09/30/2005 10:48 AM
Posted by VeggieSteph

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

A friend recommended The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to me awhile ago, and picked it up in a browsing session at the mall bookstore, mostly because I couldn’t find anything to get with my gift certificate. I was wrong to be so doubtful; it is nothing like Forrest Gump, and not full of sugar-sweetness. The story of Christopher Boone, autistic teenager, was a very enjoyable read, if a short and quick one.

Christopher Boone is out on one of nightly rambling walks when he stumbles upon his neighbor’s dead dog. He is mistaken for the killer, and in an effort to emulate his favorite detective stories, he begins an investigation to discover the truth about the dog’s death. The book is his book that he decides to write while investigating, and it is filled with random insights and great detail. His journey goes into territory you don’t expect, and the finale is truly beautiful.


Mark Haddon worked with autistic children in the past, and it shows in this story. He tells Christopher’s story from only his perspective, and in doing so, he pulls you deep into the inner workings of an autistic child’s mind. Christopher sees so many things in absolutes, and many of his thoughts are so plainspoken you laugh and hurt at the truth of it. Curious Incident is a simple, quirky story on one level, with Christopher going around detecting in such a matter-of-fact way. But as the story continues, it grows in such a way that it surprises you with its seriousness and its depth. Christopher learns so much about himself in his search for the true murderer. He is a character that truly grows.

It has been awhile since I read something so fresh and bittersweet, with such poignant truth so openly spoken. Christopher is a very memorable character. This book stayed with me, and I definitely recommend it as a worthwhile read for anyone.