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Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Vintage Contemporaries) Review
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Review page:
Mark Haddon has written a moving novel about love and bravery
through the eyes of a British autistic boy. Christopher discovers his neighbor's
poodle dead, impaled by a pitchfork, and, because he adores puzzles, he sets out
to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington . But Christopher is autistic, a
boy who doesn't like to be touched and cannot decipher emotions beyond the tools
his teacher has taught him, and so the task requires the huge effort of testing
rules and facing his own fears. A literalist by neurology, he deconstructs life
into a set of mathematical equations and physical laws. This unique perspective
makes him a good detective on one level, where clues and logic rule, but it also
fails him on another, higher one because he cannot understand the magnitude of
what he uncovers.
That Haddon was able to write a book from Christopher's
point of view with all his quirks and still make him lovable is extraordinary.
By necessity, the writing is simple and unadorned, but the language of details
elevates it from the mundane. The insertion of mathematical puzzles and drawings
add to the reader's understanding of how Christopher's mind works. Haddon's real
skill is an understatement that allows the reader to comprehend what is going
on even if Christopher cannot. Although Christopher cannot grasp subtlety and
nuances, the reader can, and that's where the true force of this exceptional novel
lies.
This short, easy to read book can be completed in a couple of sittings,
although its impact will last much longer. Highly recommended for a general readership.
Buy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Vintage Contemporaries)
