Customer Reviews:
 Curiously over-hyped June 3, 2003
18 out of 41 found this review helpful
'Curious Incident' is one of those books which has received an enormous amount of publicity. Occassionally a book receives attention because word-of-mouth has let readers know that it truly is a book worth reading, but more often - as is the case with this book - the attention is down to how much marketing money is spent on the book. I bought it as a result of the hype, hoping to read something which threw light on a recently discussed condition - Aperger's Syndrome - and which might say something about the way humans interact with each other. I was, I confess, also hoping to be entertained. And I was: for the first three or four chapters. After that, the one-trick voice which this novel displays starts to wear thin. Christopher, the central narrator, is - as The Spectator said - more like a cardboard cut-out than a real character. I agree with The Spectator review too, in calling the book patronising and ill-informed. I understand that, in fact, Curious Incident is a children's book, which might explain some of the problem. For a children's book - for readers at the lower end of the market - it probably does enough engaging, and doesn't want to be too challenging. Still patronising and ill-informed though. For an adult book, though, it simply isn't enough. The cute voice is funny, but it isn't enough to keep this reader turning the pages. Maybe Mark Haddon's second or third book will really be worth reading.
 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time Review June 1, 2003
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old autistic boy who has a photographic memory and thus can remember important information, which is why he is due to take his maths A-level during the course of the book. After discovering his neighbour's dog, Wellington, dead in his garden he decides to investigate and find out who the murderer is, then in the process writing a detective murder mystery which leads him to venture out into the world of people with his rat Toby to help.
Simply stunning May 22, 2003
Beguiling and bewitching, the beauty of this book is the simplicity with which the narrator (an autistic teenager and maths genius) cuts through the absurdities of the adult world to tell his tale. It is an overwhelmingly imaginative book, which cuts from great humour to shocking sadness with frightening ease.Buy this book if you loved Patrick McCabe's "Butcher Boy". And if you haven't, order both books today! You'll never look at fiction in quite the same way again.
Flawless writing. You must read this! May 20, 2003
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
Simply fantastic. I've just read this book from cover to cover on a train journey from Glasgow to Watford, and loved every page. Dog In The Night-Time is by turns fascinating, hilarious, moving and uplifting. I'm trying to avoid saying too much about the storyline so as to not to spoil it for any potential readers out there, but in brief: The story tells of a young man with a form of autism who starts investigating the killing of a local dog after he is implicated in the crime. Without realising it he starts to open many cans of worms, and soon finds himself on the hardest journey of his life. The author really makes you care for his lead character. He's a charming, if difficult, child, and you want him to do well. The story is kept nicely within realistic levels, also, and at all times feels "true". A nice touch is the red cover on the hardback edition I bought, but you'll have to read the book to understand why. There are so many nice details here that make this a rich and exciting work, and one that I'll be forcing many of my chums to read.
 Well Done Mark May 13, 2003
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am only half way through it but already the world of Christopher Boone has unravelled itself to me. This has allowed me to explore the world of an autistic boy who has very distinct habits. I have adapted to his life style and while reading this story i have found myself in another state of mind. All i can say is this book is different and one of the most heartfelt and educational books i have read. I am only 14 and still it appeals to me, though the strong language is not for any younger. I beg you to purchase this, just so i can share this feeling with others.
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