The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is a unique and original novel told from the perspective of a fifteen-year-old boy with Asperger's. The story provides an insightful look into the mind of someone on the autism spectrum, though it contains disturbing content and language that may not be suitable for children.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is a novel that stands out for its originality and creativity. Told through the eyes of Christopher Boone, a fifteen-year-old with Asperger's, the story offers a unique perspective on the world. The narrative is both logical and devoid of emotion, reflecting Christopher's mindset. The book is divided into sections that focus on his investigation into the murder of a dog, his personal struggles, and his scientific and mathematical tangents. The use of prime numbers for chapter headings adds to the uniqueness of the story. The novel provides a deep insight into the challenges faced by someone on the autism spectrum, particularly when taken out of their comfort zone. However, it also contains disturbing content and language that may not be suitable for children. The story is important, clever, and intriguing, but it falls short of being a perfect novel. It deserves to be read and discussed, offering a valuable perspective on the autism spectrum and the broader human experience.
Quick quotes
The opening chapter finds Christopher in his neighbour’s front yard in the middle of the night discovering the body of a dead dog. Not just a dead dog. A murdered dog. A dog with a large garden fork sticking out of it.
The chapters aren’t numbered the way you might expect. Christopher uses prime numbers only so it starts with 2, then 3, then 5, then 7, then 11, and so on.
The more I got to know Christopher as I followed him through his adventure, the more I began to think of Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorders as a clinical form of extreme selfishness.