Hi Diddly Dee, an Actor's Life for Me
"Those who agree with us may not be right, but we admire their astuteness."
Cullen Hightower
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time is written from the viewpoint of 15-year-old Christopher Boone, who is autistic. The story starts with Christopher finding his neighbour's dog stabbed to death with a garden fork. Christopher therefore decides to turn detective and write about his discoveries, which lead to him finding out far more than he ever thought he would and his world being turned upside down.
Book No 1 of the 50-book Challenge.
The book is thoughtfully and engagingly written and, as the mystery deepens, a real page-turner. Mark Haddon, the author, has spent time working with autistic children and adults, and has therefore been able to clearly communicate the thought-processes that Christopher goes through. Throughout the book there are diagrams and mathematical equations - Christopher notices patterns in everything. For instance, the chapters are not numbered 1,2,3 etc but as sequential prime numbers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, easily reading it in one sitting, and would recommend it for a diverting, well-written read. If you're looking for a challenge, this is not it, but as a portrait of autism and the effects it can have on families and relationships it is excellent.
7.3.05 11:14
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(7.3.05 11:16) I have heard so much about this book but still have not got round to reading it. PS. whats the 50 book challenge ? |
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(7.3.05 11:23) Read 50 books in one calendar year and review them all on your blog. I initially thought this was going to be easy, as I read a lot, but actually it works out at roughly a book a week - and I don't think I manage that, generally! We'll see how far I get... |
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(7.3.05 11:47) I don't mean to be funny, but if it's a calendar year, aren't you a bit behind already? |
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(7.3.05 13:00) katja - are you sure that Mark Haddon's son is autistic? |
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(7.3.05 13:07) H - so I read somewhere... You have cast doubt into my mind though - will double-check that. Chaunce - I only found out about it a week ago so my year starts at the beginning of March! |
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(7.3.05 13:08) My understanding is that he has worked with children and adults with autism and that his sister has a child with cerebral palsy. |
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(7.3.05 13:15) H, I've just looked into this and you're quite right. Review being duly edited... That'll teach me to believe the Guardian... |
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(7.3.05 13:35) i'm reading it for the second time right now!!! i was going to blog about it today! how weird it's a brilliant book, i love it! |
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(7.3.05 13:39) Oh fair enough, good reading. |
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(7.3.05 15:13) Have you read Wally Lamb's 'I Know This Much is True'? Told from the perspective of a regular guy in a small town whose brother is autistic. A long novel - 900 pages - but full of humour, humanity and acute, intelligent observations. |
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(7.3.05 15:29) I haven't - but I shall add it to the list. Having been to Waterstones just the other day I am well stocked up for the next 6 or so books, but I have many to go to reach my target! |
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(7.3.05 15:35) Do you like to read books over and over ? I enjoy reading them for the second third, even fourth times (in fact there are passages of the Narnia books I know almost by heart) but no one else I know does. They always say "surely its not the same if you know whats going to happen" but I like to read books knowing whats going to happen. |
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(7.3.05 20:49) I always re-read books I enjoy. In fact, I should think there'll be a few re-reads on my list of 50, but you can always get something different out of a great book every time you read it. It's not so much knowing what's going to happen as much as finding different layers. |
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(7.3.05 21:09) Yay! 1 down, 49 to go, Floatykatja! Mine going up soon (I'm on about no. 6, I think, but a backlog of them to review online...). I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year. Apart from being a fascinating insight into some of the manifestations and effects of autism, I also found it very moving and unbearably poignant in places - the unbridgeable gaps of understanding that exist..... Unique. |
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(7.3.05 21:24) Floaty, I do enjoy re-reading some books, though there are far too many that I wouldn't spend the extra time on. I read "Lord of the Rings" about evry five years ... and still can't get through Shelob's Lair without a stiff drink. |
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(11.3.05 18:34) late comment, early review: Read it like Sept/Oct 2004, Fantastic Book, very sensitive. |
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(17.3.05 12:57) I was interested for the first few chapters. But in the end, I'm afraid this book bored me. As an exercise in portraying how difficult and frustrating it must be to live with a child that is so disengaged from normal emotions, it was successful. But that was about it for me. (And it was impossible for me to care much about the child.) |
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