'The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs Shears' house. It looked as if it was running on its side, the way dogs run when they think they are chasing a cat in a dream. But the dog was not running or asleep. The dog was dead. There was a garden fork sticking out of the dog.' 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, 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. 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. Christopher is a brilliant creation, and Mark Haddon's depiction of his world is deeply moving, very funny and utterly convincing. The novel is being published simultaneously for adults by Jonathan Cape and for children by David Fickling, publisher of Philip Pullman. We are convinced that both audiences will recognise it as one of those very rare books that change the way you see everything.
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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." -- Arthur Golden
...a delightful and brilliant book, Mark Haddon shows great insight into the autistic mind, and brings his young narrator protagonist quite wonderfully to life. -- Oliver Sacks
‘Mark Haddon’s portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy.’ -- Ian McEwan
honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable." -- Arthur Golden
...a delightful and brilliant book, Mark Haddon shows great insight into the autistic mind, and brings his young narrator protagonist quite wonderfully to life. -- Oliver Sacks
‘Mark Haddon’s portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy.’ -- Ian McEwan
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
273 of 281 people found the following review helpful
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.
97 of 101 people found the following review helpful
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.
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.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 20 hours 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 days ago by GLR BURNE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking read...
My 11 year old was diagnosed with aspergers 3 days ago and this book was recommended to me. Found it quite hard to read as it was so close to home and the diagnosis was so recent... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Jackie B
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Curious Incident
Mark Haddon recently came out against the use of his novel by some schools or teachers as a tool for understanding children with Aspbergers Syndrome. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Dean Cowan
5.0 out of 5 stars
None
best book I ether read brillant see stuff thoght someone elses eyes
there is some swering
but
a defent recmendatine for me
there is some swering
but
a defent recmendatine for me
Published 9 days ago by teffy dennis
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