The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I picked up The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time when I visited Powell's in Portland (OMG! Every book lover needs to visit that place. It's HEAVEN!) as I'd heard great things about the novel.

Overall, I enjoyed the book.

I found Christopher to be charming and the way he viewed the world was endearing. What I liked best is that I could relate to his many quirks. I mean, I don't like the colors olive green and brown because they're "shit-colors" as I call them. I find omens in random occurrences. (Any day, I see a pink car means a super fantabulous day.) I don't like my food touching either (but I'll still eat it). I don't feel comfortable with just anyone touching me. I find people and their habit of saying-what-they-mean-by-not-actually-saying-what-they-mean annoying and confusing as well. I have obsessive-like interests. I'm just as hooked on books and reading as Chris (May I call you Chris, Christopher?) enjoys Maths and Physics. Oh, and he's British. I have a weakness for anything and anyone British (I believe I was British in a past life). So yeah, I felt a kinship to Chris.

Once I turned to page one and saw it started with chapter 2, I was like O_o. Then, I kept flipping through and I was like >_< All of the chapters are PRIME NUMBERS, cool! (because I'm a nerd) And I settled in to reading the book with a smirk on my face because I was amused. (I was on the train by the way, but it's NYC and no one looks at you weird on the train no matter what you do because 10 times out of 10, they've seen weirder.)

Other than liking Chris and getting a glimpse into his head, there wasn't anything else interesting about this novel. As a future educator, I was interested in learning a little more about Asberger's in the hopes of gaining some insight as a teacher. As I was reading the novel, I felt as if I was simply reading one of my student's journals (I think I would enjoy having Chris in my class.). I know, I know, the structure of the novel is suppose to be a journal, but there should also be a story.

This novel lacked a real plot. I expected a true mystery novel, but the way the mystery was solved? It was so LAME! I couldn't believe it. I felt so CHEATED. I wanted to stop reading then. I was half way through the book and the mystery was solved, so what else could Haddon, I mean Chris, have to write about? But I kept on reading because I cared about Chris and I wanted to see how things would end up for the old sport. (Just watched The Great Gatsby in theaters. Read my review here.)

As I've said several time, I'm primarily a Character-Reader (made that term up). I read books for the characters because I'm fascinated about other people's lives and I love being in their shoes for a few hours. I enjoyed the time spent with Chris, but the story was crap. And all of the diagrams and font changes and stuff (real eloquent, I know) were so distracting. I was compelled to stop and try to figure 'em out each time (and then give up).

Another concern was the accuracy of Chris' character.While reading I kept asking myself: can I trust that this is a fairly accurate representation of a 15-year-old with Asberger's? I understand that it's a spectrum and each individual is different. But where, what experience is Haddon writing from? I'm not sure I can trust this unless he's had some interaction with individuals with Asberger's. After reading, I did some Googling and Haddon makes it clear that this is not a commentary or accurate representation of Autism or Asberger's as he doesn't know much about it. Read more here: http://www.markhaddon.com/aspergers-and-autism

In that case, if you take The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as Haddon meant it, "a novel about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way," it'll lessen criticism about Chris' character, but it still doesn't improve the plot.

VERDICT: Enjoyable read because I liked Chris and had fun getting to know him, but the story itself could use a little (okay, a lot) of work. UNLESS, Haddon didn't mean for this to be a mystery story at all and it was simply a way to introduce us to Chris. Hmm... but I still feel cheated, so no. Why does this book have a ton of awards and stuff, again? I really don't see it...