Haddon, Mark: *1962

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, 2003 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Author | Commentary | Articles

General Information
- The novel is about family, honesty, trust, and braving the unknown.
- Information from Wikipedia
Facts
- Awards: "The Curious Incident" won the Whitbread Book Award for Best Novel (now Costa-Book-Award), the Book of the Year 2003 award of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book, and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
- Characters
  
  Christopher Boone - The 15-year-old narrator and protagonist of the novel. He has an unspecified condition that is implied to be autism or Asperger's syndrome. Christopher has exceptional skills in math and science but struggles with social interactions and interpreting emotions. He embarks on an investigation to find out who killed the neighbor's dog Wellington.
  Ed Boone - Christopher's father, who initially lies to Christopher about his mother's whereabouts. He killed the neighbor's dog Wellington after an argument with the neighbor Mrs. Shears, with whom he was having an affair.
  
  Judy Boone - Christopher's mother, who had an affair with Mr. Shears and left the family to live with him in London for a period before returning.
  
  Mrs. Shears - The neighbor whose dog Wellington was killed. She had an affair with Ed Boone, Christopher's father.
  
  Mr. Shears - Mrs. Shears' husband, with whom Judy Boone (Christopher's mother) had an affair and lived with for some time in London.
  
  Siobhan - Christopher's teacher at school who gives him the assignment to write the book that becomes the novel's narrative.
  Developed by AI
- Three of the key themes
- Themes by Ashley Sadler
- Language Analysis by Bruce Pattinson from Total Education
- Topics
  
  Truth and Honesty
  Christopher has a strong commitment to truth and honesty, which shapes his worldview and actions. The novel explores the complexities of truth, as Christopher uncovers difficult truths about his family that challenge his sense of trust and safety.
  Family Dynamics and Relationships
  The novel delves into the intricate dynamics of Christopher's family, particularly his relationships with his parents. It examines the challenges and misunderstandings that can arise when caring for a neurodivergent child, as well as the unconditional love and resilience of family bonds.
  Growing Up and Independence
  Christopher's investigation into the mystery of the murdered dog serves as a metaphor for his journey towards independence and self-discovery. The novel explores the themes of growing up, overcoming fears, and navigating the complexities of the adult world.
  Logic vs. Emotion
  Christopher's logical and analytical approach to life often clashes with the emotional and social nuances of the world around him. The novel contrasts Christopher's rational mindset with the emotional experiences of other characters, highlighting the tension between logic and emotion.
  Through these themes, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" offers a poignant and insightful exploration of neurodivergence, family dynamics, and the human experience.
  Developed by AI
- General Perception
  
  "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" received widespread acclaim and generated a significant impact in both literary and social contexts.
  The novel was noted for its unique structure, including the use of illustrations, diagrams, and maps, which helped readers connect with Christopher's logical and methodical world view.
  
  It has been included in school curricula in several countries, appreciated for its accessibility and the valuable discussions it prompts about neurodiversity and empathy.
  
  While many appreciated the spotlight it placed on autism, some members of the autism community felt that the portrayal of Christopher was a bit stereotypical and did not encompass the full diversity of the autism spectrum.
  
  Overall, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" is regarded as a groundbreaking and influential work that successfully combines a compelling mystery with a deep, empathetic portrayal of a young man navigating the world with a unique perspective.
  
  Developed by AI
- Reader Rating:
Author
- On the origins of "The Curious Incident": "In the early eighties I spent several months working at an Adult Training Centre in North London. There was a great deal of discussion at the time about the language used to describe people who had what were coming to be known as learning difficulties but were more widely known as mental handicaps." April 6, 2015
- Audio (6:14)
  Talk with Mark Haddon about the novel. NPR Radio; October 12, 2003
- Podcast
  Mark Haddon discusses his astonishingly successful novel "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time."
Commentary
- Haddon, who has worked with autistic children, brilliantly imagines both the capacities and the limitations of autistic subjectivity. Because Christopher is literal and unselective in his observation of detail, the reader is given a precise and vivid view of his world. We are easily able to make the connections that Christopher does not see, but what he does see also gives us a new view of how those automatic connections may lead to inaccurate preconceptions. Fascinatingly, one who rejects fiction turns out to be an astonishingly good storyteller, even though we are ironically, saddeningly, aware that the story we read between the lines is not the same as the one that Christopher experiences.
  The result is an illuminating and moving, and often very funny, study of perception and behavior. In the differences between Christopher's view of the world and our own, we learn a great deal about the capacities and limitations of the "normal" human mind, and about the ways in which the human habit of narrating frequently relies on the excision of parts of reality.
  Belling, Catherine
  Excerpted, with permission, from the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database at New York University School of Medicine, © New York University.
Articles
- by William Schofield, who has Asperger's syndrome. "This book is a good murder mystery story but a better description of how the mind of a different person with some kind of special need looks upon how things work and come about." The Guardian; January 29, 2004
- Review: "This is one of the most original and thought provoking books I have read in the last year." The Guardian; June 13, 2016
- Mark Haddon's Curious Incident in the Neurological Spectrum. "Haddon shows in great detail Christopher's difficulties in social interactions." James Berger; Hofstra University
- Mark Haddon ‘did no research’ into autism for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.": "Haddon has always claimed not to be aware of the desperation of autistic people and their families for a book about autism that would capture the public’s attention." The Conversation, Amanda Tink; August 19, 2024
- Making sense of an inscrutable world. KCRW Radio, Santa Monica CA; August 08, 2017
- Podcast
  Plot overview
- Podcast
  The book is notable less for what happens in it and more for its perspective.