Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
5 of 5 stars

In a world in which we are constantly hearing of parents finding out their children have Asperger syndrome, autism, etc. this book gives outsiders a glimpse into the mind of someone experiencing the world through this lens. The book never specifies exactly what the main character has, but it is definitely something in the autism spectrum.

I gave this book five stars because I consider it a piece of good writing. I consider something good writing if it is writing that affects how I perceive the world. When you first start reading this book, I will admit it is difficult. The voice we hear is not one we are used to. It was the voice of someone wholly different from me. However, as you delve into the life of Christopher and experience how he interacts with the world, it actually begins to make sense. Even someone like me, who has never particularly enjoyed mathematics, can understand why he uses the order and rationale of math to calm himself in a chaotic world. You appreciate the sheer depth of his genius.

Now, I would never claim that I understand what it is like to be autistic, but this book gave me a better appreciation for the struggles families of people with autism experience in everyday life. It also made me think about ways that I could improve the world around me for someone who falls in the autistic spectrum.

I would consider this a modern classic and would recommend it to anyone, especially people who are interested in finding more out about the autism spectrum.



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