The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The most significant experience for me while reading the book was realising that I skipped a dozen or so chapters after reading a dozen or so more. I went back to read those missed chapters and realised that whether I noticed it or not made no difference. At that point my aim in reading the book was to finish it so I could start reading the next book.

The Curious Incident... should be filed under Novelty Books. By making the reader feel benevolent for liking a character like Christopher Haddon makes us feel better about ourselves, thus making what is likely a recipe for a best seller (and indeed it is a best seller). However, once the novelty wore off I was left with what I think is a dull book that doesn't really want to challenge its readers, but rather wants to assert our feeling of well-being. Sorry Christopher, but I can't help sympathising with your father more than I can sympathise with you.


the Unbearable Strangeness of Being   June 8, 2003
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

My sister bought me this book for my birthday and I read the whole lot in one sitting. I have an 8 year old son with Asperger Syndrome and when he was first diagnosed I read everything I could find about it in an effort to understand what made him tick. Without doubt this book brings to life what is inside the head of someone with Aspergers far more clearly than anything I have read so far. Mark Haddon writes with compassion and kindness and never fails to hit the right note. He must know someone with AS very well to have such an understanding.

However this novel is also great literature. It echoes a lot of really good novels I have read recently by having as its basis a scientific thread which is used to expound on philosophical themes in a new way. AS is a very effective device for taking a fresh look at society and how illogical it can be.

I have read bits of the book out to my son and they make him laugh out loud. He loved the bit about why AS people cannot understand similes and metaphors as he had only that week been battling with them at school.

I found this book really moving and encouraging. I've bought copies for loads of people including my son's head teacher.


Unexpected, but a top read   June 8, 2003
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I only picked this book up because of the title that related to Sherlock Holmes. But a quick browse made it seem interesting. And it was. It tells of an autistic teenager who discovers a dog killed by a garden fork, and his attempts to solve the crime. But it goes further than that - tracing his way through life for the next few weeks. A fascinating read, and recommended.


an original, diiferent, interesting MASTERPIECE!   June 4, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is completely different to any book i have ever read. It's compelling, totally readable and something different from your average book. None of my friends at school had read it, i think the strange title put them off - but they've really missed out. The depth, detail and originality make this book a MUST for all booklovers out there. BUY!BUY!BUY!


sensational   June 4, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Simply astonishingly good. I laughed, I cried, I read between the lines, but most importantly of all I believed. My younger brother has Asperger's, and much of the narration was desperately familiar. By the end of the book I was half-convinced that I have it myself. Tremendous.