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The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (view source)
Revision as of 07:29, 4 September 2020
, 07:29, 4 September 2020no edit summary
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Following inadvertent success with the Wife Project, Professor Don Tillman and his new bride Rosie have moved from Australia to New York. Although Don's position on the autistic scale is subjective, he still operates on a daily basis of structured procedures, lists and logic. Rosie can generally handle that but there are choppy waters ahead. With the patter of tiny feet , imminent logic goes out the window as she struggles with her PhD while Don struggles to find his place in the baby production process. At least he has his drinking buddies to support him – an ageing rock drummer and a friend whose wife has thrown him out for infidelity. What could possibly go wrong?
Aussie author and screenwriter [[:Category:Graeme Simsion|Graeme Simsion]] totally wowed me with [[The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion|The Rosie Project]] which I still rate as the best rom-com novel of all time. I was therefore really excited to pick up this, the sequel. Is it ''as'' great? No, but that just means that it's good (and still very funny) rather than brilliant.
For those who like a bit of meaning, there's a theme beneath the comic topic: parenthood at each stage, be it burgeoning, the teen era and (via Don's parents), interacting with a child that ceased to be one a long time ago. Subtle and sometimes poignant, once again Graeme emerges as an eagle-eyed observer of the human condition.
So, I hear you asking (and I ask myself) why isn’t it as good as last time? Don is still wonderful in an almost human -alien way. Rosie's response to his style of love is understandable as she battles with her PhD and morning sickness causing us to be fickle and to side with her just as ardently as we do with Don. Yet our familiarity with Don takes away some of the originality so that in some cases we can guess Don's reaction to something before he reacts, making us smile when we would have laughed.
The jeopardy segment is a little predictable, having been flagged quite a bit before it occurs, leaving us with another will they/won't they situation with echoes of ''The Rosie Project'. However , after that comes a brilliant farce that would gladden the heart of Faydeau himself.
Please don’t let me put you off - this is well worth a read. Although there are moments when I wished it would move a little faster, it will brighten many a dark day. It may also dissuade you from ever going to a children's playground again but the story's well worth such a risk.
(Thank you, Michael Joseph , for providing us with a copy for review.)
Further Reading: If you haven't read it already, please, please read [[The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion|The Rosie Project]]. We promise you won't regret it. If you've already a fan, try some more excellent romantic comedy in the form of [[Men I've Loved Before by Adele Parks]]. You might also enjoy [[In The Rooms by Tom Shone]].
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