Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
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"A great read. Gripping, with a strong voice that carries you away with the narrative. Offers fresh perspectives on ways of understanding the world, and does the things that all great novels should: enable you to understand and connect to the world of someone else."
— Bholloway (4 out of 5 stars)
“Brilliant…Delightful…Very moving, very plausible—and very funny.”
— Oliver Sacks, New York Times bestselling author of Hallucinations“Mark Haddon’s portrayal of an emotionally disassociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy.”
— Ian McEwan, New York Times bestselling author of Atonement“Full of whimsical surprises and tender humor.”
— People“Funny, sad, and totally convincing.”
— Time“Disorienting and reorienting the reader to devastating effect…As suspenseful and harrowing as anything in Conan Doyle.”
— New York Times Book Review“Haddon’s book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different ‘mystery’: the thoughts and feeling we share even with those very different from us.”
— Entertainment Weekly“This original and affecting novel is a triumph of empathy.”
— New Yorker“A murder mystery, a road atlas, a postmodern canvas of modern sensory overload, a coming-of-age journal, and lastly a really affecting look at the grainy inconsistency of parental and romantic love and its failures…In this striking first novel, Mark Haddon is both clever and observant, and the effect is vastly affecting.”
— Washington Post“Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent.”
— Boston Globe“Extraordinarily moving, often blackly funny…It is hard to think of anyone who would not be moved and delighted by this book.”
— Financial Times (London)" This book has some inappropriate language. But it was really interesting and helped me understand autism a little better. "
— Ann, 2/20/2014" Noy really my kind of book! "
— Jae, 2/5/2014" Thought this book was brilliant. Can't believe how well he managed to write from inside the head of a 15 year old boy with Asperger's. A quick read and made me laugh out loud. "
— Alex, 2/1/2014" this book was suggested by two different authors of books i just read, about its spot on portrayal of aspergers and so i decided to try it! i really enjoyed it, found it to be very great read. "
— Catherine, 1/24/2014" I enjoyed this book, it was engaging, funny, disturbing and sad at others. Autism is not something i have any experience with, and i know there are different degrees of it, overall i recommend this book a good read! "
— Heather, 1/21/2014" A life-changing masterpiece, the kind of book that will stay with me until the end. "
— Marina, 1/20/2014" Intensely powerful, remarkably different from anything I've ever read before. Finished it one one sitting. I didn't read this book...I swallowed it whole. "
— Menucha, 1/18/2014" I'd forgotten how good this book is. The author does a great job of helping you see what it is like inside the mind of an autistic child. Well written and a little sad. Liked it a lot. "
— Sarah, 1/13/2014" As an aunt of an autistic nephew, I could relate. Frustrating autism. "
— Cheryl, 1/12/2014" A fast, but interesting read- 1st person point of view allows you to walk in the shoes of someone with Aspergers- perhaps... as it was written by someone who does not have Aspergers. "
— Erica, 1/9/2014" Everyone should read this book. "
— Jan, 1/4/2014" Absolutely loved this book! Great insight into how the autistic mind works... "
— Diana, 12/28/2013" I just realized that the title of this book comes from a Sherlock Holmes quote! It's from Silver Blaze. Great line. :P "
— Cadi, 12/22/2013" I am a special education major and I read this book when I was younger, but I found it so interesting to read a book from the point of view of someone with autism. This book was very interesting and I would love to read it again! "
— Leanne, 11/5/2013" An immediate favorite. Best book I've read all year. "
— Daniel, 6/4/2013" I give this book 3.5 stars. I liked the way it was written, and the character of Christopher was interesting and likeable. But I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Like the author has gotten bored. "
— Felicity, 4/29/2013" What a great book- loved the first person point of view. You learn every in and out of this character- captivating. A lot of twists and turns I didn't see coming as well. "
— Kimberly, 10/20/2012" A dead dog and a freaky boy. "
— Márcia, 7/13/2012" Only book I have ever read that is narrated by someone with Autism. Great glimpse into the main characters mind amid the craziness of the curious incident of the dog... in the night-time. "
— Tina, 6/11/2012" A very unique narrative. I really enjoyed it. I felt like I gained some insight into a very different worldview. "
— Katie, 2/14/2012" Such an incredible book! I absolutely loved it. An easy read and just couldn't get enough!!! "
— Rachel, 1/19/2012" So cleverly written and unique. "
— Henry, 12/29/2011" This was a highly unusual and well-written book. It's not for me to say whether the author gets the autistic narrator "right," but everything you've read about what a good novel this is is true. "
— J.E., 11/23/2011" Could really relate to it! "
— Katie, 10/3/2011" This is a really cute book. "
— Whit, 8/5/2011" Since I am a fan of lists, this book was perfect. I felt for Christopher through the whole book, never felt disconnected. "
— Laurie, 7/18/2011" This is ‘less is more’ done well. The simplicity of this story, written from the perspective of a boy with Asperger’s syndrome (or at least something similar), somehow makes it more heartfelt. It was very easy and a pleasure to read. "
— Katja, 5/25/2011" I loved the story and the character, and I understand that the way it was written, but I needed more description or substance. It was missing something. But it was fascinating and I loved his asides about prime numbers, or math problems. "
— Madeleine, 5/24/2011" This book is easy to read and i really liked it. Most of all, loved the character, the autistic child and the way he thinks and acts. It takes you into his world, funny and sad and clever altogether. i recomend it! "
— Nalia, 5/24/2011" This is one of the most unique books I have ever read. It is currently making the rounds in my classroom as well for independent reading. The students seem to enjoy to unique voice of the main character. "
— Heather, 5/24/2011" I throughly enjoyed the book, yet somewhat related with too many of the characters quirks! "
— Chris, 5/24/2011" One of the most amazing books that I have ever read. Enough said. "
— Karla, 5/24/2011" Hard to get into and didn't love the ending. Just didn't love it although my book club members did ... "
— Deborah, 5/23/2011" Really, really loved this! As someone who worked with autistic students years ago, the voice of this boy is amazingly authentic and honest. "
— Katrina, 5/22/2011" Fun afternoon — or for me, a three-afternoon — read. Characters were brief but human. This is a good example of a short story that would be difficult to translate well to film, though they'll likely try. "
— Bill, 5/22/2011" Great read. Gave me improved compassion for those with children and those themselves suffering from autism. "
— Heidi, 5/22/2011" Just finished this book and really enjoyed it. "
— Trine, 5/22/2011" There were moments I laughed out loud. A very interesting read. Not all who partake will understand it. "
— Spicedmama, 5/21/2011" It reminded me a bit of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" but with a different plot and story. I guess it was because of the style and the main characters. I really liked the plot and how the characters reacted to certain situations in the story. "
— Malena, 5/21/2011Mark Haddon is an author, illustrator, and screenwriter. His bestselling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, was published in 2003 and won seventeen literary prizes, including the Whitbread Book of the Year Award, and is an international bestseller. Mark Haddon lives in Oxford, England.
Jeff Woodman is an actor and narrator. He is a winner of the prestigious Audie Award and a six-time finalist. He has received twenty Earphones Awards and was named the 2008 Best Voice in Fiction & Classics, as well as one of the Fifty Greatest Voices of the Century by AudioFile magazine. As an actor, he originated the title role in Tennessee Williams’ The Notebook of Trigorin and won the S. F. Critics’ Circle Award for his performance in An Ideal Husband. In addition to numerous theater credits on and off Broadway, his television work includes Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Cosby.