(this book has so many wonderful covers that I wanted to share them all with you! Images via the publisher)
The Rosie Project
Don is a genius – a genetics researcher who is beyond intelligent and just as socially awkward. He reminded me on nearly every page of Sheldon Cooper
Favorite Quotes:
“… I enjoyed a rare moment of not feeling like the least socially competent person in the room.” – p. 30
“I consider my own decision making in these areas to be more rational than that of most people, but I also make errors of the same kind… Responding to complex issues that we cannot perceive directly requires the application of reasoning, which is less powerful than instinct.” – p. 98
“Feel! Feel, feel, feel! Feelings were disrupting my sense of well-being.” – p. 134
“[people say] that I should be more ‘in touch’ with my emotions. What they really mean is that I should give into them. I am perfectly happy to detect, recognize, and analyze emotions. This is a useful skill and I would like to be better at it. Occasionally an emotion can be enjoyed… but we need to be vigilant that emotions do not cripple us.” – p. 134
“This was worse! She wanted me to love her. And I was incapable.” – p. 270
What make this a good story? The story rolled along at the perfect pace: it was light and funny with plenty of conflict and memorable characters. We feel for Don as he discovers new things about life, rooting for him as he gets closer to falling in love. It really is just a delightful read.
What could have made it a better story? It opens a bit abruptly, introducing character without a lot of back story to them, tossing names into the text. If the author had taken a little bit more time situating the characters in the text, I would have been happier. But that’s a rather minor request on my part. :)
Would I recommend this? Yes – If you like a love story with a lot of laughter and don’t mind some swearing/mention of sex in the text.
I read this book for the first meeting of a new book club, and it was the perfect pick to get everyone talking about some really fun topics.
Have you read The Rosie Project
P.S. There’s a sequel
by Alice Walker – This wasn’t what I was expecting, but it turned out to be a redeeming tale of sisterhood and about loving the people that you love. Full review coming next week.
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – This book didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Read 
by Laura Hillenbrand –
by Greg McKeown – it was a great reminder that less is more. Full review coming in a couple weeks. 
by Emily Freeman – This book wrecked me, in a good way. I’m still sifting through it and probably won’t write a full review, but I highly recommend this one if you at all struggle with feeling that you are defined by what you do, and not by who you are.
by Graeme Simsion (For a book club that should meet for the first time in March.)
by Anne Lamott (This one needs no explanation – I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet)
by Lysa TerKeurst is a book that I could have used last year. I was overwhelmed, trying to do too much, and at the end of the day my heart felt empty in a way that I couldn’t describe. Rushing from activity to event to meeting with no time in between any of them left me feeling hollow. I never got the chance to reflect on a good moment because I was too busy rushing out the door to the next. I was never able to look forward to anything with anticipation, because I was still reeling from the to-do list of the last project to which I had committed my “yes”. In short, I had no margin.