Books given as gifts are neat

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
By Mark Haddon
Published 2003, Vintage Books

Written from the perspective of autistic fifteen-year old Christopher Boone, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' recounts his experiences while solving a murder mystery. The facts are there. The victim? A dog. The weapon? A garden fork. The spot of the crime? On the grass in the middle of the lawn belonging to the dog's owner. The suspect? To be determined by Cristopher's investigation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that mysteries involved in the neighborhood go beyond just the death of a dog. Christopher Boone has as much to learn about himself, his family, and his community as he does about what events transpired in the night-time. Thankfully, the reader gets to tag along for his detective work. From the curious incident at the novel's opening to the last page, the story is told in a lively and honest fashion. Haddon keeps his narrator's tone and body of knowledge consistent throughout, providing the reader with a good sense that these thoughts are being honestly recorded from a real experience. Christopher Boone's struggles, interests, emotions, worldview, and decision-making processes are all conveyed with a sense of honesty. By the end, you will feel like you know him. Christopher's "mind's eye" is accentuated through the use of little picture graphics sprinkled throughout the text. The book welcomes the reader into an intelligent mind full of observations and unique perspectives most folks would never consider. For that alone, the book is a worthwhile experience. Plus, it is entertaining and easy to read.