The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What an incredible novel! A fifteen-year-old autistic boy tries to solve the murder of a neighborhood dog, only to uncover a hidden truth far closer to home. Haddon’s attention to detail is astounding, and young Christopher’s voice — at once detached, methodical, and unexpectedly endearing — comes across as absolutely authentic. This novel really is a voice piece, a testament to how important voice is to a story, and Christopher comes alive on the page thanks to the use of a compelling and unusual one. I particularly loved the early scenes of Christopher’s detective work. As such, I was a little disappointed that the mystery was solved so quickly, though I get that it was necessary to do so in order to give proper motivation for subsequent events. Regardless, this is a very satisfying read, and when I finally closed the book I found myself beaming, delighted to have lived in its world for a short time.
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