First impressions
After you've completed the first few chapters (or if you're totally done already), what are your first impressions?
Or, if you haven't started the book but have polished off a bottle of this month's wine pairing, how was it?
Submitted by Jennie from Hutchinson, MN
Posted by jennie at 7/4/2006 8:33 PM 
Categories: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
Categories: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
I'm about halfway through the book, and my impression of the book has already changed from when I started. At first, I was thinking that writing from the perspective of an autistic child would be a great way to write a book because it would allow you to write details in a more obvious way. The main character describes things just as he observes them, and always in a straightforward way. But now that I'm farther into the book, I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to need to understand how an autistic person might process thoughts and view the world - making writing the book awfully complex.
My only three complaints (which will only highlight to you my limited intelligence):
1. As I started reading the first page, I noticed that it was Chapter 2. I turned to the previous page to see if I missed something. There wasn't anything there, so I figured maybe I had a defective book or something. Deciding I couldn't have missed much, I started with Chapter 2 anyway and decided not to look at anymore chapter numbers. After the number sequencing was explained, I decided that I DEFINITELY wouldn't look at the numbers, it's not like I would know if they were out of sequence or anything. This leads me to my next complaint/confession:
2. I haven't been able to follow a single mathematical argument in the whole book.
3. I don't know how to pronounce Siobhan, so of course it bothers me every time I see it.
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Okay, I hereby commit to not only finish this book but even more importantly, contribute to this great website that Jennie's set up. I still kind of feel like a dog for the first one.
I have the book in hand now and quite honestly share Jennie's concern. Seeing numbers anywhere (except on my paycheck) seem to go fuzzy in my vision until I just don't see them at all. However, here are some things I'm finding interesting to start with:
1)autistic obversations. the attention to detail is fascinating. also, how removed he can be from emotion.
2) the chapters could go by quickly since there are a lot of diagrams and pictures.
Two other thoughts to share:
1) I hope Christopher didn't kill the dog.
3) I found out how to pronounce Siobhan. Not intuitive at all: "shiv + awn" and in the "Book Club" spirit...here is Frank McCourt pronouncing it...
http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html
http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html
ha! there was no 2...just trying to trick you.
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I read this book about a
year ago and remember liking it. Unfortunately, I gave my copy to someone. I will just follow along with you guys on this one - maybe something will come to me at some point!
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I like it so far and love the short chapters. They make it easy to read in short gulps. The insights into the autistic mind are good - I wonder if they are an authentic view. I also couldn't help wondering how the author knew that when you assign a numerical value to names like "Jesus Christ" you get a prime number. Did he just try different names until he hit on some that fit with a prime number?
Sevda, I really don't think Christopher killed the dog. Remember, he doesn't lie. I AM a little worried that Christopher's dad killed the dog.
I feel sad and sort of hopeless for poor Christopher and his dad. How are they ever going to make it in the long run when Christopher does things like assault police officers and give girls in his class concussions? Sigh. . . sounds like a hard life for dad.
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I had a dream last night that I read the book and really enjoyed it. I think that might be it for me.
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I agree with Jill's comments about Christopher and his dad. What a difficult family situation. Kinda makes you put any parenting difficulties in perspective. And I did admire his father in the book for doing a respectable and loving job of parenting.
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When Jennie told me the title of the book for this month, I told her that I had already read it and didn't like it....but that I would reread it and reevaluate. I love to read, but find that I don't really like to analyze what I have read. I read the book in the car on our ride to Wyoming and that was good because it was a lot of uninterrupted reading. I remember what I didn't like was that the story was sad.(sounds like a first grade comment). I can't imagine being patient enough to raise an autistic child.
Like my daughter, I didn't understand the math and would skip over those parts and would pronounce Siobhan like it looks...which I knew couldn't be right. Thanks, Sevda, for the correction.
I will try to remember the name of the wine and give that a try along with a rating for it. My rating for the book is 2 stars. It was OK, but would not necessarily recommend it to others.
Give me a good Janet Evanovich any day!
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