For October’s Dufferin Clark Book Club the book I read was The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Don Tillman, a genetics professor, sets up the Wife Project, trying a scientific way of finding the perfect partner by designing a questionnaire, which ends up not working as well as he though it would. During this time he meets Rosie, a barmaid, who wants to find her biological father, which Don terms the Father Project. To his surprise Don is not attracted to any of the candidates who look good on paper but is attracted to Rosie who he considers an unsuitable candidate. Don’s failed dates are funny to read about as is his slowly developing realization that he is falling in love with Rosie which he does not want to believe.  Their escapades in eliminating candidates for the Father Project are also humorous. At the end true love prevails. There is a sequel, The Rosie Effect, where Rosie becomes pregnant which I plan to read as well since I want to know what happens next.

If you like talking about books the next Dufferin Clark Book Chat will be on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:00pm at which The Three Weissmanns Of Westport by Cathleen Schine will be discussed. Books are provided by the library.

For last month’s Dufferin Clark Book Club I read Mrs. Queen Takes the Train. As the title suggests the story is about Queen Elizabeth Of England, who, feeling that she no longer has a relevant role in the modern world, takes an unexpected opportunity to slip away from her minders (disguised by a borrowed hoodie) and take a train trip to visit her beloved yacht Britannia which is moored in Scotland, a place that hold many happy memories. Her vanishing act leads to a chase by some royal attendants (a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty’s cheese) who want to bring her back before her disappearance causes a scandal. All ends happily and brings unexpected alliances, friendships, and even love between the various characters, including the Queen. It was an enjoyable light read and I would definitely recommend it.

The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

For Dufferin Clark’s Book Club last month this was the book selected and I really enjoyed it. It takes place in the city of Gabarone, Botswana, Africa where Precious Ramotswe opens up an agency and becomes the country’s first female detective. Her cases include a missing husband, a father who wants to know what boy his daughter is secretly meeting and a dentist who seems to have a split personality. This is a book in which the environment definitely plays a large part. I don’t know of any other book in which a crocodile is a murder suspect. There are many other interesting characters such as Precious’s secretary and assistant Grace Makutsi (who scored 97% on her exams at the Botswana Secretarial College) and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, who eventually becomes Precious’s husband. If you like this book there are many more in the series to read.

If you like discussing books, you might like to register for Dufferin Clark’s Book Club. Upcoming books are A Month of Italy by Chris Brady on July 9 and Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn on August 13. Books are provided by the library.