I recently read a novel that has stuck in my mind; I think it is one of the most unique novels I've ever encountered. The novel is called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a mystery novel written by a British writer, Mark Haddon. It was published on 1 May 2003, in the United Kingdom. Although it is called a mystery novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time focuses more on the life of the main character, Christopher. The novel describes Christopher's uniqueness as someone with autism, highlighting the theme of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) representation.
At the beginning of the novel, it is described that seven minutes after midnight, Christopher found Wellington, his neighbor's dog, killed by a garden fork. He then pulled out the fork and hugged Wellington, wondering who had killed him and why. The following chapters describe Christopher's life, his likes and dislikes, his hobbies, and a lot more, while detailing his efforts to uncover the murder of Wellington. A few chapters before the end, Christopher finally discovers the killer of Wellington and he is shocked because the killer is someone very close to him.
There are seven characters who have an important role and are often mentioned in the novel. Christopher John Francis Boone, the main character and storyteller of the novel, who has autism and views the world differently from others. Ed Boone, Christopher's father, a boiler engineer and single parent. Judy Boone, Christopher's mother; Chris thought she was dead—because his father said so—but it turned out that she’s still alive. Siobhan, Christopher's paraprofessional and mentor at school; she teaches him how society works and how to act within its intricate rules. Eileen Shears, the owner of Wellington the dog; she consoled Ed and Christopher for a while after Chris learned of his mother's death. Roger Shears, Mrs. Shears's ex-husband and the boyfriend of Judy Boone. Mrs. Alexander, an elderly neighbor who provides Christopher with facts to help him investigating his parents and Mr. and Mrs. Shears.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, this novel is unique. I like that it uses Christopher's point of view because his perspective on the world is distinct and different from others. It also provides insight into how autistic people think and perceive their surroundings, which impressed me about the novel. I can honestly say there are no parts I dislike. However, I sometimes find the plot confusing because some chapters feel unrelated. For example, one chapter continues the main plot, while the next focuses on Christopher's hobbies. Yet, upon rereading, I understand how they connect.
Overall, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has a unique and interesting plot. I like this novel and want others to read it too because they will gain insight into how someone with autism sees the world. I give this novel a 9/10 because it is super cool!
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