Fifteen-year-old Christopher has a photographic memory. He understands maths. He understands science. What he can't understand are other human beings. When he finds his neighbour's dog lying dead on the lawn, he decides to track down the killer and write a murder mystery about it. But what other mysteries will he end up uncovering?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time is a murder novel written by Mark Haddon. Before you start reading the review, I am going to say that this is definitely not a book for the faint hearted. There is quite a fair bit of swearing and also at times, the story and accounts of Christopher Boone are quite harrowing.
So, if you are still up for the book after that, then here is a short description of the plot:
Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old boy who has a psychological disorder called asperges. Christopher lives with his father in Swindon and has a far from normal life. His dad told him that his mother died in hospital from a heart attack and Christopher had always accepted that. Although, there are things that Christopher doesn't accept. He will not eat yellow or brown foods, as he doesn't like those colours; won't eat anything that has touched each other on the same plate; and he decides on how his day is going to be by the amount of yellow and red cars he sees on the way to school in the morning. Everything in Christopher's life was content and moderately happy. Until he sees Wellington (Mrs Shears' dog) with a garden fork through his chest on her front garden. Christopher decides to investigate (after he has been arrested for hitting a policeman) who is to blame for the murder. As Christopher starts to unravel the mystery, he is beginning to open a few other blank bits in his own life. Where has Mr Shears gone? Why doesn't his own father want him to investigate Wellington's death? As he discovers a box on top of his father's wardrobe, Christopher realises that his life isn't what he thought it was.
I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was hilarious and heart-breaking at the same time. I thought that Haddon really portrayed Christopher's lifestyle in a very intimate way and with so much understanding. I think that my favourite character was probably Christopher's father because he really was a saint. He understood Christopher and tried his best at all times so I like him for that. I would obviously recommend this book to older readers as it's not really a children's book but it's not that hard core!! Hopefully, those of you who do decide to read it, will enjoy it as much as I did.
The Guardian