The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon

This is the first book I chose to recommend in October 2004 when we inaugurated "Len's Picks" on our website. I chose it because I believe that just about everybody would enjoy it, and find it quite illuminating and possibly even outlook altering.

When a friend gave me this book he said I would enjoy it and would probably read it in a single sitting. Six weeks later when I started to read it I ended up not being able to put it down despite the fact it was way past my bedtime. I finished it the next day. It is one of the most unique and remarkable works of fiction I have read in many years. Christopher, the narrator, is a 15–year–old British boy who attends a school for children with "special needs". He relates this story from his perspective, as a human being experiences life in a state of consciousness we call "autism". Christopher discovers a murdered dog on his neighbor's front lawn, and because he likes reading Sherlock Homes novels he decides he can be the detective who solves this mystery. The plot is clever but what makes this book so special is the unique perspective of life experienced by the narrator.

It is, at least in my experience, a totally unique phenomenon to view everyday life from the mindset of an autistic young man. Christopher has some of the qualities of an "idiot savant" and it makes seeing life through his eyes thrilling, mind–boggling, and just a little bit unsettling. There are few books that really stand out as being both a joy to read and having a unique message. This is a rare book that does both and is almost certain to please every kind of reader no matter what his or her tastes are. The author is brilliant and spent a number of years teaching autistic children.

Review by Len Oppenheim