The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion, is one of those books ALL my book blogging peoples loved, which meant I had to read it. Such is how the game is played. Plus it was like 2 bucks for Kindle, so I took quick advantage of that stunning deal.
If you magically are unaware of this book, it's about a professor of genetics who proooobably has Asperger's and he decides he wants a wife, so he comes up with a methodical survey to pick an appropriate candidate. But then an off the wall women comes into his life who totally upsets his carefully ordered world! Looks like someone's about to find out that life...isn't as organized as its DNA. (alternates: if you want to wade into the human gene pool, you're gonna get splashed/that a double helix view of romance is a DNdon't)
See, that's how I went into it. Being like "Ugh it's gonna be one of those sorts of things. Oh look, a slightly calmer version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is going to come into his life and upset everything and make him appreciate Living."
BUT NO IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD AND YOU SHOULD READ IT.
I'm not sure when I started caring about Don, the main character, but it was definitely after the first 30 or so pages. When it started I was still suspicious and very "Yes, yes, he has a social disorder, good job portraying that." I eyed each new woman with more suspicion as she might be the MPDG. But then after several false starts, Actual Rosie showed up, and damnit, I really liked her.
There's also the mystery in the book of Who Rosie's Father Is, which is why she and Don are spending time together. They have to gather DNA from all possible father candidates (and oh, there are many), and it is a JOLLY TIME. I was almost upset with myself for liking it, but the book is that enjoyable.
The possibly-less-touched-on thing it does is make it clear how Asperger's can be a positive. We see it as a problem that needs to be treated, but Simsion makes clear that it can help you be extremely good at things average people find difficult. I was almost embarrassed at how sincerely "LOOK AT HOW EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AND HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS" I got while reading it, which, y'know, what an excellent point to make in your book.
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| Thanks to Emily for starting us all on this bookish journey |
If you magically are unaware of this book, it's about a professor of genetics who proooobably has Asperger's and he decides he wants a wife, so he comes up with a methodical survey to pick an appropriate candidate. But then an off the wall women comes into his life who totally upsets his carefully ordered world! Looks like someone's about to find out that life...isn't as organized as its DNA. (alternates: if you want to wade into the human gene pool, you're gonna get splashed/that a double helix view of romance is a DNdon't)
See, that's how I went into it. Being like "Ugh it's gonna be one of those sorts of things. Oh look, a slightly calmer version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is going to come into his life and upset everything and make him appreciate Living."
BUT NO IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD AND YOU SHOULD READ IT.
I'm not sure when I started caring about Don, the main character, but it was definitely after the first 30 or so pages. When it started I was still suspicious and very "Yes, yes, he has a social disorder, good job portraying that." I eyed each new woman with more suspicion as she might be the MPDG. But then after several false starts, Actual Rosie showed up, and damnit, I really liked her.
“How old are you?” said Rosie, aggressively. She didn’t wait for the answer. “You’re like an old man— I always have my breakfast before I shower, don’t sit in my chair, that’s where I sit . . . Do not fuck with me, Don Tillman.” She said the last words quite slowly. I decided it was best not to fuck with her.
There's also the mystery in the book of Who Rosie's Father Is, which is why she and Don are spending time together. They have to gather DNA from all possible father candidates (and oh, there are many), and it is a JOLLY TIME. I was almost upset with myself for liking it, but the book is that enjoyable.
The possibly-less-touched-on thing it does is make it clear how Asperger's can be a positive. We see it as a problem that needs to be treated, but Simsion makes clear that it can help you be extremely good at things average people find difficult. I was almost embarrassed at how sincerely "LOOK AT HOW EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AND HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS" I got while reading it, which, y'know, what an excellent point to make in your book.
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