20th August, 2009 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I have just finished reading “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon, and it is utterly brilliant. I read it in two days, and I can’t remember the last time that I did that. (obviously, I don't mean that I can't remember the last time I read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in 2 days, bacuase I have never read it before. I mean any book. Stop being so literal minded.)  It is a mesmerising story told from the point of view of a narrator with autism. We are catapulted into a world seen through the eyes of someone who has an utterly different way of processing information.

The book is sad and funny and rather wise. It questions the way we perceive the world and points out that much of our experience is illusion. I also like the bit where the narrator reminds us that our crazy thirst for travel is illogical, pointing out that there are so many things in one suburban house that are strange and wonderful, that it would take a lifetime to think about them all. How does de-icer work? Why do glasses reach a resonant frequency if you run a wet finger around the rim.

There are strange and beautiful journeys to be had if you don’t ever step over the front doorstep.