 | A WRITER'S WIT |
My Book World
Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. New York: Random, 2003.
A friend and former pupil recommended this book to me, and I put it on my Want-to-Read list right away. I’m glad I did.
Few writers, even those of Young Adult books, are able to capture both the voice and heart of a child character in such a way that all the chords ring true. Yet Haddon has managed to do so quite effectively.
Christopher is a bright child, who may also be autistic. Haddon never actually says. The boy knows all the prime numbers up to 7,057. At the same time he has a terrible time understanding abstractions such as metaphors.
A friend and former pupil recommended this book to me, and I put it on my Want-to-Read list right away. I’m glad I did.
Few writers, even those of Young Adult books, are able to capture both the voice and heart of a child character in such a way that all the chords ring true. Yet Haddon has managed to do so quite effectively.
Christopher is a bright child, who may also be autistic. Haddon never actually says. The boy knows all the prime numbers up to 7,057. At the same time he has a terrible time understanding abstractions such as metaphors.
“The second main reason [that Christopher finds people confusing] is that people often talk using metaphors. These are examples of metaphors
I laughed my socks off.
He was the apple of her eye.
They had a skeleton in the cupboard.
We had a real pig of a day.
The dog was stone dead.
The word metaphor means carrying something form one place to another, and it comes from the Greek words . . . .
I think it should be called a lie because a pig is not like a day and people do not have skeletons in the cupboards. And when I try and make a picture of the phrase in my head it just confuses me” (15).
This lack of guile is what often gets Christopher into trouble with the world at large. The inciting event of this novel, in fact, illustrates this principle. Christopher discovers that his neighbor’s dog has been stabbed with a pitchfork. Instead of leaving the murder scene alone and calling authorities immediately, he removes the weapon from the animal, cradles the dead dog in his arms, and that is how the owner finds them. And when she accuses him of the dastardly deed, he has not the skills to defend himself. Thus begins Christopher’s long journey to discover who killed his neighbor’s dog.
In the bargain, he discovers much more than he had hoped to. In fact, the trail leads right up to the door where he and his father live. The narrative is complicated by the fact that Christopher makes a startling discovery about his parents’ relationship. He must grow up and overcome whatever disability he might have—all at the same time.
An excellent read, as they say, but also a fine work of literature, well worth the time.
NEXT TIME: MLPR Podcast 6 "My Long-Playing Records"
In the bargain, he discovers much more than he had hoped to. In fact, the trail leads right up to the door where he and his father live. The narrative is complicated by the fact that Christopher makes a startling discovery about his parents’ relationship. He must grow up and overcome whatever disability he might have—all at the same time.
An excellent read, as they say, but also a fine work of literature, well worth the time.
NEXT TIME: MLPR Podcast 6 "My Long-Playing Records"
BEHIND THE BOOK: My Long-Playing Records & Other Stories. In these posts I speak of the creative process I use to write each story. Buy a copy here!
Date of Original Post:
11/13/14 — Introduction to My Long-Playing Records
11/20/14 — "My Long-Playing Records" — The Story
11/27/14 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
12/04/14 — "Ghost Riders"
12/11/14 — "The Best Mud"
12/18/14 — "Handy to Some"
12/25/14 — "Blight"
01/01/15 — "A Gambler's Debt"
01/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
01/15/15 — "Men at Sea"
01/22/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
01/29/15 — "Engineer"
02/05/15 — "Snarked"
02/12/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
02/19/15 — "The Age I Am Now"
02/26/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
Date of Original Post:
11/13/14 — Introduction to My Long-Playing Records
11/20/14 — "My Long-Playing Records" — The Story
11/27/14 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
12/04/14 — "Ghost Riders"
12/11/14 — "The Best Mud"
12/18/14 — "Handy to Some"
12/25/14 — "Blight"
01/01/15 — "A Gambler's Debt"
01/09/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
01/15/15 — "Men at Sea"
01/22/15 — "Basketball Is Not a Drug"
01/29/15 — "Engineer"
02/05/15 — "Snarked"
02/12/15 — "Killing Lorenzo"
02/19/15 — "The Age I Am Now"
02/26/15 — "Bathed in Pink"
My Long-Playing Records Podcasts:
03/12/15 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
03/26/15 — "The Best Mud"
04/02/15 — "Handy to Some"
04/07/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
04/14/15 — "Men at Sea"
03/12/15 — "A Certain Kind of Mischief"
03/26/15 — "The Best Mud"
04/02/15 — "Handy to Some"
04/07/15 — "Tales of the Millerettes"
04/14/15 — "Men at Sea"
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