Book Club Discussion for The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Hmmm so wasn’t particularly interested in this book but it made for easy reading. Thought it may have gone more in to the Neuro Science side of life but unfortunaltey it was all rounded up in a nice package at the end. Whilst it was an easy read while on holiday, I don’t want to go out and read the next 2 in the trilogy. Glad it ended as it did for him but all a bit too neat for me. 

I generally really enjoyed The Rosie Project. It was a light, easy read and genuinely funny in places. Don’s very logical and matter-of-fact way of looking at relationships and everyday life made for some great comedy, especially when things quite obviously didn’t go according to his carefully organised plans.

Don actually reminded me quite a lot of my son — although I should probably point out that my son isn’t quite operating at Don’s intellectual level! It was the way Don sees things so literally, relies on logic and routine, and sometimes completely misses what everyone else thinks is obvious that felt very familiar. I think that probably made me warm to his character even more.

What I liked most was seeing Don gradually become more open to uncertainty and emotion. He starts off believing that life, and especially relationships, can be managed through rules and careful planning. Rosie challenges that way of thinking, and although he doesn’t change overnight, he slowly becomes more aware of his own feelings and more willing to consider other people’s perspectives.

Rosie develops too. She isn’t just there to disrupt Don’s organised life; as we get to know her, it becomes clear that she has her own vulnerabilities and reasons for keeping people at a distance. Their relationship works because they challenge each other without completely trying to change one another. Rosie brings spontaneity and warmth into Don’s life, while Don offers her loyalty, honesty and a kind of steady support she may not be used to. They are very different, but they gradually learn how to understand each other.

I liked the contrast between Don and Rosie and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. It was funny without trying too hard, but there were also some more thoughtful moments underneath the humour.

There were a few predictable bits, but I didn’t really mind because I enjoyed the characters enough to just go along with it.

Overall, a funny, feel-good read that didn’t require too much brain power but still kept me interested. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.

7.5/10 – good fun, very relatable in places, and I’m definitely interested to see what Don gets up to next!

I did enjoy this story, a love story with a difference. It did make me smile in places, it was an easy read which I feel Book Club has needed, as quite a few of the other books we have read have been, for me, challenging and heavy going.

I would give this book 7/10 and swim. I will be recommending to a couple of friends.

I enjoyed this book. It was giving me big bang theory vibes and my brain made Don into Sheldon! Nice and easy read, funny in places. A complete contrast to the last few books!

I would definitely recommend for an easy read book

7/10 swim

I really enjoyed this, and agree with the other comments that it was a nice easy read (I read it in less than a week). My only criticism is that I would have expected Don to be aware that he has Asperger's, as this seems to be a surprise to him, although he acknowledges that he's "wired" differently.

Overall, though, it was a fun read, and it's prompted me to join my local library service (after 19 years of living in this town!), so I can borrow the audio book of The Rosie Effect, which I'm now listening too. It's much easier than trying to squeeze in another read, especially when I'm trying to get through my own backlog of books.

(I've also read Before the Coffee Gets Cold, which is one I put forward a while ago. I found it on the shelf of a holiday cottage we stayed in a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I'm glad it wasn't chosen!)

I really enjoyed this book! I found it easy to read like others have said, which has been a breath of fresh air. I found it funny, refreshing to read a book from the perspective of someone with Asperger's, and I was eager to read on and find out if Don could really do it and find a wife. Loved the characters in this book, although Gene was a bit slimy! I liked that it had a satisfying ending and the book ended in a neat bow, but it makes me curious what the next books could be about, and if I really want to find out.
It took me a while to realise it was set in Australia, not the US, so I had to change how the characters sounded half way in my head! 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would give it a swim and 8/10.

I really enjoyed this book choice.  It was a very quick read (devoured it in 2 days) and avoided the obvious chick-lit pitfalls.  It would have been a great by-the-pool read.

It reminded me of 'Eleanor Oliphant is Fine' - how the narrative in the book changed as Don adapted and became more flexible to disruption in his schedule.  Also 'The Colour of Milk' where the main character starts off illiterate and then the narrative adapts as she becomes more literate.

I loved Don and his planning.  He used his careful systems to moderate his life and keep control.  Rosie's arrival threw this into chaos and I enjoyed how he justified it in his own mind by re-writing his rules to fit.  

Rosie was a warm and caring character with her own flaws.  They seemed to bring out the best in each other.  

The book evolved in a satisfactory way and the questionnaire made me laugh out loud in places.  I loved the conclusion but don't feel the need to read the other books in the trilogy.

I'm not getting on with this book. I can't connect with the characters at all and although I'm sticking with it (for now) in the hope that it improves in the 2nd half, my current thoughts are it's a 2 and sink.

I enjoyed this book. I liked understanding how Don sees the world and how he connects with people who think in a similar, logical way to him. He knows exactly what he wants and has a very clear idea of how his life should work, but Rosie makes him realise that things don’t always have to fit into a plan. I really liked seeing how their relationship challenges the way he thinks and shows him that there can be different ways of looking at life.

I liked this book. I loved the voice of Don and thought that it really captured the character well. I could really imagine him, and I adored his little comments- like when Rosie asked if they should share a taxi and his response is 'that is the best for fossil fuels'. I liked the character of Rosie but thought that part of the story was quite predictable. 

I was not a massive fan of the ending, I thought it was a little bit fast and a bit too perfect. I thought that Rosie expected a lot from Don with nothing in exchange. Easy read but I wont be rushing to read the sequels.