Curious or Just Strange?

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon is a great read. I found it by recommendation, and am glad I picked it up. It was quick, and something unique in fiction.

The setting is England, which is why the word "curious" is in the title. Everyone knows that here in America, we would probably say "strange" or "bizarre" but the British like to say "curious" because it sounds better, I guess. (The title is a quote spoken by Sherlock Holmes in an 1892 book, so that explains it). There is also a bit of language in this book, so be forewarned. 


Our narrator is a 15-year-old boy with some form of autism. Christopher John Francis Boone tells the story of his crime investigation as part of a school assignment. After finding his neighbor's poodle dead in the front yard, he sets out to solve the case. His father repeatedly warns him not to interfere, but he stubbornly goes out to investigate the murder and interrogate neighbors. He wants to prove his own innocence in the whole matter. Along the way, he uncovers some other shocking details about his own life. Specifically, he untangles a web surrounding his mother's previous disappearance from his life. 


I love being able to get a glimpse into the mind of someone who thinks very differently from most of the world. I really wanted this boy to find out what had happened, and most of all, to find his mother and make his own way. All odds were against him, which adds to the suspense. 


To find out more, click here for the Wikipedia link. (The author does not claim to be an expert on autism or Asperger's Syndrome, and education is not the purpose of the book).


Have you read this book? Leave a comment about your thoughts-- does this sound like something you would add to your reading pile?
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