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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Average rating: 4/5

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by HADDON MARK, Mark Haddon

Doubleday Canada | December 22, 2009 | Hardcover

Foreign rights have been sold to the UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Japan, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Brazil.

Film rights have been bought by Hey Day (the makers of Harry Potter) together with Brad Grey (producer of The Sopranos) and Brad Pitt in their first acquisition for Warner Bros.

Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. At fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbour's dog Wellington impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer, and turns to his favourite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As Christopher tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, the narrative draws readers into the workings of Christopher's mind.

And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotions. The effect is dazzling, making for one of the freshest debut in years: a comedy, a tearjerker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
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Reviews

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Very unique Point of View

    Darth Indurate

    2 months ago

    The fifteen year old narrator of this book, Christopher Boone, is autistic. One night, he discovers the neighbour's dog dead, a pitchfork lodged in its chest. From that moment on, Christopher is determined to find the dog's killer, but along the way, we, the readers, get to enjoy a fascinating look into the mind of this wonderful young man. He has very peculiar habits (he dislikes everything yellow & brown, hates to be touched, and never lies) but loves math, and is able to resolve complex and almost impossible mathematical problems. However, his journey to find the dog's killer takes him out of his comfort zone, and clearly on the path to some of the sad truths about his life.
    I really got involved with this novel, and read it every second I could spare it. But not only is Christopher fascinating, so too are his desperate father who clearly is doing his best to keep things together after losing Christopher's mom, and the many 'strangers' Christopher meets while en route to the killer's identity. While the boy may think this is a murder mystery novel, it is a novel of discovery, truth and reality all rolled into one. Brilliant.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Amazing!

    Sarah

    2 months ago

    I couldn't put this book down. It really gets you into the mindset of an autistic person, and helps you understand why they do and say the things they do. I loved it.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Beyond the Spectrum

    Christian Duran

    4 months ago

    Mark Haddon did an excellent job of writing this compelling story featuring the autistic protagonist on the bumpy road to independence. A strong sense of mystery was incorporated regarding the murder of Wellington along with the ongoing adventure, struggles, and coming of age of Christopher John Francis Boone. The difficulties and experiences of living with autism spectrum disorder (Asperger's syndrome) are highlighted through Christopher's point of view. This gives the reader an interesting, uncommonly experienced perception of the world through new eyes.

    I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique, quick read filled with mystery and comic relief.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?
    Anonymous

    Rating: 5/5

    Absolutley Wonderful...A Real Page Turner

    Anonymous

    6 years ago

    I hadn't read a book in about three months so when i picked up this one i was a bit skeptical at first. But as soon as i got reading i was drawn in and honestly could not put the book down. The book is totally different from other books (being from the perspective of an autistic child) and i think thats what makes it so good. I think Mark Haddon's book is full of imaginiation and its absolutley refreshing to read something such as this. Read it you will love it.

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From the Publisher

Foreign rights have been sold to the UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Japan, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Holland and Brazil.

Film rights have been bought by Hey Day (the makers of Harry Potter) together with Brad Grey (producer of The Sopranos) and Brad Pitt in their first acquisition for Warner Bros.

Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. At fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbour's dog Wellington impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer, and turns to his favourite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As Christopher tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, the narrative draws readers into the workings of Christopher's mind.

And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotions. The effect is dazzling, making for one of the freshest debut in years: a comedy, a tearjerker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.

About the Author

Mark Haddon is a writer and illustrator of numerous award-winning children's books and television adaptations. As a young man, Haddon worked with autistic individuals. He currently teaches creative writing for the Arvon Foundation and at Oxford University. He lives in Oxford, England.

Bookclub Guide

1. How do you think this novel bridges the gap between literature for adults and children?

2. What do you think Haddon''s illustrations add to the story and to our understanding of Christopher''s character?

3. Although seemingly ill equipped as the narrator of a book, Christopher''s character succeeds in eliciting a wide range of emotions in the reader. How do you think Haddon uses his protagonists voice to touch his audience in such a way?

4. Discuss the relationship between father and son in the novel. How well do you think Christopher''s father copes with his son''s condition?

5. The author has used his extensive knowledge of Asperger''s syndrome to allow us to see the world through Christopher''s eyes, how do you think the story further enhances our attachment to the character and our enjoyment of the book in general?

6. How far do you think the author has used Christopher''s alienating condition to expose intricate truths about our modern lives? Do you think this was his intention in Christopher''s exposure of his parent''s secret?

Hardcover

240 Pages, 5.6 x 8.3 x 0.9 in

December 22, 2009

Doubleday Canada

English


0385659792
9780385659796

From the Critics

"The book gave me that rare, greedy feeling of: this is so good I want to read it all at once but I mustn't or it will be over too soon. Haddon pulls off something extraordinary . . ." -- The Observer

"Always surprising and often hilarious." -- The Globe and Mail

"One of the most affecting things I've read in years . . . it's brilliant." -- The Guardian

"Mark Haddon's new novel comes with glowing endorsements from Ian McEwan and Oliver Sacks . . . For once, the pundits speak the truth." -- The Economist

"A stark, funny and original first novel . . . [with] one of the strangest and most convincing characters in recent fiction." -- The New York Times Book Review

"A brilliant autism novel has been overdue -- and this is it! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Mark Haddon shows great insight into the autistic mind, and he brings his young narrator protagonist quite wonderfully to life. I found it very moving, very plausible -- and very funny." -- Oliver Sacks, author of Uncle Tungsten

"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon''s funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out." -- Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

"The Curious Incident brims with imagination, empathy, and vision -- plus it''s a lot of fun to read." -- Myla Goldberg, author of Bee Season

"Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally disassociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy." -- Ian McEwan, author of Atonement


From the Trade Paperback edition.

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