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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Don has a place in my heart like Sheldon Cooper. Very real story, people are people we all need a support system. Great read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think maybe I should have just stopped after [b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg|22084678]. While Graeme Simsion's first book was laugh-out-loud funny, whimsical, and heart-warming, his sequel to the Don-Rosie saga is frustrating, darker, and not nearly as humorous. The best way I can describe the book is that it's like watching a car accident in slow motion: You can tell something bad is coming, and you hope--by some miracle--that it can be avoided. I did NOT feel good after finishing this book.
Now, there are rubber-neckers out there who enjoy watching/reading about awkward situations because they find the foibles of others entertaining or good eye-candy. These are likely the same people who slow-down traffic by gawking at car accidents (I know, I know, I'm purely speculating here). Those people may love this book! Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
In The Rosie Project, I chuckled at protagonist Don Tillman's well-meant social ineptitude. We, as readers, were privy to Don's good-intentions as he time and time again misread social cues and mired himself in sticky or misunderstood interactions, all while he maintained face through his scientific objectivity. He was charming. We laughed with--more than at--him. I don't know if the same is true in book 2, The Rosie Effect, in which the driving force is not a sweetly misguided wife questionnaire, but the impending arrival of a new human being (read: the stakes are much higher, even though the book doesn't treat them as such). Mostly, I was so frustrated about the lack of communication between Don and Rosie, and how they both selfishly kept important, life-changing information from one another that. Rosie becomes insufferable in this book (.). Moreover, Don's secrecy about his insecurities and legal issues were incredibly uncomfortable to read (. Halfway through the book, I was no longer rooting for their marriage to succeed. If you had told me this after reading book 1, I would not have believed you. THAT'S how uncomfortable this plot made me, and how much the characters changed--not for the better.
Simsion tries to save the story with some nice wrap-ups toward the end, but, for me, it was too little too late.
I will still recommend [b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg|22084678] to anyone who likes humorous realistic fiction. I LOVED that book. I just wish I had stopped after that wonderful debut.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster!!
Now, there are rubber-neckers out there who enjoy watching/reading about awkward situations because they find the foibles of others entertaining or good eye-candy. These are likely the same people who slow-down traffic by gawking at car accidents (I know, I know, I'm purely speculating here). Those people may love this book! Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
In The Rosie Project, I chuckled at protagonist Don Tillman's well-meant social ineptitude. We, as readers, were privy to Don's good-intentions as he time and time again misread social cues and mired himself in sticky or misunderstood interactions, all while he maintained face through his scientific objectivity. He was charming. We laughed with--more than at--him. I don't know if the same is true in book 2, The Rosie Effect, in which the driving force is not a sweetly misguided wife questionnaire, but the impending arrival of a new human being (read: the stakes are much higher, even though the book doesn't treat them as such). Mostly, I was so frustrated about the lack of communication between Don and Rosie, and how they both selfishly kept important, life-changing information from one another that
Spoiler
almost resulted in the end of their marriageSpoiler
Getting pregnant without telling Don that she was intentionally trying to? getting annoyed with Don when he didn't jump for joy at the news? Refusing to plan for that child's care after birth? If Simsion really sees smart women this way, I am concerned. Her character became grating-to-borderline-insultingSpoiler
I'm sorry, I don't find casual jokes about pedophilia even remotely amusingSimsion tries to save the story with some nice wrap-ups toward the end, but, for me, it was too little too late.
I will still recommend [b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg|22084678] to anyone who likes humorous realistic fiction. I LOVED that book. I just wish I had stopped after that wonderful debut.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster!!
Liked this more than The Rosie Project. There are moments of heartbreak, but more moments where I laughed out loud, including the last line of the book.
Actually did not finish coz was so disappointing and plot-less. The first book was magical, this felt halfhearted.
Definitely not a stand-alone work but it was nice to spend more time with Don. The story wasn't really interesting enough to warrant a book, but Don's character can redeem that. Rosie was portrayed as rather unsympathetic this time.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes