Do you ever give a book a second chance? I mean quite literally – like you read the first time and you don’t like it, but then you give it another chance and ending up appreciating it more? Well, that is what happened with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.
Have you ever given a book a second chance and then ended up appreciating it more? Well, that is what happened with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Read my review here Share on XAbout the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Book Name: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Author: Mark Haddon
Genre: Fiction – Drama, Young adult
Characters: Christopher John Francis Boone, Toby, Wellington, Siobhan, Mr. Jeavons, Mrs. Alexander, Ed Boone, Judy Boone, Mr. and Mrs. Eileen Shears
Plot summary of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Christopher John Francis Boone, a fifteen year old kid on the Autism/Asperger’s spectrum, is on a mission to find out who murdered his neighbour’s dog, Sherlock Holmes’ style. While he has a gift for math, he has difficulty reading other people’s emotion and hates being touched.
His father finds it difficult to understand his needs. His mother did it all for him until she died suddenly and now they are left to fend for themselves. Did he find the murderer? What happened to his mother? Read the rest of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to know more.
Book review of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
I rarely give books that I DNF-ed a second chance and I decided to read it because the Classics N Christie book club chose it as the BOTM. And I really wanted to know what happened in the book after I gave up and why everyone goes gaga over it.
Even though it plays the stereotypical high functioning autistic kid, this book helped me take a look at what happens inside the head of an autistic teen.
If I had to wonder what the difference was between the first time I read it and now, it is that I am more educated about the autistic spectrum, thanks to mainstream media and other books.
Things that worked for me
- While I found it hard to get into the first time I read it, I liked the non linear writing style now.
- I was genuinely surprised when the big reveal came up and I hadn’t guessed it at all.
- Christopher is a classic example of unreliable narrators, whom I love in general.
Things that didn’t work for me
Christopher falls straight into the holes of the stereotypes of autism in the mainstream media.
Bottom-line
I am glad I gave The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time a second chance and I wish that I liked it more. Sure I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it as much I did the first time.
Similar books that you may like
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
- Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
- Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
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Let us chat
Have you read the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time? Or watched the play? Do have recommendations with a better Autistic/Asperger’s representation? Let us talk.
Great review!
Oh yes, I’ve tried books I initially loathed many years later and find I have a greater appreciation for the writing style or genre.
Great review. I dont usually give books a second chance.
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That’s neat that you gave this book a second chance! I never go back to books I DNF’ed. I used to try to power through DNFs and would always end up disliking them. Now I just move on.
I gave it a chance because it was the BOTM!
I adore this book. Whilst I understand people saying that Christopher was stereotypical Autistic, he behaves in a way a lot of Autistic people do, especially children. I should know I have a teenage son who is Autistic. I could see Christopher in my son whilst reading it and it taught me a lot about my son’s thought processes.
Wow that is a great compliment to a book and its representation.
I have not read this but my daughter rates it among her favourites
You should give it a try too.
That happened to me with the last Harry Potter book
Sometimes the second chances do work
That is such an interesting title!
I agree!
Cool of you to have reread it.
Great review! I love when a book surprises you the second time around. Even if it’s not your favorite, at least you gave it a second chance.
Sometimes it really pays off to give a book another chance. There was one book that, for some reason, I gave 3 or 4 chances and FINALLY the book and my brain got on the same page (ha ha) and it was one of the best books I ever read. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. For the life of me I could not get past the first chapter or two in that book, until one day I was finally able to just keep going.
I had a similar issue with his Virgin Suicides and I loved it later. It is one of those rare books that I reread once in a few years.
I love unreliable characters. Makes me guess the entire novel what’s happening/going to happen. I’ll have to check this one out. I love books that feature someone autistic, just to keep learning more. Glad you gave this a second chance!