The Rosie Project defies categorization. Is it romance, humor, educational? It is very unusual. I've discussed it with a couple of people and the consensus seems to be that it is hilarious. I agreed in some respects, but I also agree with my friend that feels the story is sad.
Don Tillman is a college professor with a personality much like Sheldon Cooper's from the TV show Big Bang Theory. Although the author never states that Don suffers from Asperger's, he interestingly starts the novel with Don filling in as a last minute presenter on Asperger's for a group of 5th graders and their parents, with amusing results. At age 39 Don has decided that it is time to find a life partner, so he embarks on the Wife Project, a scientific questionnaire designed to weed out unsuitable partners and help him to meet the perfect mate. As anyone who has ever read a romance knows, though, science has nothing to do with the connection between two hearts. When Don meets Rosie, he realizes that she is completely unsuitable, but something clicks between the two of them. The hilarious aspect of the book is Don's literal interpretation of life, like assuming that a high quality bicycling jacket should be perfectly acceptable to wear in a restaurant where jackets are required. Anyone dealing with a loved one on the autism spectrum will see the layers below Don's thought processes and have mixed feelings about how funny he really is. Overall, though, Simsion deals with Don and his issues insightfully and entertainingly. I would wholeheartedly recommend The Rosie Project. Wonderful!
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