“I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I am a good person. It is because I do not tell lies.”
~Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night
When Christopher Boone’s neighbor’s dog is killed with a garden fork, Christopher is falsely accused of the crime. Christopher is 15 and autistic. Christopher knows he did not kill the dog and says so as he does not lie. And he does not joke, because he does not understand them, so he is telling the truth.
Christopher loves Sherlock Holmes and decides he is going to investigate what happened to the dog, just like Sherlock Holmes would do. Christopher’s investigation leads him to not only find out about the dog but some deep secrets about his own family.
Being autistic makes the investigation all the more difficult as Christopher calms himself by solving math problems in his head, will not eat any food that touches another food or is the colors yellow or brown, and screams if he is touched.
You can listen to a sample of the audio here *note there is some swearing in this clip*
Many years ago, so many I do not recall the year (at least 5 years ago) but I do recall we were in Grizzley’s restaurant, my book club the Bookies reviewed this book. At the time, I was baffled by it. I loved the synopsis, but the book, told from Christopher’s perspective, was difficult to follow and the pages of math problems went right over my head (I have always said I am a word girl, not a number girl). 😛
Yet, many in my book club raved about this read. One girl in particular had so many great things to say about it, I felt I obviously had missed something and vowed to try it again some day. Since that time the book has sat, like new, on my book shelf… waiting on me.
Recently, I seen the audio version on audible.com on the sale list. I have said many times that audio can make the difference in a book that I may find difficult to read, so I thought I would give it this second try.
I am so glad I did! Christopher came alive for me through the narration of Jeff Woodman. Christopher’s character is brilliantly smart and remembers every detail. Suddenly I found myself longing to know more of this autistic boys story and I learned to love his dry humor as he did not get sarcasm and took everything someone said literally.
Author Mark Haddon writes an amazingly deep and loving story for his debut as an author. This was no easy task to take on and Mark handles the inner workings of Christopher’s autistic mind like a pro. The characters all felt real, at times painfully so, as you seen close up that we as human beings are flawed in so many ways.
Highly recommended in audio. Treat yourself to this one!
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Curious Incident Of The Dog
I purchased this audio from audible.com
Book Journey 
It’s a great book, and you’re right, a feat for the author to have pulled off so well: writing in the voice of a child with autism is, to my knowledge, pretty unique (probably unprecedented) and so fascinating and challenging. It makes me wonder about the idea of writing in the voice of the “other” – sometimes we worry about a white author writing in the voice of a person of color, men writing women (vice versa), etc. Autistic folks often don’t talk so I guess it makes it harder to judge the authenticity of this voice! At any rate, yes great book, I’m glad you found a way to love it, too. 🙂 I recently read Cammie McGovern’s Eye Contact, in which an autistic child is the only witness to a murder; it’s another interesting treatment of that unique perspective, but not told from that perspective.
Julia, I was thinking about that too, Mark must have really researched autism or is close to it in some way or both. It felt very real to me.
I have this one sitting on my shelf and I am hoping to read it this upcoming year. Thanks for the honest review and the suggestion of audio which I still haven’t gotten into.
Laura, I think you would enjoy audio – you just need to have some good reads (ahem… like this one 😉 )… it’s great for while you are cooking in the kitchen, or crafting, or cleaning… I listen to audio every day, it passes the time while I get dressed, do my hair… 😀
I’m glad you were able to enjoy this through audio. I really loved reading this one.
I think I could have read it now Trisha, 6-7 years ago this was way out of my reading genre and too far a stretch for me then… its hard to believe I was once so structured in my reading choices… 😀
I haven’t read this one, but I did read another one by Haddon, BOOM!. We listened to it when we were driving to our vacation. I want to read this one as well, but my TBR is just huge. It’s funny how when I think about our audio books I recall where we were going when we listened to them, vacation, the zoo, etc. A whole new layer to the reading process!
I find I can get to an audio faster than I can get to a book Jill.. I usually have three audios going at a time in different read of my home and car.. usually all three get listened to at some point each day :
I really loved this book, great review 🙂
Thanks… I was so thrilled that the audio was such a win for me! 😀
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this one more reading it a second time. I’ve meant to reread it myself (since it has been SO long since I read it) but I enjoyed reading it the first time.
I can finally rave about the story 🙂
I read this so long ago that I think maybe it is worth rereading (or relistening to).
If you have already read it I would suggest you try the audio Jenners… the narration was so fantastic!
I’ve wondered about this book for a while. I think if I buy it, I’ll take your suggestion and go for the audio.
Thanks, Sheila! Happy weekend.
Beth, try the audio – I think it was about six hours so will not take you long while you buzz through life 😀
Enjoy your weekend too!
I had listened to the audio version quite a few years ago and recall really enjoying it. Glad u did as well.
I really did and I am so glad to be among the people who can now say they have experienced this one 😀
I read about Mark Haddon just yesterday – thank you for this review. The book sounds intriguing and different somehow.
It is good – I really enjoyed the audio version 🙂
Good for you for giving it another shot! Sometimes the audio can make the difference.
I agree – I am a big fan of audio 😀
I loved this book and think it is fantastic. Last year I got about 40 or so students to read it at my school and all but one liked it. I figure that’s a pretty good thing
Helen that is so awesome! What a way to plug a great read!
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was an interesting book and I loved the glimpse into the workings of the autistic brain, but I found it so incredibly sad.
What the book most showed me Lisa was that we as humans are so flawed. Christopher’s character was probably the most honest and real. His dad, though trying to be a great dad, falls short when he fights to protect his son and angers quickly when a neighbor does not return his advances. His mom is extremely flawed and as much as she loves her son, she just does not have it is her to take full time care of him.
like you i read the book a number of years ago, it was fascinating but not an easy read, so I might do as you suggest sometime Shelia.
The audio was a great fit for this one 😉
I read this a few years ago and LOVED it. I might have to pull it out for a reread soon.
I was really impressed with it Trish
This is one of my all-time favorite books! I loved it! I read it a while back, I’d like to try it in audio version, I’ve never listened to a book on audio before, I’m sure I’d love that version as well.
Carol this would be a great one for you to try on audio – the narrator does a fantastic job!
I read this one with my book club a few years ago and although most of them did not enjoy it, I loved it! I’m glad you did too Sheila!
I wish I could remember our overall thoughts on the book Joanne, I have it in my book logs somewhere….
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it more this time around. My heart just went out to Christopher. I’ve written a post about him, actually.
Jen, I would love to read it – can you link it here?
So glad you enjoyed this! My son read it for Brit Lit last year, and I read it many years ago. Funny, I would have thought the audio wouldn’t work well because of all the drawings and math problems and stuff on the pages, but it sounds like it was really good!
Sue
I wondered the same things Sue but yeah, it worked! 😀