The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion

Finished another on the list of RA Favorite Books, this one by an Australian author. Graeme Simsion's book The Rosie Project is a comedy, as are most of the Australian books I have read.  The story involves a Professor, Don Tillman, a neurotically organized and structured man, who gets involved in two studies. One study is to find the most compatible woman for him to get married to (using a questionnaire he has validated to be statistically sound), and the second project is to assist a PhD student at the University, Rosie, to find her biological father.  Rosie’s mother told her that the man she grew up with as her father was not her biological father right before she passed away.  Years later she approaches Don to assist her in finding her father based on a graduating class photo from a final party as a class…and one of the males at that party is her biological father! While these two stories intertwine, Don’s closest friend, another Professor at the University, attempts to have Rosie and Don date. Don is unable to change himself and Rosie is unable to accept Don for his neurotic self!  The two end up gathering DNA from all of the male party attendees with a shocking twist as they identify her biological father.  It is a witty story with some 'adult humor’ and well worth your time.  I hear there is a sequel as well.