The Curious Incident
Of The Dog In The Night-Time
- Mark Haddon
Christopher is fifteen years old. He understands maths, he understands science. But he finds people very confusing.
Wellington is Mrs Shears's dog. He is a poodle. He has been murdered and Christopher wants to discover just who murdered Wellington.
Siobhan is a social worker at Christopher's school. She helps Christopher understand grown-ups, emotions and communication. She also encourages him to write a book about his investigations.
The result - illustrated and with each chapter marked by its own prime
number - is 'The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time'. The
novel is funny, fascinating and insightful. Peppered with mathematical
and scientific trivia, it sets you thinking about Christopher's personal
and poignant world-view. His liking for mysteries, his dislike of
strangers, his photographic memory, his thoughts of becoming an astronaut,
his hatred of lies, his logic of order, his family crises, his personality
disorders - issues, the likes of which every teenager comes across
at some point in their life.
The novel is less about the curious incident of the dog in the night-time
and more about the story of Christopher's relationships - to things,
to people and the world. The story of a boy blessed and cursed with
a mind that views the world unwaveringly, literally. A boy in search
of the truth, in search of understanding. A boy unable to express
his emotions and unable to understand others. The beautiful story
of a special child in a special world!
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