THE ROSIE EFFECT by Graeme Simsion is a sequel to his quirky first novel:– The Rosie Project which imbued with warmth sold over one million copies and was published in thirty eight languages.

In the ROSIE PROJECT the protagonist Don Tillman writes himself a questionnaire to find the perfect partner. Rosie is not the type he would have chosen and Don, who is inflexible in his routines, has to throw his schedules out the proverbial window.

Now married, in the ROSIE EFFECT the couple move to an apartment in New York which smells like a brewery and is owned by his friend George, the drummer. Don is the Professor of Genetics at Columbia University while Rosie is working on her thesis. Both Rosie and Don take part-time jobs as bartenders and they are busy getting into the spirit of things until their lives, like the cocktails they serve, are shaken and stirred. For Rosie drops a bombshell on Don that she is pregnant,  following what is known in the novel as “The orange juice problem”.

Don is a highly functioning individual despite his affliction of Aspergers Syndrome which is on the Autism scale. Even though he dresses oddly and is lacking in social skills, these personality traits endear him to the reader. Rosie is spontaneous and impulsive while Don is measured in his actions. He plans and calculates everything, especially meals and he doesn’t like surprises.

Don’s behaviour is often misinterpreted by people which is conveyed when he meets the politically correct yet prejudiced social worker, –Lydia. This is known as the “Blue fish tuna incident.”

Rosie is concerned about Don’s ability to be a father as he is emotionally disconnected to the developing baby. Through various projects that he undertakes he tries to be adroit at impending fatherhood. Yet his intellect fails  to convince Rosie of his expertise in this area.

Trouble follows Don right up to the point in the narrative when he announces, “I, Don Tillman, had woven a web of deceit.”

Don’s circle of friends include Gene, a self-confessed, serial philanderer who is married to Claudia, in addition to Dave and his expectant wife, – Sonia.

The hilarious novel revolves around mistaken identities; the themes being logic versus emotion, the nature versus nurture debate, the concept of self acceptance and reconciling the past. All components of the plot tie in neatly. There are plenty of twists and turns and, at times, utter chaos. It reaches a more than satisfactory conclusion.

I met the author recently and I asked him if there would be a third instalment. Simsion repled, “In seven years when there is a family in the book.”

THE ROSIE EFFECT is published by Text Publishing. R.R.P $29.99. Highly recommended.