The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion - June 22, 2020

Our June meeting before our summer break was held again via Zoom.  Hopefully by September we will be meeting again in person! Present were, Beth, Betty, Colette, Linda, Janet, Michèle and Shirley. We discussed Beth's book choice The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion.  This is the third of a series that we have read of the Rosie books.  Mr. Simsion began his adult life as a data modeler and went on to be an author, screenwriter and playwright.  Along with the Rosie trilogy, he has published books on data modelling, a novel with his wife called Two Steps Forward and The Best of Adam Sharp. He lives in Australia with his wife Ann Buist and two children.  

The Rosie Result, continues the life story of Don Tillman, a University professor.  Don and his wife Rosie and son Hudson have moved back to Australia after spending some time in the U.S.A. The book deals with the life education of Hudson who is having difficulty readjusting to life in Australia and school.  Don, who is having a few problems of his own at the University, decides to take a leave of absence from teaching to help Hudson.  To ensure financial security, he decides also to open a cocktail bar.  Throughout the story as Hudson's challenges are described and as the Don's attitude and "solutions" come out there are hints that Hudson may be on the autistic spectrum and/or have Asperger syndrome.  Rosie and Don struggle to decide if they should let the school test Hudson, not wanting him to be labelled.  

As his other Rosie books the characters are well developed and there is interesting rapport between the characters.  It was suggested however that there was not as much humour as his other books and that the relationship between Don and Hudson could be frustrating at times. It was interesting to read how Hudson, realizing what his parents were trying to do, takes over the "Hudson Project" and understands what is required of him in society if he is to have a "normal" life.  

Though Don's circle of friends he had acquired in the first two books that helped him cope with life were present in this book, some of us felt they were not as interesting in this book.  Several of us felt that this was not as interesting a novel as the first two. However, the reality of autism and Asperger's in the school system was well described and the frustration of parents with the educational system well explained through the situations as they arose with Hudson.  

All in all, it followed this family well and concluded the "project" but most of us felt it was not as good as the first two books of this trilogy.