I have been trying to decide which book I like better: The Rosie Project (TRP) or The Rosie Effect (TRE). I love them both. I think TRP is probably funnier throughout, but TRE certainly has laugh-out-loud parts too. What I like about TRE is that it delves into the more serious side of living with Aspergers - or living with someone with Aspergers.
I really love Don! He tries so hard at everything he does, especially socializing with friends (his men's group) and being a good husband to Rosie. Don wants his marriage to work so much that he even resorts to lying (or hiding the truth in some cases) despite his innate sense to speak honestly at all cost. In fact, being so incredibly honest got him in plenty of trouble (being arrested as a pedophile; the airplane terrorism fiasco). These were funny episodes, but it made me sad that no matter how hard Don tried, Rosie kept slipping away from him.
I was frustrated with Rosie. I totally get how difficult it would be to be married to someone like Don. He really didn't feel anything for their baby. How sad for both of them. BUT, instead of talking it out with Don - and being really specific about her expectations of him regarding the pregnancy - Rosie just gave up on him. She sprung the pregnancy on him - and then got upset when he could react the way she wanted him to. It just wasn't fair to Don. Even when Don tried to correct his mistake of missing the sonogram, she just kept pushing him away. I am happy that she finally took some responsibility for her part in their disintegrating marriage.
Just like in TRP, Gene drove me crazy! I really found his remarks about women distasteful! And how insecure do you have to be to lie in order to make yourself seem worse?? I just don't get it. Don really wanted Gene and Claudia to get back together, but their relationship was so dysfunctional that I had no problem with them both moving on from each other. I found myself warming up to him a bit by the end of the book of course, because he was influential in navigating Don & Rosie back to each other.
Dave also drove me a little crazy by his lack of interest in his and Sonia's baby. I thought it was so great of Don to sort out Dave's business! What an awesome friend! And I did like Don's unique men's group: a professor of genetics, a psychiatrist, a refrigerator expert and an aging rock star. How eclectic!
My favorite "Don quote" from the book: "I had been granted an unexpected bonus that was destined to be temporary because of who I was. Paradoxically, happiness had tested me. But I had concluded that being myself, with all my intrinsic flaws, was more important than having the thing I wanted most." I love this!! So, in conclusion, TRP was definitely charming and funny, but TRE was all that plus more. I cannot wait to catch up with Don, Rosie and Hudson in the next chapter of the Tillman chronicles. :)
Wendy's Rating: *****
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