“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” by Mark Haddon is a fiction novel that many people would enjoy reading, although the main character, Christopher, says it is a murder mystery novel. It is a “funny, honest, plausible book that would make you buy two copies; you wouldn’t want to lend yours out.” It is about a boy, Christopher Boone who is autistic and discovers someone killed his neighbours’ dog. He tries to do some detective work on finding out who did this crime and it ends up with him moving away to his Mother in London, who is divorced with his Father, and is living with Mr Shears, the neighbour. Christopher John Francis Boone is 15 years old at the time of when the novel was set, in Swindon. When he is caught with Mrs Shears’ dog, he is confused as she swears at him even though he didn’t kill Wellington, the dog:‘Let go of the dog,’ she shouted. ‘Let go of the fucking dog for Christ’s sake.’ This quote explains the anger and hatred tone in Mrs Shears’ voice. Christopher, on the other hand is trying his best to comfort Mrs Shears and tell her he didn’t kill the dog. Christopher changes a lot throughout the novel. At the start he is very consciences about everything around him but later on in the middle he begins to ‘loosen up’ a little bit. However, at the end he is extremely independent and he proves that by going to London – to visit his mother – on the train. He is one of the most important and main characters in this novel, but you could also say that Mrs Shears and Christopher’s Mother or Father are too: ‘I have to go back to Swindon.’ And Mother said, ‘Christopher, you’ve only just got here.’ And I said, ‘I have to go back to Swindon because I have to sit my Maths A Level.’ And Mother said, ‘You’re doing Maths A Level?’ And I said. ‘Yes. I’m taking it on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday next week.’ In the quote we learn that Christopher wishes to take his Mathematics A Level but his Mother wont let him to back up to Swindon from London, but in the end she has to because Christopher’s Father appears in London. There is not really a most important theme in ‘’The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time’’ as it is told by Christopher and he simply tells what happens at that particular time. However, there is one part where the reader could find the theme; ‘confused’, when Christopher finds letters addressed to him in his Father’s bedroom, in a little box.
They were also dated after his Mother had her heart attack and died: “The letter was posted on 16th October 1997, which was 18 months after Mother had died.” And then the door of my bedroom opened and Father said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘I’m reading a letter.’ Then, Christopher’s Father just walked out the door without asking what the letter was about. This was an intriguing and a reasonably exciting scene as the reader could predict many scenes as to what would happen next. The most exciting part of the novel is when Christopher runs away from home and decides to go and live with his Mother in London. He has to take the train by himself and runs away from the conductor and the police man chasing after him. He finally gets to London the next day – but he also has to take the underground train – which seems fine to some, but not for Christopher. It takes him 5 hours to get a train in the tube. When he tries to find Toby, his lost pet rat, he goes on to the rails to get him. The train approaches and he gets up with the help of a man, although Christopher doesn’t like anyone touching him, and he screams: “And the lady with the guitar case said, ‘Is he OK?’ And the man with the diamond patterns on his socks said, ‘Him? Thanks a bundle. Jesus Christ. A pet rat. Oh Shit. My train.’ And then he ran to the train and he banged on the door which was closed and the train started to go away and he said, ‘Fuck.’” Mark Haddon’s wordchoice in the novel is extremely well chosen, and in some parts it is very hard to believe that one author can come up with a great scene. This book would be enjoyed by anyone from ages 12 upwards, and mostly teenagers who would like a serious, yet funny read. “Haddon shows a great insight into the mind of someone who is autistic.” It is a great novel all round and has understanding topics throughout the novel as well.