Some books make you think, or think differently about other people and the world we live in.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, written and illustrated by Mark Haddon is one of these books.
Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has a form of autism. He understands and enjoys maths, physics and mind puzzles but he is unable to get his head around other people. He doesn't recognise jokes, can't tell lies and finds it hard to understand facial expressions, so when a neighbours' dog is found lying in the middle of the road, Christopher decides to figure out the mystery in a way he can grasp - through mathematic problems and puzzles.
This curious incident leads Christopher away from his hometown of Swindon, to places he never could have imagined, even if the thought of imagination didn't frighten him so much, as he discovers a whole new world, both emotionally and physically.
As the plot unfolds, we as the readers grow to love and connect with Christopher. We begin to realise the impact Christopher has on those around him. The challenges faced by his parents are set out straight forwardly, as a backdrop not a drama. It all makes sense to Christopher, it is all clear and everything is logical. It is for us, the readers, to fill in the spaces and round out the story.
This book is an interesting read, as it is narrated by Christopher, in words he can understand. There are many logic puzzles and how to solve them, and very precise descriptions, giving an idea of how he sees the world and copes in certain situations.
If you've been searching for a story revolving around trust, family, personal adventure with the occasional comedy moment, you need not look further. This is the novel for you. You will miss out an a great, thought provoking book if you don't read it!
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