THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT by Mark Haddon
Posted on | March 29, 2006 |
A wonderfully constructed story that it forces you to become attached to the strange habits and foibles of the lead character, Christopher, who is autistic. Without being pedantic or obtuse, the narrator’s voice is exacting and transparent, bringing you into a world where the color of cars passing on the street decide the mood for the day: red cars, good mood. Black cars = bad mood; and where the mysterious death of a dog leads to an unraveling of family complexities. It is a book about love and loss, and it made me contemplate again how people make sacrifices for the ones they love, and how misunderstandings almost invariably arise when words are not enough. Hadden’s experience working with autistic youths gives his character’s voice validation, and he writes with a lithe humor and sensitivity, even when exploring issues of depression, anger and self doubt. A quick, easy read, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT pulls you from one chapter to the next with wry observations about human nature, wit, and well constructed sentences.
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10 Responses to “THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT by Mark Haddon”
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March 29th, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
I really enjoyed this book too! Familiar subjects from a very different perspective - gives you a lot to think about.
March 29th, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
Hi Christina!
If you liked the Curious Incident, I would also recommend Extremely Loud and Extremely Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Not the same premise…but a story told from the perspective of a delightful young boy. A bit more substantive than the Haddon book but an equally great book to read.
Happy Wed.
March 29th, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
i am so going to check into this
thanks for recommending
March 29th, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
i appreciate the recommendation. i’m always looking for a good read.
March 29th, 2006 @ 3:44 pm
It’s been over a year since I read this book, but since that time I have recommended it to everybody I know from young to old. I think that’s part of its magic, that it just seems like a book everyone would enjoy no matter who they are. I’ve been wanting to read it again, but since I’ve recommended it so many times, I’ve had to follow up with loaning it out and alas, I have no copy in my home to enjoy. I feel a trip to Barnes & Nobel coming on.
March 29th, 2006 @ 4:37 pm
I liked it immensely when I read it
March 30th, 2006 @ 12:19 am
I loved this book too! I did a review of it on my site a while back too. If you click on my name it will take you to my review if you are interested.
I agree that it highlights “how misunderstandings almost invariably arise when words are not enough.” Especially given his literal interpretation of words. Very interesting read.
March 30th, 2006 @ 4:16 am
Oh I loved this one too. I have a friend who has a son with Asperger’s, and I think Hadden does an amazing job of capturing that. I loved the meeting of palms that stood in for a hug and how the father always restrained himself for Christopher’s sake - I can’t imagine not being able to hug and snuggle my child, but I can imagine the love it would take to *not* to. My book group is reading it later this year and I’m looking forward to reading it again.
March 30th, 2006 @ 1:32 pm
I started reading this during grad school and for some reason didn’t finish, but I loved it!
March 30th, 2006 @ 6:15 pm
My bookclub read this awhile back about the time I had to drop out of it. I had forgotten about it, but now I’ll have to go pick it up. That is, after I read the other two books in the waiting pool!