Summer reading spotlight: The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, written by Mark Haddon, follows Christopher, a teenage boy living with autism. Christopher is less comfortable with people than he is with animals; he especially enjoys the company of dogs. When his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is mysteriously murdered with a garden fork and Christopher is the one to find him out in the garden, he sets off to find out who the culprit is. Christopher writes his clues in a notebook where his investigation begins to turn into a story. Although he is told by his father and others that he should stay out of other people’s business, he continues with his journey, determined to unveil the mystery. But will Christopher learn and expose more than just who the dog murderer is?
Much like a Sherlock Holmes novel, this book is full of unexpected plot twists, unusual mysteries, and a protagonist who stands out from the crowd. What separates this novel from the normal mystery book is the main character’s viewpoint. Christopher has autism, and throughout the book, you get to see the world from his perspective, from situations that he finds comforting to those that overwhelm him. For example, in one powerful scene, Christopher describes how someone with autism would experience the hubbub of a station in the London Underground. The reader also gets to see some of the experience that parents with children who have autism go through. With the great mystery you get in this book, you also get emotions and a new perspective on life in general.
If you are interested in mystery novels or books that keep you on the edge of your seat, you will enjoy reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon. The twists and turns of this novel, along with the fast-paced plot, make this book an easy read for this summer. Not only will the mystery entertain you, but you will also get to learn about what life is like for people living with autism. I would highly recommend reading this novel to anyone looking to read a unique mystery that includes more emotion than the normal mystery novel.