The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Author: Mark Haddon
Published: 2004 by Vintage
Genre: Murder mystery
Pages: 268 + appendix


It's been a bit of a reading-spree again. Bought this on Tuesday at the Gatwick Airport, and after finishing Rivers of London on the flight from hell home, I started this and finished it on Wednesday.

Seriously, though, the flight was half-full of loud, horny, loud, tired and very, very loud teenagers, plus a baby and a toddler right across the aisle. Thank whatever higher power there may be for noise-cancelling headphones and a good book to sink in, because, fuck.

Our narrator is Christopher. He's 15, lives with his widowed father, and has Asperger's syndrome. He likes to go for walks in his home neighbourhood in Swindon at night-time, when there aren't other people around. On one walk he comes across the neighbour's dog, Wellington, who has been murdered with a garden fork. Christopher decides to find out who killed Wellington, since the police are not all that bothered, and to write a book about it. This is that book.

The chapters are quite short and numbered with prime numbers. Like Christopher, I like prime numbers too. They're fun to figure out. The story itself is engaging and well worth all the praise it has received. I was watching the news just before we headed for the airport (so before buying this) and found out that there's a play of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time in London now! Sorry I missed it.


I decided that I was going to find out who killed Wellington even though Father had told me to stay out of other people's business. 
   This is because I do not always do what I am told.
   And this is because when people tell you what to do it is usually confusing and does not make sense. 
   For example, people often say 'Be quiet,' but they don't tell you how long to be quiet for. Or you see a sign which says KEEP OFF THE GRASS but it should say KEEP OFF THE GRASS AROUND THIS SIGN or KEEP OFF ALL THE GRASS IN THIS PARK because there is lots of grass you are allowed to walk on.