The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon 
226 pages
Published: May 18 2004

Blurb: 

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor's dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. What follows makes for a novel that is funny, poignant and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing are a mind that perceives the world entirely literally.

Rating:

Thoughts:

I'll keep this review short and sweet, just as this book was. Well, maybe not sweet. We follow a smart protagonist named Christopher here with unconventional habits and a unique way of thinking. I found his perspective intelligent, yet easy to follow. The only thing I guess I didn't enjoy very much, and the reason why this wasn't a 5-star read for me, is that he got extremely frustrating at times when he refused to follow orders or just simply behave. I felt sorry for his parents.

This book is not a fast-paced book whatsoever, it quite frankly has a very simple plot. The thing that really makes it is all the interesting facts Christopher shares with the readers, things like mathematical puzzles and logical science. You would think this information would make the book dull, but Mark Haddon has a way of making you actually care to learn. 

It was interesting to see Christopher develop over the course of 226 pages, since his experiences really made him much more independent and aware of his actions. Again, since this was such a short book, there is not much to say about it, but Christopher and some of the other characters are what make it distinctly enjoyable, in my opinion. 

If you're an animal lover, tolerant person, and you enjoy short books, I suggest you pick this up!