The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

A MUST READ!!

A murder mystery like no other! Haddon as given us an interesting story about a fifteen year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. I think it's important to read about people with syndromes or other mental illnesses (I don't like this word but I couldn't think of another - No offence meant) because they show us another mentality, another way of thinking. We all have a brain and even though it is the same instrument we all use it differently to different results. Christopher Boone decides whether he is going to have a good or a bad day by the colour of the cars he sees in the morning. This may seem irrational to you but that is Christopher's life and when reading his story it is your life too. Books like this help you expand your horizons and place yourself in someone else's shoes.

This book is classified as children's fiction and very easy to read. It took me an afternoon to finish it but that does not mean you should pass it by. People of all ages should give this book its due. Even if by the end of it you're only glad that you don't have Asperger's then at least you'll be able to understand the next person with Asperger's you meet a little better. You won't be so harsh when you judge them. It is human nature to judge. You will see that they don't necessarily understand why you are smiling or if you are smiling at all and that they do no understand your body language and your initial reaction will be to back away. It's instinct. But maybe after reading this book you'll make the effort to step towards them again. We understand body language. We understand facial expressions. It is easier for us to adapt to the way they see the world and it is therefore easier for us to reach out a hand and start communicating in a way all parties can understand.

Reach out a hand and read the book.

I actually have an interesting and quite ironic story to tell you about my experience with this book. I got my first copy when I was about 12. It was for school and we were supposed to read it and possibly write an essay about it. I'm not quite sure but I remember it was for school. We had two dogs at the time and I must have left the book around somewhere because the next thing I know, my dog has eaten my copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time... So it was only last year that I came across it in a bookstore and actually found out how it ended!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time... isn't that a brilliant name for a book. Just the name lets you know that this isn't an ordinary story - not to mention the picture of a dog stabbed with a pitchfork on the cover...

An interesting title for a truly interesting book.