement'. I didn't like Gene, and as much as I'm glad for Claudia for their relationship, I think it takes a lot to forgive someone as Gene for his past transgressions. (hide spoiler)]

About the comparison Sheldon/Don: (view spoiler)[ I think a major difference between Don and Sheldon is the willingness to compromise. There's clearly a difference between the Don Tillman we saw in the first half and the one in the second half. I don't really see that development in Sheldon. Btw one my favourite character in The BBT is Kripke and especially his interactions with Sheldon :) (hide spoiler)]

[Alex]

I've started this today and I'm hoping to get a good chunk of it read this evening. From the first two chapters I think I'm going to enjoy it. My mum recommended I read it as the main character is a professor of evolutionary pscchology - which my degree is in! But having started it I think Gene is the evolutionary psychologist, not Don? Either way, it's a really niche branch of science that not many people have heard of so I'm excited to hopefully get some little nuggets of information.

My first thought was that Don reminds me of Sheldon, too.

[Snowtulip]

Kathleen wrote: "Thoughts from Chapter 1

I can't help but liken Don to Sheldon from TV's Big Bang Theory. The first few pages had me laughing because I found Don adorable - maybe because we just met? I don't know..."

I just started and am up to Ch. 6, completely agree with your comparison to Sheldon, love it!

The questionnaire just kept me smiling throughout :D

[Alex]

I've now read through chapter 12 and I'm really enjoying it. I'm finding it a mainly light hearted read but every so often there's a paragraph or just a phrase that punches me in the heart.

(view spoiler)[For example, I was enjoying the story about the Flounder incident, and how Don used the fish as evidence for evolution. Then the Dean told him he needed to make more of an effort to fit in, and Don realised that if he didn't fit in in a university science department, he didn't fit in anywhere. I wanted to cry, I really did. (hide spoiler)]

[~T~]

I'm done with school for a month and have some time on my hands to catch up on pleasure reading. :D This one has been on my shelf for awhile. I'd love to join in!

[~T~]

I'm done with school for a month and have some time on my hands to catch up on pleasure reading. :D This one has been on my shelf for awhile. I'd love to join in!

[Rebecca NJ]

I started the book today and I've read through Chapter 3.

(view spoiler)[I like the way the book is being set up. I love how Don kept trying to meet up with Gene but his schedule never worked out.

I absolutely loved what Don did for Daphne. You always wonder if there is a real person out there that does these kind of things for others. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

Rebecca NJ wrote: "I started the book today and I've read through Chapter 3."

Awesome! I was afraid I was the only one just starting. I was waiting on a library copy.

[Vicki]

Starting this one tomorrow.

[Alex]

Stayed up late last night to finish this one!

(view spoiler)[I thought as soon as it was revealed that Rosie was sent to Don by Gene that Gene would turn out to be the father. I'm so pleased it was Phil though, the eye colour thing tickled me.

I loved both Don and Rosie as characters! I loved how much effort Don made for various things, he was such a sweetie and I was so glad that he managed to become more socially competent. And Rosie just accepted him for who he was.

I loved the cocktail scene, and the scene where he climbed out of the bathroom window on the fourth floor. And the ice cream testing! Plus the ending was just a delight.

It's really made me think of the amount of people in society who fall somewhere on the autistic spectrum and get dismissed by many people as 'odd' or a 'buffoon' like Gene said to Don. (hide spoiler)]

As a biology teacher with a degree in evolutionary psychology, the science in the book made me super happy.

[Stacey]

Cynthia wrote: "Rebecca NJ wrote: "I started the book today and I've read through Chapter 3."

Awesome! I was afraid I was the only one just starting. I was waiting on a library copy."

I'm just starting today as well. Glad to see I'm not the only one!

[Snowtulip]

I just finished through Ch. 8 (view spoiler)[I loved his date with Rosie. I was cracking up laughing with the restaurant bouncers and Don's aikido, especially when he bowed to the bouncer and shook their hands :D (hide spoiler)]

It's a book that is keeping me smiling!

[Snowtulip]

Rebecca NJ wrote: "I started the book today and I've read through Chapter 3.

"

Exactly, he's a nice guy without even realizing it :)

[Vicki]

Just starting chapter 7, Don mets Rosie in chapter 6. I can see her being a compliment to his social ineptness.

[Rebecca]

It really struck me how Don (view spoiler)[ always talks about how he doesn't experience emotions and isn't good at detecting them in other people, but he proves himself wrong many times. He knew how much the flowers and birthdays meant to Daphne so he kept doing it for her. His brain may "wired" differently, but he is so sweet and compassionate which I think are important emotions! (hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

RebeccaS wrote: "It really struck me how Don [spoilers removed]"

I'm sure Don had been told over and over that (view spoiler)[ he didn't feel things like empathy or love by 'helpful' psychologists or social workers. I think many people, including some that should know better, confuse an inability to handle strong emotions or an inability to appropriately display them or recognize them in others, with the inability to feel them.

After 30 years of marriage, I can't tell if my husband's angry, tired, sick, quietly think, etc. All of that looks exactly the same to me and he has to say 'I am mad about blah blah.' And then he thinks I don't care because my happy/sad/mad/confused/hurt/bored faces all look alike if I'm not making an effort. (Which I should be able to have some time to relax in my home and not be 'on' all the time).
(hide spoiler)]

[Snowtulip]

Audrey Jane wrote: "Just finished the book. .."

I also really liked the first half because I was getting to know Don and really wanted to know his thought. I just finished and really enjoyed it...it kept me away from other reads because I was so invested in Don. Rosie did piss me off a few times ( feeling protective of Don :))

[K~Terror]

I've just started this one and happy to have something totally different than the dark books I've been reading lately.

Don seems like an interesting fella so far - he's so logical and notices/analysis so much that a lot of people just take for granted. Love hearing him!

[K~Terror]

Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[ I laughed so hard at the restaurant scene and how different the definition of "jacket" was to Don versus the restaurant - and that Rosie was so "go with it" and just smoothed out the whole evening nicely despite it's bumpy start.
~~ Especially when Rosie reset the clock at Dons house to save him from recalculating the cook times for the dinner he was making! (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 10

(view spoiler)[ Hilarious Don describes people by their age & BMI! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[I can only imagine how it looks for Don trying to sneak in some "alone" time with her baby!! This chapter made me laugh so much!
(hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[ BEST BARTENDER EVER!!! LOL!!
(hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

I love how Don tackles everything as if it's a mission, and he must succeed or there will be dire consequences.

[Vicki]

Finished "The Rosie Project" and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait for Graeme Simsion's next book.

[Rebecca NJ]

I'm just starting Chapter 9.

(view spoiler)[The whole jacket scene shows how literal he is and really shows how his brain functions. It seems very similar to a child negotiating wearing a jacket. Even if it's a light rain jacket in the middle of winter, it's still a jacket.

I love how Rosie is taking everything in stride, including changing the clock to Rosie time to accommodate Don and keep him on his "schedule".

And it may seems that Gene doesn't have an open marriage if his wife thought he was having lobster salad with Don. (hide spoiler)]

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

I just met Rosie.

I'm bothered that Gene is (view spoiler)[ sleeping around. Even though his reasons may be for 'scientific exploration' for me it still doesn't justify what he's doing. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

Cynthia wrote: "I love how Don tackles everything as if it's a mission, and he must succeed or there will be dire consequences."

I do too!! (view spoiler)[ I'd be concerned all that pressure could build in him at some point in life but I guess he is able to handle the pressure better than most because of his ability to not let so much "noise" get into the mix. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

@Rebecca - Those were the things that stood out to me most also. (view spoiler)[ although Rosie had an interesting approach to setting the clock to a different time, part of me wondered if that would bother Don to have his clock set incorrectly? It was good it all worked out ok and that he appreciated her cleverness! (hide spoiler)]

@Kathleen - I know! (view spoiler)[ Ugh! He's not my favorite person in this book... (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca NJ]

@Kathleen (and Kristin) - I agree completely! (view spoiler)[Luckily he had only had a small presence so far but it could almost ruin the book. I wonder what more we'll learn about Gene. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

@Vicki: Here's the 2nd book.

@Rebecca: Good to know he gets little 'screen time'. He sounds like a good friend but I just don't like his personality.

@Kristin: I stopped at Chapter 6 for now but I can already say that he's not my fave character too!

[Stacey]

I have just finished reading the jacket episode. It's interesting to me to see how completely differently he sees the world. The whole logical way he described his friendship with Daphne, when really it was a lovely and thoughtful thing to do for a lonely woman. It's an interesting viewpoint.

[Cynthia]

My thoughts on Gene: (view spoiler)[

I think Gene is Don's counterpoint. Here's this guy, this guy with the advantage of normal brain wiring, which should allow him to have all the feelings that Don's been told he can't have - and he's the most insensitive guy in the book.

Don is about unselfish love, and how it can take us farther than we believed possible. And about unselfish love being a choice.

Gene is about selfishness, and how destructive and delusional it can make you. Selfishness tells you that your words are so powerful that your actions don't matter.

Gene is necessary. The book wouldn't resonate like it does without him. (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

@Cynthia - I just finished the book! (view spoiler)[ I love your thoughts in Phil and how he was such an integral character to the book, despite his un-likability OR, rather because of it. I hadn't really thought of it in those terms and how it further illuminated Don's awesomeness, but it is so true. (hide spoiler)]

This book was a much needed breath of fresh air and I thoroughly devoured and soaked it up after the "dark" books I'd just read. (view spoiler)[Especially loved Dons honesty and how he assumed others were as well. I also thought it was wonderful how he could be so unbiased in his introspection. Don really did come a long way in this book - learning how to be true to himself, yet make some tweaks here & there to better blend with social expectations. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I agree with many of you about the "jacket" scene. It was a really funny scene but also perfect encases Don's personality and Rosie's. He takes things serious, but not without a sense of humor. Rosie can be a little uptight, but also fun and can make awkward situations better.

[Snowtulip]

Stacey wrote: "I have just finished reading the jacket episode. It's interesting to me to see how completely differently he sees the world. The whole logical way he described his friendship with Daphne, when re..."

This was one of my favorite scenes in the entire book. This book has made me reconsider how I communicate...I have to remember not everyone is on my brainwave (exhibited by my husband frequently ;))

[K~Terror]

Snowtulip wrote: "Stacey wrote: "I have just finished reading the jacket episode. It's interesting to me to see how completely differently he sees the world. The whole logical way he described his friendship with ..."

Same here! My hubby takes things much more literally and it's caused some pretty funny conversations at times - both of getting on the same plan about half way through to discussion!

[Rebecca NJ]

Kathleen wrote: "I can't help but liken Don to Sheldon from TV's Big Bang Theory..."

I am really getting this comparison right now. I can see Sheldon (view spoiler)[learning bartending to help Rosie out, learning ballroom dancing because he won't admit he doesn't know how to. (hide spoiler)]

Cynthia wrote: "I love how Don tackles everything as if it's a mission, and he must succeed or there will be dire consequences." My first thought was that Don reminds me of Sheldon, too.

I was thinking that this morning. (view spoiler)[In fact, I am surprised there wasn't a Ballroom Dancing Project. I love how he even refers to the scene at the restaurant the first time he met Rosie as the Jacket Incident. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[I am loving the strange dynamics between Rosie and Don and I loved how Rosie knew how he had learned ballroom dancing and immediate helped Don redeem himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca NJ]

Cynthia wrote: "My thoughts on Gene:..."

(view spoiler)[I never thought about the unselfish love/selfish love and that's a good way to compare it. I think I might "accept" it a little more if maybe Claudia wasn't his wife and there weren't kid involved. For some reason, that just bothers me. (hide spoiler)]

[Alex]

Rebecca NJ wrote: "Through Chapter 18"

That was one of my favourite moments too. (view spoiler)[There were times I didn't quite get Rosie but when she took him onto the dancefloor and got the band to play at the right speed for Don to dance I started shipping them like crazy. Amazing. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca NJ]

Through Chapter 27

(view spoiler)[I love their trip to New York. I wished it didn't end the way it did. I am still waiting for the conclusion of the "father project."

I love that Claudia gave him jeans and a shirt knowing that this is what he would need. I thought it was touching that Don's first item of business was a gift for Claudia. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

I just read this book, in one sitting. I started it at 10pm, finished it approximately 1am. I have to be up in a few hours to go to work.

Why have I never thought to read this book, or really heard of it before?? this is probably undoubtedly one of my favorite books this year so far. I just love him.

question though..
sorry if it's been touched on, I haven't read any of the previous messages yet, I just wanted to get on and start talking
(view spoiler)[I can't remember if they touched on it or not, it seems like Claudia had asked at one point "remind you of anyone??" and he touched on different diagnosis like schizo and bipolar and stuff, but the whole aspergers thing..did they ever determined if that was indeed what he has?? it seemed obvious to me, but I don't recall any passage in the book about it, and the determination that he might have it. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Rebecca NJ wrote: (view spoiler)[Through Chapter 27

I love their trip to New York. I wished it didn't end the way it did. I am still waiting for the conclusion of the "father project."

I love that Claudia gave him jeans and a..." (hide spoiler)]

I loved it too!

(view spoiler)[I loved how Rosie was able to plan these awesome days for him, and he ended up having so much fun, it warmed my heart (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca NJ]

I just finished! This was a great book and I'm glad i finally can mark it as read.

(view spoiler)[I love that Claudia was helping Don learn more about how to connect with people. She was always dropping hints, and even recommending that he watch As Good As It Gets for lessons on what not to do.

Throughout the whole book I realized I had more and more dislike for Gene when really I should have really focused on how much I liked Claudia.

The ending was perfect and I was shocked to find out who the father was. I do like that it was told at the very end. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca NJ]

@Kim (view spoiler)[other than Claudia and even Rosie explaining some of the social disconnects, I don't think the Aspergers never was "diagnosed." (hide spoiler)]

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Kim wrote: "I just read this book, in one sitting. I started it at 10pm, finished it approximately 1am. I have to be up in a few hours to go to work.

Why have I never thought to read this book, or really he..."
I wondered at that too and thought maybe it was mentioned and I didn't notice. So I went back and did a fast read but there were no mention of Don being diagnosed with it. Nevertheless I loved the book!

[Stacey]

I finished this afternoon, and don't hate me, but I didn't really like it much. I found parts of it amusing, but I had trouble figuring out what was really happening. I realize that was probably on purpose as Don didn't really know what was happening either, but I found it distracting. Also, (view spoiler)[ I found it strange that he proposed at the end? They hadn't really spent that much time together, so that seemed speedy for a guy who had avoided relationships most of his life. (hide spoiler)]

I did like how the Father Project worked out. And it seemed to me that Don had kind of worked out the possibility of having Asperger's towards the end as well.

[Christine]

I finished the book today. I really enjoyed it - it was a fun, light hearted read for me. As other people have said, I immediately pictured Sheldon from Big Bang Theory as I read Don's thoughts.

The part I enjoyed most in this book was the humor. The story itself was interesting, but (view spoiler)[ I felt like some of Rosie's actions were a bit immature for a 29 year old graduate student. The conclusion of the book seemed a bit rushed to me. Also, I had guessed about halfway through the book who Rosie's biological father would turn out to be, so I was hoping there would be a bit more story around that big "reveal" because the fact itself was a bit anticlimactic for me. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, this was a fun book. I'm glad I finally read it.