by Graeme Simsion (libraries have as print book under Simsion; I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Dan O’Grady, borrowed through InterLibrary Loan)
This novel brings the trilogy of books focused
on Don Tillman to a satisfying conclusion. In The Rosie Project,
Australian geneticist Don Tillman (think Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory)
takes a scientific approach to finding the perfect woman for him…except the
woman who seems to the the right one doesn’t really match his checklist for
optimum “mate” material. In The Rosie Effect,
Don and Rosie are married, have relocated to New York City, and face a series
of life-changing events as they approach parenthood.
In The Rosie Result,
over ten years have passed. Don and Rosie, having moved from Australia to New
York City in the previous volume, uproot their family and return to the land
down under. Don finds himself between jobs and decides to focus his scientific
and creative energies on bonding with their 11-year-old son, Hudson, who is
facing some educational and interpersonal challenges. Both Don and Hudson are
approaching their likely (but not technically diagnosed) places on the Autism
spectrum in completely different ways, and Don’s highly-analytical method of
studying everything in his life leads to some very funny, but also very
touching observations on life.
I found this final volume in the trilogy to be
bittersweet but enjoyable, though the ending felt a bit rushed. Hudson is a
terrific character, as are the oddballs and misfits he surrounds himself with.
Temporarily prevented from working in an academic setting, Don launches a
specially-themed cocktail bar called “The Library”, and I’ll have to admit — I
want to visit!
I’m sorry to see this series end, but if it
had to end, I’m glad that Simsion finally addressed the Autism plotlines that
have lingered throughout the earlier volumes. And audiobook narrator Dan
O’Grady does another stellar job on this one!
(Obviously, you’ll want to have read or
listened to The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect before
reading or listening to this book. Although this third volume can stand on its
own, the character relationships between Don and most of the other adult
characters will make much more sense if read in the context of this being a
third in a series.)
( Wikipedia page for The Rosie Result )
| ( official Graeme Simsion Twitter
feed )
Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service
Have you read or listened to
this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?
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