Children’s Librarian Polly Hopkins recommends The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is one of few books that I’ve read and had the ability to remember (sadly), and I can also recall the profound and lasting effect it had on me.
Prior to reading it, I had no idea what the premise of the story would be. I’m a dog fanatic and the book was a gift from my mom, who likely chose it solely based on the word “dog” being part of the title. It turned out to be a total page-turner and moved me to tears.
There aren’t many books I have read more than once, but this one I have. I’ll be ready for my fourth go-around soon.
The book’s title not only alludes to the plot, but also imitates the style of writing contained within—the wording is simple and straightforward, and the book itself is relatively short. It is written from the perspective of a young autistic boy. My guess is that he would likely land around the middle of the autism spectrum, and author Mark Haddon perfectly and consistently portrays the boy’s level of functioning. The plot is compelling, even while through most of it nothing terribly remarkable occurs.
But don’t be misled: there are surprising and unexpected events that unfold.
Through much of the book, the boy describes his lifestyle and interactions with his father; their relationship is complex and somewhat strained. As the reader gets further into it, the story becomes increasingly gripping. I won’t provide specific details… I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t yet read it! It’s a brilliant novel, and I encourage anyone looking for a simple yet thrilling story to give it a shot.
