The Rosie Project

I know 2013 is not officially over yet, but I’m calling it: The Rosie Project is my pick for book of the year. It’s hard for me to explain how this story makes me feel. I can only compare it to that same emotion I get watching When Harry Met Sally, my favorite romantic comedy. They both have that overwhelmingly perfect blend of humorous banter and warm, fuzzy feelings that don’t make your brain want to melt out of your head.

The Rosie Project is about Don Tillman and his pursuit for the perfect wife. The best way to describe Tillman is to compare him to Sheldon Cooper. You know Sheldon Cooper. He’s that incredibly awkward, socially inept nerd from TV’s The Big Bang Theory. Well, Rosie’s Tillman almost gives him a run for his money. Tillman lives his life on a very precise schedule: planning his meals, exercise and even the time it takes to set up a lecture down to the exact minute. At the age of 39 he decides it’s time for him to settle down. But Tillman doesn’t do things like normal people. Instead of taking his chances with potentially disastrous blind dates, he creates a 16-page questionnaire designed to weed out any potential candidates. Tillman hopes that the “Wife Project” will lead him to his soul mate. Except it’s not that easy to find someone to fit all his criteria and instead of finding his perfect match he finds Rosie, his exact opposite. Yet he can’t seem to stay away from her and soon becomes entangled in her quest to find her biological father.

Unlike most books, I’m actually really excited to see this one made into a movie. Probably because Graeme Simsion first wrote The Rosie Project as a screenplay – and it truly does read like one. While I was reading it, I could almost picture this story, beautiful cinematic scene by beautiful cinematic scene. I can definitely see this being a Valentine’s Day classic. In fact, the promoters of the book must have felt the same way. One of the many gimmicks they used was recorded online and involves a man dressed in a lobster suit (you’ll understand the reference when you read the book) delivering The Rosie Project to loved ones instead of roses.  I’m telling you right now that given the choice I would absolutely prefer this gem of a book instead of a bouquet of flowers. And I REALLY like my flowers.

By Amy