This is the most disassociating book I've ever read. Try to read it all in one sitting -- it will totally fuck with your head and make you forget how to be normal your brain used to work.

[As I noted in the comments below, I read this book in 2004 and wrote the review in 2007, long before I understood how ableist it was for me to use "normal" as I did initially. I changed it to be more accurate and inclusive, but I wanted to leave the trail // historical record in order to show that I was wrong and there's no need to use careless language like this, which didn't even properly indicate what I meant.]

This book was not for me. The main character is just not fun to read about in any way.

I'm at a loss to explain why this novel is so special, but special it is. Haddon operates on the Poe principle - not including any wasted words, making every character come to life with a minimum of description and fewer lines of dialogue. I fell in love with the narrator, but I am not certain why - except perhaps that he's transparently innocent and confident in his constellation of quirks, preferences and behaviors that many would characterize as off-putting and/or anti-social. It is difficult for him to move through his world. It is difficult for those who love him to parent him. Heck, it's difficult for the police to assist him, when that assistance is necessary to his well-being. But he's unforgettable and I found myself rooting for his success in every interaction he has and each event that transpires. Oh, and the dog of the title? Such a red herring. It's only there to lure you in and it serves that role well.

What a massive undertaking it must have been to tackle this subject, especially with writing from the pov of a teenager with asperger's. And yet he made it look so easy.

The writing was smooth, and what was especially enjoyable was being able to simultaneously see things from his perspective while still being able to understand with great clarity what was actually happening, based on the dialogue from the adults.

Overall it was a good read, despite the fact that I was hoping for the ending to be different as well as more detailed.

"و شاید ما واقعا یه مشت آدم غیرقابل کنترلیم"
کتاب روان و جالبی بود، خلاقیت کتاب رو دوست داشتم (این ک فصل ها عدد اول بود) ترجمه کتاب هم خیلی خوب بود نظرم.
کتاب خیلی قشنگ ذهن کریستوفر رو به تصویر کشیده بود، کریستوفرِ ساده و صمیمی که مبتلا به اوتیسم بود. اولش فکر میکردم کتابیه ک میشه یکی دو روزه تموم کنمش اما یکم طول کشید چون اون حجم از اطلاعاتی ک یهو میداد و آشفتگی ذهن کریستوفر یه خورده واسم غیرقابل هضم میشد. بعد به این نتیجه رسیدم ک بعید نیست رگه هایی از اوتیسم هممون داشته باشیم.
پ.ن: مسئله های ریاضی کتاب رو بسی دوست داشتم، با کاغذ و قلم کنارم کتابو میخوندم :د
پ.ن بازم: احساس کردم اخر کتاب صرفا تند تند میخواست همه چیزو سرو سامون بده و ی جورایی انگار افت کرد داستان.

I must have been recommended this book annually. Considering the rate at which I devour books, it is a shame that I didn't take those recommendations to heart until recently. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is unlike most books that you'll find at your local shop on the subject of autism. Our story follows the exceptionally unique narrator Christopher Boone as he tries to unravel the mystery of who killed a dog on his street. While the concept sounds like a children's mystery novel, the entire concept is elevated by Christopher's narration which provides a distinctive view into the mind of an individual with autism. The chapters are not presented in sequential numbers, rather they are presented as ascending prime numbers (Christopher quite enjoys math). Occasionally, Christopher's sparse descriptive passages are supplemented by small drawings, graphs and figures. Christopher struggles with the overwhelming societal rules that everyone else seems to be following with ease. Quirks like this appear throughout the book and help establish Christopher as one of the most stylistically impressive narrators in recent memory.

Despite Christopher's protestations early in the novel that he is unable to tell a joke, the novel is filled with laughs. Despite the levity of some of the situations in which our hero finds himself, the obsessions and patterns to which Christopher is bound reflect genuine autistic traits. Though Christopher processes emotion differently from most people, the novel is also full of heart and heartbreaking moments. Most of the emotional gravitas is provided by the supporting cast as their personal struggles are brought to the forefront via the narrator's matter-of-fact writing. Indeed, while Christopher's narration provides heartfelt insight into the mind of an autistic teenager, the stories of his parents tell of the difficulties of raising an autistic child. This book also reads like a thriller: it is short, compelling, mysterious, and the pages flew by once I got a hang of the unique style. This novel is highly entertaining, refreshing, profound, and well-researched. Mark Haddon hit a homer with this one, and I wish I had taken all the recommendations earlier. I loved it, and I think you will too!

You can't please everyone, and I guess books can be a good example of that statement. I know a lot of people who liked this book very much, but on the other hand, I also know a few people who would not hesitate to burn this book. I'm on the positive side. I really enjoyed this short novel.

I've said this numerous times in my other reviews that I like character driven novels. This book obviously focused on Christopher's development more than the plot's. The author succeeded, because I've gotten attached to the little kiddo. I have a soft spot for people, more on children, with disabilities. I can't stomach to be annoyed at them because it's not something they can control. While I don't know anyone personally with autism, the author managed to give justice to the sickness. It's not the best book on autism, but it's a short preview of it.

I honestly don't like reading huge novels during the school year. I'd rather read those gigantic books during my breaks because I tend to enjoy them better when read at my own pace. Reading is not a task for me, but it's something that I consider to be leisure. Stress from the university is not something I could control, so reading shorter novels help me unwind at times. It's actually my exam week next week but I managed to squeeze this book in my hectic schedule. I didn't feel like rushing because it was so short to begin with. Aside from being short, it was also really entertaining.

Like I said, it's not a novel that everyone's going to love, but I'd recommend taking the risk and find out for yourself. Sometimes the opinion of others may seem right, but in the end it's all about what the novel made you feel after reading. You don't have to go with the flow and hate on something you actually like.

4/5 Estrellas

Hondamente impresionado me he quedado tras meterme en la piel de Christopher.

He podido asomarme a la visión del mundo de un niño con capacidades especiales: su miedos y su valentía para enfrentarse a ellos, su manera de ver el mundo, su forma de relacionarse con sus semejantes, su inteligencia mental y su falta de inteligencia emocional.

Este libro es una lección de vida. Se entiende perfectamente el boca oreja que lo ha llevado a una popularidad que ni el mismo autor esperaba. Y gracias al autor por su sensibilidad y su capacidad para contarnos esta bella y dura historia.

Qué libro tan bonito y emotivo!!

"A sus quince años Christopher Boone, conoce las capitales de todos los países del mundo, puede explicar la teoría de la relatividad y recitar los números primos hasta el 7.507 pero le cuesta relacionarse con otros seres humanos. Le gustan las listas, los esquemas y la verdad, pero odia el amarillo, el marrón y el contacto físico. Si bien nunca ha ido solo más allá de la tienda de la esquina, la noche que el perro de la vecina aparece atravesado por un horcón, Christopher decide iniciar la búsqueda del culpable.
Emulando a su admirado Sherlock Holmes-el modelo de detective obsesionado con el análisis de los hechos-, sus pesquisas lo llevarán a cuestionar el sentido común de los adultos que lo rodean y a desvelar algunos secretos familiares que pondrán patas arriba su ordenado y seguro mundo".

Christopher es un niño con TEA (trastorno del espectro autista) y nos relatará en primera persona la forma cómo él ve el mundo que le rodea, cómo se siente, cómo entiende las cosas, sus rutinas, sus manías, lo que le da seguridad, lo que le molesta o le altera, su mundo...

Los capítulos van numerados con números primos, pues él destaca en matemáticas y física. Disfruta con estos conocimientos y le dan seguridad. Como todos los niños con TEA, su mayor dificultad está en las relaciones sociales, la empatía y la expresión de las emociones propias y de los demás.

Una novela muy emotiva que nos acerca a cómo pueden sentirse estas personas con autismo. El caso de Christopher es uno entre muchos, cada persona con TEA es un mundo particular y con síntomas muy diversos. Por mi profesión tengo casos muy cercanos (con niños muy pequeños). Ellos no comprenden nuestro mundo pero nosotros debemos intentar comprender el suyo. Así podremos ayudarles en su día a día, intentando que avancen en lo que más necesiten, haciendo que nuestro mundo sea más fácil para ellos, acercándoselo con mucho cariño y comprensión. Aprendo día a día de ellos y con ellos y espero, simplemente que se sientan acogidos por el resto de sus compañeros y así, poco a poco, puedan integrarse lo mejor que se pueda en la sociedad que les ha tocado vivir. A mí con que me demuestren un poco su cariño (aunque sea a su manera) me doy por afortunada. Sin olvidar, por supuesto, a sus familias, mi más sincero reconocimiento y admiración a todas esas familias que acompañan a sus hijos en este aprendizaje, que es muy duro en muchas ocasiones. "No sabes lo que es que tu hijo no te haya dado un beso o te abrace en sus primeros años". Esto me lo dijo una madre y no se me olvidará nunca. Ahora lo hace.

No le he dado 5 porque quizá me ha faltado un poco más de profundidad en el tema del autismo; vamos que me he quedado con ganas de más.

Libro muy adecuado para institutos, bueno para todo el mundo.

"Normalmente. la gente te mira cuando te habla. Sé que tratan de captar lo que estoy pensando, pero yo soy incapaz de captar lo que piensan ellos."
"Pero los sentimientos no son más que tener una imagen en la pantalla en tu cabeza de lo que va a pasar mañana o el año que viene, o de lo que podría haber pasado en lugar de lo que ocurrió en realidad, y si es una imagen alegre sonríen y si es una imagen triste lloran."
"Y por eso a mí me gustan los horarios, porque son la garantía de que no te vas a perder en el tiempo".

Sweet autistic boy who solves crimes and I love the title reference to Sherlock Holmes.

This was an amazing book & a must read for all young adults. When Christopher Boone happens upon the dead body of his neighbor's dog, he accidently also stumbles upon a secret that could change his life forever. 'The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time' told from Christopher's point of view chronicles the everyday challenges that special needs children like him face, & yet how they cope with dignity & bravery. The novel is fast-paced & exciting to read. Invigorating & yet profound in its little philosophies of life, this book is a coming of age book like no other. Other than the mysterious main plot of the book, we as readers are invited into the life of Christopher Boone who lives alone with his doting father after the sudden death of his aggressive yet equally loving mother. Christopher through his innocent & candid voice brings into focus his school life, his excellence in Math, his abhorrence of anything yellow or brown in color & the little philosophies of life that makes him who he is as a person. These philosophies are fascinating to read & are at times hard to swallow but are quite true. Told with the precision of a mathematician & the wonder of a child, these philosophies bring alive the world of Christopher Boone which he shares with the people who care about him. The mathematical, geographical & other logical facts shared by him are enlightening & entertaining. The author has done a near to perfection job in linking each philosophy with an event or series of events in the novel. But will Christopher Boone be able to solve the puzzling incident of Wellington’s death? Wellington who was a dog yet a living creature or a ‘person’ who deserved his murder being investigated into, even if it by a lonely boy caught in between two warring worlds. Find all about this by reading Mark Haddon’s brilliant suspense filled & yet heart-warming book titled ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time'. I read this novel 18 years ago when I had just passed out of high-school & was the same age as the protagonist in this novel. The book had a lasting impression on me then & I was glad to revisit it this year as the book is part of the school syllabus in the city where I teach. The book can never be dated. It is as refreshing a read today as it was 18 years ago. My favorite parts in the book were when daring & persistent Christopher finds out about the real identity of the murderer as well as when he tried interviewing people during the investigation. I hope to read more of Haddon’s books in the coming days. This book gets 5 stars from me!

اوتیسم..عدم درک انسان ها..مارک هادون با قلم فرسایی جالبی ما را به ذهن پسربچه ای مبتلا به اوتیسم میبرد..در دنیایی که ذهن او ساخته..دنیایی که منطق هست..اما از این کیفیت ناهمگون و متغیر بوقلمون صفتی که هر یک از ما تحت عنوان روابط انسانی کبکبه ی تسلط بر ان را داریم خبری نیست.دنیایی که برای من آشناست..