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Graeme Simsion

Graeme Simsion Books

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“I had begun to realise how much I'd adapted to Keith's needs and preferences. Just small stuff: what time we went to bed, which side I slept on, not cooking cauliflower. Allowances and adaptions anyone in a long-term relationship has to make, accumulating over time. But I wasn't in a relationship anymore. I wanted to know what of myself needed to be reclaimed.”

MarriageRelationshipCompromiseAdaptationPreferencesLong Term Relationships
Book:Two Steps Forward
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“I've sequenced the questions for maximum speed of elimination,’ I explained. ‘I believe I can eliminate most women in less than forty seconds. Then you can choose the topic of discussion for the remaining time.’ ‘But then it won’t matter,’ said Frances. ‘I’ll have been eliminated.’ ‘Only as a potential partner. We may still be able to have an interesting discussion.’ ‘But I’ll have been eliminated.’ I nodded. ‘Do you smoke?’ ‘Occasionally,’ she said. I put the questionnaire away. ‘Excellent.’ I was pleased that my question sequencing was working so well. We could have wasted time talking about ice-cream flavours and make-up only to find that she smoked. Needless to say, smoking was not negotiable. ‘No more questions. What would you like to discuss?”

RomanceDatingGraeme SimsionSpeed DatingDon TillmanThe Rosie Project
Book:The Rosie Project
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“Gene had once told me a religious joke when I questioned the morality of his behavior. Jesus addresses the angry mob who are stoning a prostitute: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." A stone flies through the air and hits the woman. Jesus turns around and says, "Sometimes you really piss me off, Mother." I could no longer be equated with the Virgin Mary. I had been corrupted. I was like everyone else. My stone-casting credibility had been significantly compromised.”

JesusBehaviorMoralsEhtics
Book:The Rosie Project
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“Why do we focus on certain things at the expense of others? We will risk our lives to save a person from drowning, yet not make a donation that could save dozens of children from starvation. We install solar panels when their impact on CO2 emissions is minimal - and indeed may have a net negative effect if manufacturing and installation are taken into account - rather than contributing to more efficient infrastructure projects. 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. We are genetically programmed to react to stimuli in our immediate vicinity. Responding to complex issues that we can not perceive directly requires the application of reasoning, which is less powerful than instinct.”

ReasonInstinctDecision Making
Book:The Rosie Project
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“I had no idea what they sang. I guessed it was all in Latin, but some words could have been French. I didn't need to understand the words to have them touch me. I don't know whether it was the acoustics, the song, the beauty of the singing or the conviction behind it, but there was grandeur and hope in every note. The frescos flickered in candlelight and stained-glass men looked down upon me benevolently as the monks' singing brought pieces of me apart. Maybe this was why I had come, why I was meant to be here. I saw tears running down Fabiana's cheeks. Brother Rocher asked in French and English for those wishing to be blessed to come forward. I sat and watched the three Brazilians and half a dozen others move forward in turn. There was a final chant and everyone filed out. Except me. Centuries of singing, service to others and dedication to something bigger than twenty-first-century materialism had created a peace that permeated the walls. Whatever issues I had with religion were not relevant here. The stillness and austerity gave me a strange sense of comfort, and I seemed to be moving toward some sort of clarity.”

FaithPeaceComfortSingingCatholicismCaminoMonksMonastery
Book:Two Steps Forward
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“You’re saying your mother engaged in unprotected sex outside her primary relationship?’ ‘With some other student,’ replied Rosie. ‘While she was dating my’ – at this point Rosie raised her hands and made a downwards movement, twice, with the index and middle fingers of both hands – ‘father. My real dad’s a doctor. I just don’t know which one. Really, really pisses me off.’ I was fascinated by the hand movements and silent for a while as I tried to work them out. Were they a sign of distress at not knowing who her father was? If so, it was not one I was familiar with. And why had she chosen to punctuate her speech at that point … of course! Punctuation! ‘Quotation marks,’ I said aloud as the idea hit me. ‘What?’ ‘You made quotation marks around “father” to draw attention to the fact that the word should not be interpreted in the usual way. Very clever.’ ‘Well, there you go,’ she said. ‘And there I was thinking you were reflecting on my minor problem with my whole fucking life. And might have something intelligent to say.’ I corrected her. ‘It’s not a minor problem at all!’ I pointed my finger in the air to indicate an exclamation mark. ‘You should insist on being informed.’ I stabbed the same finger to indicate a full stop. This was quite fun.”

RosieDonSocial Ineptitude
Book:The Rosie Project
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“I asked you here tonight because when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

WantLoveRomanticLove StoryCuteEngagedTonightRealisingWeddingRomantic LoveCeremonyRest Of Your LifeGreat LoveGreatest LoveTime LoveTrue Love IsMovie LoveMost RomanticTime And LoveWedding CeremonyLove FilmsRomantic Love YouWedding VowWedding ToastWedding SpeechWedding LoveRomantic I Love YouRomantic Movie LoveBridalAmazing LoveRomantic WeddingGreat WeddingRomance MovieAll Time Best MovieBeautiful RomanticShort RomanticWedding Invitation LoveCheesy LoveMarriage And Love InspirationalRomantic LinesShort Romantic LoveRomantic LifeMovies And LoveRomantic MarriageMarriage SpeechWeddings From MoviesLove VowsDeclarations Of LoveWanted To Be LovedPossible LoveLove LineRomantic FilmMarriage CeremonyRomantic CoupleMost LovableShort Wedding
Book:The Rosie Project: A Novel
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“I watched as Humphrey Bogart’s character used beans as a metaphor for the relative unimportance in the wider world of his relationship with Ingrid Bergman’s character, and chose logic and decency ahead of his selfish emotional desires. The quandary and resulting decision made for an engrossing film. But this was not what people cried about. They were in love and could not be together. I repeated this statement to myself, trying to force an emotional reaction. I couldn’t. I didn’t care. I had enough problems of my own.”

PeopleWorldTryingMadeEnoughCharacterProblemCareTogetherFilmUsedDesireForceMy OwnDecisionEmotionalLogicMetaphorSelfishReactionsStatementsRelativeCriedDecencyBeansHad EnoughDecisions MadeBergmanBogartEmotional Reactions
Author:Graeme Simsion
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“Gene told me the next day that I got it wrong. But he was not in a taxi, after an evening of total sensory overload, with the most beautiful woman in the world. I believed I did well. I detected the trick question. I wanted Rosie to like me, and I remembered her passionate statement about men treating women as objects. She was testing to see if I saw her as an object or as a person. Obviously the correct answer was the latter. ‘I haven’t really noticed,’ I told the most beautiful woman in the world.”

IfsMenWorldWellsPersonsWantedBeautifulNextAnswersSawsHavensObjectsPassionateTricksStatementsLike MeEveningRememberedLatterGenesNext DayTestingBeautiful WomenTaxiSensoryOverloadRosieMost Beautiful Woman In The World
Author:Graeme Simsion
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“I haven’t changed my mind. That’s the point! I want to spend my life with you even though it’s totally irrational. And you have short earlobes. Socially and genetically there’s no reason for me to be attracted to you. The only logical conclusion is that I must be in love with you.”

WantLoveMindReasonHonestLove YouHavensChangedConclusionNo ReasonLogicalIrrationalI Love YouBeing In LoveComplicated RelationshipI Haven't Changed
Book:The Rosie Project: A Novel
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“Professor Tillman. Most of us here are not scientists, so you may need to be a little less technical.’ This sort of thing is incredibly annoying. People can tell you the supposed characteristics of a Gemini or a Taurus and will spend five days watching a cricket match, but cannot find the interest or the time to learn the basics of what they, as humans, are made up of.”

PeopleNeedsHumansMayLittlesMadeInterestFiveScientistCharacteristicsProfessorsAnnoyingCricketBasicsAnnoying PeopleTaurusCricket Match
Book:The Rosie Project: A Novel
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“If Rosie’s mother had known that eye colour was not a reliable indicator of paternity, and organised a DNA test to confirm her suspicions, there would have been no Father Project, no Great Cocktail Night, no New York Adventure, no Reform Don Project—and no Rosie Project. Had it not been for this unscheduled series of events, her daughter and I would not have fallen in love. And I would still be eating lobster every Tuesday night. Incredible.”

IfsHas BeensStillsEyeMotherNightFatherKnownEventsNew YorkAdventureProjectsEatingDaughterTestsSeriesIncrediblesReformFallenColourSuspicionDnaCocktailsTuesdayIndicatorsOrganisedLobsterRosieTuesday Night
Author:Graeme Simsion
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