The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion

Don Tillman in his own words is "thirty-nine years old, tall, fit, and intelligent, with a relatively high status and above-average income." Unfortunately, even with all of these qualifications, he has never had a second date.  Relationships in general do not come easy to him and this is typified by the "Apricot Ice Cream Disaster" where his date walks out on him when his back is turned.  This does not stop Don, however, who has decided he would like a life-partner.

So the "Wife Project" is born.

How does an extremely logical, process oriented academic go about determining the identity of this new life partner?  With a twenty-six page questionnaire, of course. So, when his best friend, Gene, sends a woman to his office, he assumes that she has passed the questionnaire and asks her to dinner. He wonders if it was a joke when he finds out about her habitual lateness, vegetarianism, disorganization, and smoking habit.

She is totally unsuitable to the Wife Project and Don feels it is a good thing they won't see each other again. However, she had an interesting project of her own that would dovetail into his own genetics research.  Maybe he should contact her again, just as friends of course...

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So, I found that this book slips through the boundaries of genre classification.  Is it a cerebral romance? humorous mainstream? a look at social issues?  The answer, is all that and more.

All of us have felt out of place at one time or another, this gives us a starting point to empathize with Don, who has always been out of sync with "social norms".  I enjoyed reading this book from Don's point of view and seeing how he dealt with life.  Overall, I found the book to be a fun, enjoyable read.

Cheers,
Amy

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