The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more


or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
See all 3 customer images
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time [Paperback]

Mark Haddon (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (936 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £5.03 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £2.96 (37%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want delivery by Tuesday, 28 May? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £4.74   -- --
Library Binding £14.66   -- --
Paperback £5.03   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook, Unabridged £13.67   -- --
Unknown Binding --   -- --
Audio Download, Unabridged £13.04 or Free with Audible.co.uk 30-day free trial
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more.

Book Description

Release Date: 31 Mar 2004

Winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year

'Outstanding...a stunningly good read' Observer

'Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement... Wise and bleakly funny' Ian McEwan

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Join Amazon Family before 26 May 2013 and you'll be automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of 10 Motorola Blink Baby Monitors. Find out more.

  • Seasonal Offer:
    This title is part of our Seasonal Offers promotion.

Frequently Bought Together

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time + The Red House + A Spot of Bother
Price For All Three: £15.27

Buy the selected items together
  • The Red House by Mark Haddon Paperback £3.85
  • A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon Paperback £6.39

Product details

  • Paperback: 280 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (31 Mar 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099450259
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099450252
  • Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (936 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Mark Haddon Page
Mark Haddon
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Amazon Review

The title The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (or the curious incident of the dog in the night-time as it appears within the book) is an appropriate one for Mark Haddon's ingenious novel both because of its reference to that most obsessive and fact-obsessed of detectives, Sherlock Holmes, and because its lower-case letters indicate something important about its narrator.

Christopher is an intelligent youth who lives in the functional hinterland of autism--every day is an investigation for him because of all the aspects of human life that he does not quite get. When the dog next door is killed with a garden fork, Christopher becomes quietly persistent in his desire to find out what has happened and tugs away at the world around him until a lot of secrets unravel messily.

Haddon makes an intelligent stab at how it feels to, for example, not know how to read the faces of the people around you, to be perpetually spooked by certain colours and certain levels of noise, to hate being touched to the point of violent reaction. Life is difficult for the difficult and prickly Christopher in ways that he only partly understands; this avoids most of the obvious pitfalls of novels about disability because it demands that we respect--perhaps admire--him rather than pity him. --Roz Kaveney

Review

"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon's funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out"--Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

"A delightful and brilliant book. Very moving, very plausible and very funny"--Oliver Sacks

"Brilliantly empathetic. Believe the hype: a brilliant, heart-warming book"--Scotsman

"A remarkable book. An impressive achievement and a rewarding read"--Time Out
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
273 of 281 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly astonishing! 8 Mar 2004
By Nick Edwards
Format:Paperback
Many of the people who have reviewed this book have first hand experience of children with behavioural problems, or links to Aspergers and / or Autism. They have (almost entirely) commented on how this book reflects in some way their experiences or that of friends or relatives. They have almost all enjoyed the book, and having read these reviews you may feel that, if you have no such experience, the book may not appeal to you.

Well, I personally have no experience in these areas, and I can honestly say that this has gone straight into my all time top 5 reads!

The story is wonderfully crafted, and not a page goes by when you do not learn something new about Christopher, the central character who has, I understand, though it is not stated in the book, Aspergers Syndrome (the book is actually written entirely from Christophers perspective).

This is one of those rare books that makes you want to discuss (not just talk about) the story. My wife and I both read it over the same weekend, and we kept finding ourselves going back to it to talk through some of the difficulties that Christopher faced, and how it must be to have to deal with them, either as the child or as a parent. This story really gives an insight into a mind which, in some ways, is far more developed than the mind of an "ordinary" person. It also gives you a feel for what it must be like to need complete structure and order to a life which can never absolutely have both. The lack of what you and I would call "emotion" was in itself deeply moving, and several times I found myself asking how I would cope if one of my two children had the same difficulties.

This is a remarkable book. If only everyone could read it, society would become a much more understanding and accepting place for those who suffer from the effects of conditions such as Aspergers, ADHD and Autism.

7 Comments | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
97 of 101 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Incidently, the Most Wonderful Book I've Read! 5 Feb 2004
By Jenni Doherty
Format:Paperback
This is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. He is fifteen and has Asperger’s, a form of Autism. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth and owns a pet rat called Toby. He hates the colours yellow and brown and hates being touched. He knows it’s going to be a good day if he passes red cars on his way to school on the bus. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour’s dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey, which will turn his whole world upside down.
Haddon has created a wonderfully brilliant character. His depiction of Christopher’s world is deeply moving, very funny and utterly convincing. He shows a unique insight into the autistic mind of the unlikely teenage detective who stumbles on everyday normalities as obstacles which further leads him to unearthing secrets that shock and startle him into running away.
What drives Haddon’s tale, however, is his empathy for his protagonist: it might have been easy to make Christopher an amusing suburban hybrid of Forest Gump and Adrian Mole, but the author digs deeper, mining a deeper emotional truth with a rigorous sense of purpose, one expressly devoid of cheap homily. He also knows a damn good page-turner: the emotional beats here are resonant and well deserved, the key plot revelations affecting, and the payoff deeply satisfying.
Although a work of fiction, it is both an educational and vividly honest adaptation of the trails and hurdles that people like Christopher undergo on a daily basis and that most of us are unaware of. A lesson can surely be learned from reading this boy’s curiously different story.
Incidentally, if you are to read only one book in the next 12 months, let it be this one. It more than deserves the recent accolade of 'Top Dog' in both the Guardian and Whitbread Awards for best book. This gem is a must and is star quality in new fiction writing regardless of age and background.
1 Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, sensitive, and very, very funny. 30 Jan 2004
By Mrs Nel Eyre
Format:Paperback
I read this book, despite my reservations (due to the grisly cover), on recommendation from an Educational Psychologist I know. She wasn't wrong, I loved it! However, you don't need to be an Ed. Psych. or even interested in the subject to like this book.

It grips from page one and sucks you in, spitting you out, satisfied and not a little damp about the edges on the last page. The style is simple and mesmerizing, written from the main characters point of view.

This main character is a young man with Aspergers Syndrome. A milder form of Autism. He has difficulty understanding people, especially on a social level. All his interactions are learned responses, which leads to some interesting insights into behaviour! For example, he does not like to be touched (a fairly tyical characteristic of Aspergers)so when a policeman grabs him... he hits him... quite matter of factly, with the same "voice" as "Readers, I married him!"

The book is an odyssey, both literally and metaphorically. The boy takes a journey and learns to deal with the rest of his life. The reader begins the journey to understand, or at least acknowledge, that people are unique, but still universal in their needs for acceptance and love.

A unique story that will make you laugh aloud and weep by turns. Read this when you have time, because it is torture to put down before the end. Above all, enjoy it, it is one of a kind.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars AN ENLIGHTENING INSIGHT
I enjoyed this book, providing an insight into the mind and rationale of an autistic boy. My grandson has recently been diagnosed as high functioning autistic. Read more
Published 12 hours ago by MRS V STAGNELL
4.0 out of 5 stars A different outlook on life
I was interested in this book as its wriiten through the eyes of a young man who is autistic and through this one incident we get to learn about his often troubled relationship... Read more
Published 14 hours ago by Kayak
4.0 out of 5 stars Too clever for me
Although I enjoyed the book I have no head for figures and had to skip the math details; however it has increased my understanding of the problems of coping with autism
Published 2 days ago by Elizabeth Robotham
4.0 out of 5 stars Different!
Extremely compelling book, written from the perspective of a child who suffers with Asperger's Syndrome. Helped me understand Asperger's much more.
Published 3 days ago by E. A. Hawkins
4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
I would recommend this book to others and I would like to see more books like this . Great work Mark Haddon
Published 5 days ago by Jon Weatherall
5.0 out of 5 stars SYMPATHETIC VIEW OF CHILD WITH ASPERGERS
This is a book that was recommended to me a couple of years ago but I have only just gotten around to reading it. Read more
Published 6 days ago by MB
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
This is a fantastic book!!! However if you are looking for an easy-read book, I don't think this is for you. Read more
Published 6 days ago by wisa
5.0 out of 5 stars insightful
This book gives insight into the mind of how one person copes with ASD, it is a moving and thought provoking book - anyone who thinks that people with an Autistic disorder is... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars lovely read
such a lovely story about someone with autism, I was recommended this by college lecturer and it was a great insight into autism. Read more
Published 9 days ago by lynsey marie goss
5.0 out of 5 stars Never read anything like it before
An easy to read insight into how the autistic mind views things while at the same time is an amusing tale with unexpected twists.
Published 10 days ago by GLR BURNE
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      Autism/ASD/Aspergers 11 4 Nov 2012
      young adult reading list suggestions 0 19 Feb 2010
      › See all 2 discussions...  
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      fiction discussion forum
      Please keep self promo for the Meet Our Authors Forum!       		448 21 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Any good books involving buttoned-up characters set in aristocratic homes?       		11 28 minutes ago
      fiction discussion forum
      What are you reading now?       		8097 1 hour ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Great Authors who are ignored probably because they haven't been on a reality show       		83 1 hour ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      I'm being annoyed by my inability to remember a book I read 25 years ago!       		4 1 hour ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Book for a cool 13 year old boy that doesn't like spy, wizard or old fashioned books - Help       		30 2 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Help: Anyone know what this book (read in the 1970s) was called?       		7 2 hours ago
      fiction discussion forum
      Self-published books: pain or gain?       		6009 2 hours ago
      Search Customer Discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback


      Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges