The Next Best Book Club discussion

Happy discussion everyone! Let's welcome Roger, who will be leading the conversation around the book, since he was the one who nominated it!!!

I loved this book! It was fun and not at all what I expected.

I enjoyed it too. A little bit of Big Bang Theory and As Good as It Gets...awkward but endearing.

It reminded me of The Silver Linings Playbook as well. The voice of the narrators were similar and just so likable.

The most impressive thing about this book is the way the author created the voice of a man with Asperger's. I loved that

I really enjoyed it and read it in just about one sitting. I kept on thinking of Sheldon and the Big Bang Theory too! I've just discovered this series on reruns and am gobbling them up, just as I did this book!

OK, so here's the thing - I don't usually read romance novels. It's not like I'm prejudiced against them, or something, but I’ve never really enjoyed them all that much, thinking them boring and repetitive.

I did vote for The Rosie Project to be our group read, because I just happened to have the book in my to-read pile (which is a lot like the Eiffel Tower, both in shape and size by now) and I needed a good reason to finally dig in for something lower in the structure, not just the first one from the top, as I usually do.

I must say, I was not disappointed. It was a quick and funny read.

I agree wholeheartedly with the “voice” comments before me. I have a feeling that Don wouldn't have been quite as likeable and easy to identify with, if he were described from the outside. I don’t think I would have kept on reading, if the book wasn’t narrated by the main hero. It's just very hard to understand characters who are so different from you, when you don't have this intimate insight into their thoughts. I think that the author did a tremendous job here.

I’m really happy I read The Rosie Project. Seems like even the genres you don't usually go for, can still have something in store for you, if you give them a chance.

Gwen, I'm not a big "romance" reader either, but I didn't really see this as one. Yes, there is a romance, but I think the focus is more on Don internally than the actual relationship. The relationship was just a tool to show us his growth. THAT's the sort of "romance" I can handle. :)

I enjoyed this book. I found Don's reasoning about having 7 different dinners planned each week rather interesting, but I'm not that disciplined!

I enjoyed this book as well! Like Gwen, I don't normally read romantic comedies. It took a couple of tries for me to get going with this novel and I initially thought I wouldn't like it. However, I found the story engaging and it moved along at a quick pace.

Lorraine wrote: "I enjoyed this book. I found Don's reasoning about having 7 different dinners planned each week rather interesting, but I'm not that disciplined!"

Lorraine, I see that you nominated this book. The group rules for nominating a book here state that if your book wins, you lead the discussion for the month.

I couldn't message you because you have that option blocked.

Would you please take on the task of leading the group through specific points within the book?

That's a great remark, Kandice :)

I just started reading the Rosie Project and I would very much like to participate in this discussion but I read at a 3rd grade level and need some time so please allow me to start my participation by:

1) Reprimanding the people who finished the book before June even started. Bad people. Bad! Now roll up some newspaper and whack yourself on the nose; and

2) Apologizing in advance for comments way behind the discussion and possibly repeating anything super witty someone else has already posted. I swear I thought the same thing. Honest.

Sure, Lori, I can lead the discussion.

I've worked as secretary to a group of physicists, some of whom were similar to our lead character Don. Their work was their great passion and they could discuss science morning, noon and night. But none had Asperger's. Don was a lonely character but didn't know it.

As I commented above I liked Don's reasoning about having 7 different meals planned out for dinner each week as it was efficient to shop for and made meal prep a snap.

Some of the funniest parts were when Don mentioned things like his best friend wanting to sleep with women from all different countries in the world, and Rosie's comments on his clothes. The scene in the restaurant about Don needing to wear a jacket was fun, as Don tried to reason with the staff member that his gore-tex jacket was superior in every way to a sports jacket.


I've read several books set in Australia recently, but still find it a little disorienting to read things like "it was a warm January day".

What comments do other readers want to make?

i realized that I bought this back in january and never read it - lol, but this is the second group i've seen it talked about in the last couple of days - hoping to start it tonight

I just started last night and the first thing I thought of was - this is Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory! I'm loving it so far.

Really enjoyed The Rosie Project! As a single person who has attempted dating through various dating websites, I could relate to Don on many, ahem, frustrating levels. I think dating websites force you you to either make a list or respond to a list when seeking out a potential candidate for dating. Of course realistically, as Don discovered, it is not always so black and white, some areas are grey and are negotiable when it comes to love. Some are not, I agree. But hey, sometimes you have to meet a candidate in person, right, Don?
Also, I think that although Don seemed intolerable at times due to to his inflexibility, he was still able to laugh at himself (and forgive himself), which seemed to be key. He still came across as a genuinely kind individual which made him attractive. He could have been inflexible AND a jerk. Don was probably an easy target for bullying when he was a kid, which is a shame. Will Don and Rosie make for a beautiful, fulfilling marriage long term? I am not sure? Anyone else?

I suspect they will make a great couple. Like you mentioned, Don is able to laugh at himself, and although he thinks certain things leave no room for compromise or change, he seems to be able to see reason when it's thrust in his face.(like accepting and loving Rosie despite her supposed unsuitability).

They are both loyal and intrinsically kind. I think they will be careful enough with each other and their feelings that arguments or disagreements can be bridged.

They are also opposite enough (duh!) to keep things interesting and fun which seems to be a huge part of any successful relationship. They may value very different things in everyday life, but their values themselves are in line.

Lorraine wrote: I've read several books set in Australia recently, but still find it a little disorienting to read things like "it was a warm January day".

Me too! I think this is the second or third book I've read this year that's set in Australia. I, too, find it disconcerting when I read something where the seasons are flipped!

Interestingly enough, I just met a few Australians last week. While I didn't ask if they'd read the book, it crossed my mind!

I'm only about a third of the way through, but I think I've found the quote of the book:

"It was obvious that Rosie was confused by emotions, and I respected her attempt to overcome them."

Me too.

With respect to the book overall, so far so good. It's fantastic seeing things through Don's eyes.

At the time I read Rosie...I was also reading Look Me In the Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robison. He is the brother of Burroughs who wrote Running With Scissors It was a surprisingly good companion piece. While his Asperger's was the focus of the book...he shares many of the same thought processes as Don. He also makes very similar moves to be better at socialization and making friends and his take is quite funny. I recommend to anyone thats enjoying The Rosie Project.

One of my favorite things about TRP is that we, the readers, are never told that Don has Aspergers. It's obvious, but is that because we all went into the novel somehow knowing that? Either by reviews, recommendations, etc? Or because that aspect of Don's personality is so perfectly written?

I originally read this because it was a "Deal of the Day" for Nook on Barnes & Nobel's website. I hadn't read any reviews or heard anything about it. Only after I started reading and added it to my updates did I begin to see anything about it.

Yes, I thought that too - it's never confirmed that Don actually has Asperger's, but he gave a lecture about it.

Hi - I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found the fact the we saw the world through Don's eye very interesting and insightful.
Not on subject but like others I find that it is also the third book set in Australia that I have read recently.
Great book choice. I look forward to the next decision making process.

I'm only a little ways into this book, but already I know it's going to be a good one.

M wrote: "Hi - I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found the fact the we saw the world through Don's eye very interesting and insightful.
Not on subject but like others I find that it is also the third book se..."

It's the 2nd book set in Australia for me recently. The other one was "The Light Between Oceans" that was not at all like TRP.

I recently read "The Light Between Oceans" too, it was really good.

Just started reading this book last night. I'm really enjoying it! The first person narration suits the story very well and lends us great insight into his thinking process. I love his quirky sense of humour - some of his comments are hilarious! Now back to my reading....

I'd like to mention that I seem to be coming across a lot of books with this narration style. Silver Linings Playbook, The Good Luck of Right Now and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to name a few.

I really enjoy it.

I started this book a few days. I'm pleasantly surprised by it and am really liking it. I love Don. I often find myself laughing out loud at Don's comments and his actions and his responses to events. I can relate to some of them as sometimes dating situations and life never go quite as planned. I think the book written in anything but first person would not work.

I finished the book. One of the best I've read this year.

As I read more of the book, I'm interested in what you think about Gene. Good guy? Bad guy? Is he just using Don to put one more pin in his worldly conquests? Does he have redeeming qualities?

I liked Gene. I felt like he just was who he was. His wife was aware, he was aware, I thought he genuinely cared for Don which may have been just a bit out of character for him, but sometimes that just happens.

That's not to say I would have wanted to be Gene's France or whatever!

I liked Gene more at the beginning of the book and less and less as it went by. It seemed his wife wasn't aware of his conquests at first, but later he said they had an open marriage. But he did try to give Don some advice and introduced him to Rosie.

I finally finished the book and I'm in agreement with everyone else here. It was outstanding! Full of insight, wit, and laugh out loud moments.

One of my favorite insights is that we apparently can have open marriages as long as we don't embarrass our wives. Thanks France!!!

I'm gonna post a regular (roughly 500 word) review as well, so check it out if you like.

With respect to the recent Gene conversation, he was a loveable sleezeball at first, then a suspect sleezeball, then a contentious yet enlightening sleezeball before finally becoming a reformed sleezeball/dedicated husband. So mainly good guy, I think.

I loved this book and devoured it in less than 24 hours. Don's journey to realising his capability to love was humorous, and well analysed to say the least. I think while it was not mentioned he had Aspergers, there were a few clues like when Don and Claudia were questioning whether his lecture on Aspergers reminded him of anyone. I think Don even linked some of his traits to the Autism Spectrum.

On the question of Gene, I don't think he was necessarily a bad guy. I liked him in the book, and groaned at the many times Don matter-of-fact statements reminded Gene's wife of their open relationship. I think Gene just needed a wake up call, which he got, that his lifestyle may not be appropriate anymore. And I don't think Gene used Don, just saw an opportunity to use his information from the Wife Project to add more pins to his map. He genuinely tried to help Don I think, albeit a little misguided due to his own issues.

What I also enjoyed was reading it from Don's perspective, but being obviously aware of other people's responses and what they meant even though Don was completely oblivious. I would have loved for him to revisit some of his social faux pas like when he told Rosie he didn't notice whether she was attractive, but that probably would have been out of character and I was pushing for them to realise they needed to be together too early in the book.

Great recommendation! It's the first book I've read for the group read being a new member of this group. Thanks

I read TRP solely based on the recommendation of this group, and I am glad I did. Romantic comedies are not my thing, but this book was a great read. Who knows, maybe I can change like Don did. Great book. Thanks for the recommendation.

I started this late and don't think I'll finish before the discussion ends tomorrow. I'm really enjoying it. Sweet, crisp and funny at the same time. I'm fascinated by first-person presentations of Asperger's in literature. This one is very well done.

loved it and I know nothing about the author but am curious on how he got his insights into high-functioning aspergers? I suppose I could google it..