The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

By: Mark Haddon

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has Asperger's Syndrome, a condition similar to autism. He doesn't like to be touched or meet new people, he cannot make small talk, and he hates the colors brown and yellow. He is a math whiz with a very logical brain who loves solving puzzles that have definite answers.

One night, he observes that the neighbor's dog has been killed, since it is not moving and has a large garden fork stuck in its body. Christopher knows this is wrong. He has never left his street on his own before, but now he'll have to in order to find out who killed the dog. What he discovers will shake the very foundation of his perfectly ordered life.

Critically acclaimed author Mark Haddon, a two-time BAFTA winner, crafts a stunning masterpiece that is funny, honest, and incredibly moving.

©2003 Mark Haddon (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2004

"The novel brims with touching, ironic humor. The result is an eye-opening work in a unique and compelling literary voice." (Publishers Weekly)
"Fresh and inventive." (Booklist)
"Smart, honest and wrenching....Will quickly hook you in." (San Francisco Chronicle)
"Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." (The Boston Globe)

Things could be worse

What did you love best about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time?

I loved the different reactions the boy had than I would in similar situations

Who was your favorite character and why?

This main character was my favorite because I loved hearing his point of view.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked when he was hiding on the train.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have any extreme reactions but had many feel good reactions.

Any additional comments?

I don't usually like books that take place in Britain, but that had no negative effect on this one.

Compelling narrator

The story is told by a 15-yr-old autistic narrator. Very compelling and fresh point of view.

unique perspective

The perspective of this book is fascinating. Its told from the point of view of an autistic teenage boy. The author does a great job of this. What I didn't like about this book is that its supposed to be a kids book. The author uses the "F" word more times than the average adult book. This really takes away from the book. Also the child's mom is a very difficult character to like. Its like she doesn't even try to work with her son. I know its difficult, but she didn't even try. So for me that character also took away from the book.

This story was laugh out loud funny and serious a time

It's about s 15.5 year old boy with Autism. I learned so much by his reactions to everyday things that happen to all of us and we don't react to them because we don't have Autism. I saw my grand daughter in this boy & I fell in love with the character. It is a wonderful read with very few to long interpretations of what he's explaining. Enjoyed it throughly.

Hilarious, original, detailed, and very satisfying

What did you love best about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time?

This novel is told in a first-person perspective by Christopher John Francis Boone. He is a 15-year-old autistic boy. His character is fantastic; he is rigid, logical, has fixed interests, poor social skills, and sensory sensitivities. He loves prime numbers, math, and puzzles. The mentions of sensory processing difficulties are brilliant: the smell of poo, no hugging, and over crowded places. Along with a great character, there is several great stories to be told. The story of Wellington, the story of his mother, and the story of his autistic life. It is so great that I know I will read this again. No people are alike, just like no autistic people are alike, and this is a great depiction of one autistic person. It is beautiful! Thank you Mark Haddon for writing this book!

Special

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I enjoyed this book - very different from what I usually read. I liked Christopher and empathized with his parents and teacher. It's a good read for learning about some of the different ways people think.

What about Jeff Woodman’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the narrator's voice inflections that conveyed the feelings of the various characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was saddened when I realized that Christopher's mother was not dead. Christopher mentioned many times how much telling the truth meant to him and I knew it would be devastating when he found out that his father had lied.

Any additional comments?

I read several comments from other readers before reading this - it seems that people either love the book or hate it. Not much in between.

This Book is Amazingly Awesome

I love the book and the Narrator was very well spoken and well presented while reading

Enlightening and Endearing Story

Anybody can change the world and achieve what they want. This is wonderfully expressed through the perspective of a boy named Christopher who is incredibly clever and smart. An enlightening, humorous, sad, and endearing portrayal of a teen with autism, this story was perfect for a family road trip with kids ranging from 8-15. The narration and the story is wonderful, despite some cursing, and is a must read for everyone over 12.

Where's my Proof?

I really enjoyed this book, however was disappointed that they cut the math proof at the end of the book. Can you really call this unabridged when you leave out the ending?

Well done

Very well done. A unique point of view written very convincingly. Your sympathy jumps from person to person to get a whole range of the problems facing people with this challenge.