Graeme Simsion's debut novel, The Rosie Project, has proven to be a very successful breakout for him from his earlier career in information technology. (The author earned a PhD in 2006 with his thesis on data-modelling for information systems.) Simsion clearly understands the potential for technical minds to discount the value of human emotion, and he fashions just such a main character in Don, a geneticist with Asperger's syndrome. Don is so socially remote and self-unaware that he doesn't even recognize his own symptoms. Enter Rosie, the personification of human emotions, then add a wacky genetics projects, thwarted attempts at romance, and you have an enjoyable book!
Below are two book reviews to consider, if you wish, before our book group discussion:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/05/rosie-project-graeme-simsion-review
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/books/review/graeme-simsions-rosie-project.html?_r=0
