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Search - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Author: |
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Book Information
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Other Versions of this Book: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Five CD Set)
Book Description:
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
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Top Member Book Reviews
Marcia K. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really enjoyed this book, but it was very different. It is about an autistic boy and learning how he thinks. I know it sounds boring, but it is definitely not!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is the story of an autistic boy who is a genious in math, but cannot grasp many human emotions. The story begins with the mysterious death of a neighborhood dog which sends Christopher into an investigation. The whole novel is written from Christopher's point of view and begins as his attempt to write a murder mystery. Of course, there are some mysteries that you figure out right away, but the point is to see the world through Christopher's eyes, which is frustrating, but fascinating. Seeing his inability to touch or communicate love to his family is the most heart-wrenching part of the book.
Curious Incident is a very quick read, but there are still some of Christopher's tangents that you will find yourself skimming through. Those can be annoying, but the book is definitely worth it to get in the head of this boy. I think this story is a must-read for anyone who is interested in autism, or anyone who would like to read something from a unique narrator.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I am a former teacher and now volunteer in my church as librarian. This is one of my favorite books. I first heard it as an audio book and the narrator was excellent. Now I read the book and the book has diagrams and mathematical formulas that the audio book does not, and they enhance the text. The voice of the main character, Christopher, through whom the story is told, is so very convincing and unique, primarily because the author worked with autistic children so he knows their problems and ways of addressing the chaos they see in the world. This book helps the reader enter the world of autism, and understand how the world appears to an autistic person -- loud, stressful, chaotic, terrifying, confusing, and just plain weird. This is a good book for teachers, parents, friends, and peers of autistic people. I will read this book again and again because it is so unique and unusual -- a door to the world of someone else. It's a keeper.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
read it in one night
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I LOVED this book about an autistic boy and his view of the world. Written by Mark Haddon who worked with autistic children, the books is authentic and captivating.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I think this novel is the absolute best example of "voice" that I've ever read. The autistic character is portrayed with such love and empathy. Just a wonderful book. Funny, interesting, and lovely.
Julie L. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really enjoyed it and thought it was an excellent book. At times I was really moved by it and got teary-eyed. Such a unique perspective of a broken family, life's challenges and coping and dealing with them. A short read, but very well done and original.
Brad A. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
An excellent quasi-mystery novel. It really allows you to get into the head of an autistic boy and understand how they view the world.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved this book. Loved the protagonist and the respect the writer shows for him.
Joanna (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
i read this book a few years ago and i really enjoyed it. if special ed. and/or mental disorders are of particular interest to you, you'll appreciate this book.
Please Rate these Book Reviews
Lyn H. (Fabulous book narrated by an autistic savant. A literal look at out world which really pokes fun at our language expressions and the human condition.
THIS ONE IS EVEN BETTER IN AUDIO.
Linda M. (Interesting book. Gives you a look into the world of an autistic teenager.
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