Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Rosie Effect-Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Effect
Graeme Simsion
Simon & Schuster, Dec 30 2014, $25.99
ISBN: 9781476767314

Genetics Professor Don Tillman created the perfect compatibility questionnaire that insured an outcome of no partners since nobody of sound mind would complete his 16-page required document.  That is until he met Rosie who scored nada on Tillman’s torture test but married him anyway (see The Rosie Project).

While Don precisely to the half inch slices and dices vegies, Rosie informs her husband she is pregnant.  Pleased he didn’t cut off a half inch of finger, Don responds to her happy announcement by comparing her news to surviving a plane with engine trouble that requires an after-action investigation into what caused the perilous problem.  Stunned and hurt by her beloved’s reaction to her joyful pronouncement, their relationship turns from happily ever after to falling apart.  Unaware of what is happening to his relationship; Don focuses on reviewing the scientific literature re pregnancies and Rosie on leaving.

Though this droll sequel is an amusing look at married life through the mind of a Mr. Spock logical but socially inept autism spectrum genius; it lacks the overall fresh effect of its predecessor.  Tillman remains a unique protagonist with his intriguing outlook that rings true to me; especially with his similarity to someone I love with all my heart who also simultaneously drives me crazy.


Harriet Klausner

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