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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $13.59
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: poignant, funny and original
Review: This book uses the voice of Christopher to tell the story of an investigation that eventually opens the door to finding out the truth about his own family. Christopher is an individual with high functioning autism and that leads to a unique viewppoint where emotions do not come into play for the main character. However, he uses his own brand of logic to deal wih the world.

I read the book in one day, not because it is a short book but because I could not put it down. It is an adventure with someone with a different voice. Amusing, sad, this book is a delight. If you don't know anything about indviduals with high functioning autism, you can get more insight from this novel than from texts and articles dealing with the subject. If you have had experience with autism before, there are many opportunities to identify with Christopher and his parents. A beautiful book and a great read for people tired of detective novels with themes and books dealing with groups of angst filled women.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Loved it--but one problem. Anyone agree?
Review: Read it, its great. But the voice to me, instead of always feeling like a 15 year old with autism, began to feel like an especially clevfer but utterly normal 8 year old. I kept seeing Christopher as a little boy, not an afflcited teenager. Anyone else? What could author have done to correct this?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I Just Didn't Love It
Review: but i liked it... For me it was a quick read that was 'mildly' interesting and at times equally 'mildly' amusing - but, just left me a little uninterested in the characters. Concept is good - different. But I needed more of something or other. Basically, I put the book down after the last page was turned and was 'mildly' relieved.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Flakey, but worthy
Review: A breeze of a read, Haddon's first-person novel from the point of view of a 15 year old autistic kid in England is garnering much deserved attention.

Other reviews point to the realism of autism sufferers, and I'm unable to verify or dispute such claims. That said, the first person account by this author (who has worked with autistic children) does seem to show an understanding of the Rain Men of the world. This approach in and of itself keeps the book fascinating.

Christopher Boone is playing detective, to find the murderer of a neighbor's dog. The search leads to domestic discovery that is unsettling for him, and those involved. The plot is seemingly and afterthought however. It's the writing style from the pen of the fictitious autistic author that keeps things moving nicely.

At times sad, the book is mostly hysterical. This is not to make light of autism. But the kid's rants against France and Conan Doyle are laught-out-loud funny. At times, the book is also very educational, as from the outside, you get an understanding for the "weird" behavior we associate with autism, whether it's the violent reactions to being touched or the mental shut downs that lead the main character to yearn for white noise to calm down. This first-person account will keep you glued.

At times, the book seems rushed. There are some inconsistent angles to the main character. For instance, he doesn't like his plate to have foods touching, yet he doesn't mind a sandwich with four or more ingredients. Early in the book, our autistic hero constantly reminds us of white lies and similies, but as the book drags on, Haddon seems to drift from his original approach. That said, the hitches are minor, and are not a deterrent.

The book is unique, and such a brisk read that you can't go wrong with giving it a whirl. The emotion that bleeds from the pages are fascinating, considering the main character's autism denies him the ability to understand such emotions on complex levels. From that, true understanding can arise.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An incredible, timeless effort by Haddon
Review: This is an incredible book, probably the most inventive yet accessible novel I have ever read. I will not divulge the story here as this book must be experienced to be believed. Highly, highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Put it on your short list
Review: Anyone looking for a fabulous, fast read ought to put Mark Haddon's latest on the short list. On the VERY short list, even. Well written, quirky, experimental without being overly complicated, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is my favorite read of the summer.

A 15 year old boy who is incapable of understanding the emotions of those around him, and who is limited in his own ability to feel things, is the centerpiece of the story. While severly handicapped in the arena of human emotions, Christopher is blessed with a sharp mind for remembering details and for thinking logically. Determined to solve the mysterious death of a neighbor's dog, and then consumed by the even greater mystery of his parents' marriage, Christopher chronicles his discoveries with unflinching accuracy. Haddon's writing allows the reader to see the inner workings of an individual cloaked in the veil of autism, someone who in real life one might never understand.

Full of math references and occassional nods to popular culture, the novel rapidly builds momentum and sustains it throughout.
The book is darkly comical and full of irony, and Haddon keeps his writing a respectable distance from being either too sentimenal or too clincal. Readers who themselves may not have a good grasp on the range of human emotion might find the story puzzling, but for anyone who has dealt with autistic persons in real life, the book creates a character whose vulnerability and honesty ring true.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Imaginative and compelling quick read
Review: It has been a long time since a narrator has intrigued me as much as Christopher Boone, a fifteen year-old autistic child. Despite his limited range of emotion and incomprehension of metaphors, his story did not leave me out in the cold nor did it stop me from finding a point of indentification.
My only disappointment with the book was a quick and pat resolution to book's main plot point... This did not, however, arrest my enjoyment of seeing the world through the eyes of someone who's mind is so different from my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Really allows one to EMPATHIZE with autistic people
Review: My sister was never 'officially' diagnosed with autism, because it was so long ago. Her doctors always said she had 'autistic-like behaviors'.....after reading this book, I can safely say that my sister is most likely autistic. She has the exact same characteristics/idiosynchrosies as the main character. It was very educational and informative. I recommend this to everyone because, not only will it be interesting to discover what autism is like, it will open people's minds and hopefully allow people to have more patience with autistic people. Excellent-read it in a day!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: walk a mile in their shoes
Review: With great skill the author puts you in the shoes of Christopher, a relatively high-functioning autistic teenager. Yet, while seeing the world through his eyes, you also see the things which he cannot. You see both fear and compassion in the faces of neighbors when Christopher cannot. You see a father and mother that desperately love their child but they are drowning like would-be lifeguards pulled under by the boy they are trying to save. And you see courage as Christopher undertakes an impossible journey proving that hardship and necessity are often required to bring out the best in all of us.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Strange yet Couldn't put it down!
Review: Step into the world of an autistic young boy! This book is a literary piece of work. Never have I read a book like this before and don't think this style could ever be replicated. The plot takes a turn that wasn't expected, and that is nice because so many books are just too predictible. If you want a typical fiction novel where characters and story lines fit the cookie cutter mold various authors have followed, this book is probably not for you, HOWEVER, if you enjoy creative writing that is original, nontypical characters and a story that is so wonderfully created, then this IS THE book for you!!


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