Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Juliana Matias

It's a funny thing, because in many ways this book is very similar to the last book I just read (The secret diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old), which I really disliked. 

Both books are told in the first person, as a form of book/diary, recounting a period of this person's life. Both books detail the special needs of a group (the elderly vs. the autistic) as a background to the story being told. And I got both of them as an audiobook, which made the experience very similar for me.

However, this book presented me all the things that I felt lacked in the other one. It has a storyline going on, which ties everything together, even if it is not the story you originally thought it would be. 

I found Christopher to be highly endearing. I suffered right along with him when he was hurting, and laughed when he would go on with his little tangents, because I knew he would always come back to the matter at hand. 

All in all, this booked engaged me in a way I couldn't put it down. I was actually sad when it was over.

Cams Campbell

I just read this for the second time, this time the audiobook version. I've revised my rating from four to five stars. When first I read it, I didn't have an autistic son. In fact, even my autistic son's big sister wasn't born. So my frame of reference is somewhat different this time around. 

First of all, the audiobook. The narration is absolutely superb. It uses the voice of a child for the narration and there are also other voice actors for mum, dad, Mr and Mrs Shears and Mrs Alexander, and some sound effects and policemen and shopkeepers. All in all, it was perfectly done. The music playing over the ending made it all the more poignant. 

Now to the content. So MUCH of Christopher's behaviour is recognisable in my own son, and in my own behaviour to some extent. And I can so relate to the stress that his parents experience. I and my wife have BOTH felt like Christopher's mum at times, when it all just gets too much and you don't know where to turn. It's difficult to put ourselves into our son's head, and this book helps with that. The seemingly nonchalant way in which he describes how he hides himself away in times of stress is really eye opening. Although he never does stab anyone with his pen knife, he probably would if the threat got too much. I mean he hit the policeman, didn't he?

The book has given me encouragement.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

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