Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Christopher Boone is 16. He likes dogs, his pet rat, computer games, nature specials on TV, and puzzles of all types. He does well in school, planning to take advanced level math exams several years ahead of his peers. He has ambitions to study science and math at a university, and dreams of becoming an astronaut. Sounds like a fairly typical bright teenaged boy, right? Well, maybe not. Christopher is autistic, and lives in a tightly ordered world where the least little thing going wrong causes him to scream or groan. His school is one for "special needs" children. He doesn't like the colors yellow or brown. He keeps a small bottle of red food coloring in the kitchen, to tint foods that are the "wrong" colors. He is stubbornly literal, disliking methaphors like "the apple of one's eye." How could having an apple for an eye be pleasurable?

The book jacket reveals that author Mark Haddon has worked with autistic students in the past, and he does a remarkable job of explaining the special way Christopher sees the world. Although we can't share Christopher's perceptions, we can understand them and accept the requirements Christopher imposes on himself and those around him. For example, he cannot endure being hugged or embraced. Too many sensory receptors swing into overtime, and he panics and screams. But he and his parents have devised a way for them to demonstrate affection to him which he can accept and which satisfies their need to embrace him.

The story begins when Christopher finds a neighbor's dog dead, impaled on a garden fork. Since he admires the stories of Sherlock Holmes, he begins to investigate the death, and with the help of a supportive teacher proposes to write a book about his investigation. From that first charming ambition, he learns more and more, encounters unpleasant truths about his family life, and embarks on a truly terrifying (for him) train trip to London.

One of the author's wonderful achievments here is the fully realized supporting characters. Seen through the skewed perception of a boy who cannot understand emotion or understand how others might see a specific situation, the other persons in the book nevertheless spring fully to life from the page. Christopher's parents, his neighbors, his teacher, police officers, train station vendors, fellow train passengers, all are remarkably accurate. Haddon achieves this solely through the conversational exchanges with Christopher.

I think this book should appeal to all readers - it doesn't fit into any category I can think of. We confront unpleasant truths, but it's not dark. We follow an amateur sleuth, but it's not cozy. Christopher follows very strict procedures, but neither police, PI's or attorneys are part of the investigation. So, not in any category then? Well, let's put it in "don't miss!"

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM

Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time