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)

Didn't know what to expect

Good story to help understand people on the spectrum. Will listen to again for parts I missed.

A Tremendous Story

Where does The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would put this book in the top five of what I've listened to this year (at least 25 books). I've already given a copy to my son who is a therapist for children with autism and Asperger's.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time?

One memorable thing about this book was not in specific moments, but how Christopher interpreted events in his own way. He uses his math savant abilities to explain the events going on his life, i.e., turning actions into equations along the lines of calculus. There was a particular moment about his attending the "math college" that was emotional to me.

What about Jeff Woodman’s performance did you like?

I think he captured Christopher's manner of speaking very well. Children with Asperger's tend not to have as much inflection in their voices and Woodman definitely conveyed that. l.

Who was the most memorable character of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and why?

Christopher of course, but I also had changed my opinion about his father by the end of the book.

Any additional comments?

I had wanted to read this book since it was nominated for several Tony Awards. After reading it, I'm not quite sure how it would be staged because most of the "action" is Christopher explaining things to himself in his mind. This book was a surprise to me that I enjoyed it so very much.

loved it!

I so appreciated the details given to understanding a new perspective on life. I would share this title with others and may even read again myself.

Entertaining, feels authentic

It's a little hard to listen to, given the problems of the boy protagonist. But it seems realistic, and I have a son who shared some of the traits. It was well worth it, and written in a fairly unique voice. Very expressive. The reader didn't get in the way, at all.

Interesting yet ...

I found this book interesting ... yet disturbing. Having known a child with this disorder, I find that this was pretty true to life, however I don't think everyone will understand or enjoy this book. Written very well, I am not sorry I "read" it, and will most likely always remember it. I would not recommend it to most people, however don't let that stop you. You might really enjoy it.

Loved. Highly Recommend.

If you could sum up The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in three words, what would they be?

Heartfelt, Intriguing, and Intimate

What did you like best about this story?

I loved that it was written in the voice of the autistic boy. It was such a unique perspective and made me think a lot.

What does Jeff Woodman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think it becomes a little bit more intimate, because you are hearing the voice and become a little more connected with the character. He did an excellent job adding narrating the thoughts and feelings of the boy.

I feel much more empathy for those with aspergers

The story was absolutely wonderful and the accent was a treat to listen to! Loved it!!

Incredible!!

This book is simply incredible! A really great insight into the mind of someone with a diagnosis like Christopher. I laughed and I cried.

I only wish the ending was a little further into the future so I could see how some things turned out and how he is doing now.

All in all, fabulous.

Outstanding read!

Not what I expected but very interesting and well narrated. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It was a informative look into the mind of an autistic child.

Superb performance

Any additional comments?

I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book as much if I were reading it. I thought the narrator was outstanding. The story was engaging and interesting, containing the right amount of realistic drama, and I enjoyed having a sense of what it is like to be in the mind of someone who is highly sensitive (other than my own). I felt it was a bit tedious at times, but that exemplifies the main character.