Reading in the Garden

Annette's Book Ratings of 2016 Below are the book reviews I have posted in 2016. Most books are fiction, unless otherwise noted.   As always it’s extremely difficult to narrow down a favorite book. I really enjoyed most of them, but there a couple that truly stood out for me. Click on the titles to read the reviews. The Rosie Project  by Graeme Simsion   This quirky book about a man in pursuit of love tops the list this year and gets my  “favorite book of the year award.”    A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Touching. Right up there with The Rosie Project as a favorite .   $64 Tomato  by William Alexander    Funny memoir! A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle    One of my favorite memoirs. Address Unknown by Kressmann Taylor Short but mighty non-fiction. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie   Classic Agatha. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne ...

Rah, Rah for Rosie! Professor Don Tillman has a special skill set.  He has the persnickety precision of Phileas Fogg from Around the World in Eighty Days —minus the charm.  He has the analytical, mathematical, calculating mind of Mark Watney from The Martian — minus natural ease and ability to adapt.  He also has a brilliant intellect combined with the social deficiencies of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory . He's a tightly wound, abundantly smart, and socially inept man who he decides it’s time to find a wife.   So this highly scholarly and structured associate professor begins a quest:   The Wife Project.   He believes the best way to find a life partner is by creating a scientific survey to weed out all but the perfect candidates. He wants to collect “data to support life’s most critical decision.   Compromise would be totally inappropriate.” [1] Suddenly a wrench is thrown into the mission when he meets Rosie.   She’s obvio...