The Review of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime'
The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night-time follows Christopher, a teenage boy with behavioural problems and suspected Asperger’s, as he writes this ‘murder mystery novel’ surrounding the death of his neighbour’s dog. As we are given major insight into Christopher’s mind and its workings it becomes clear to the audience that this novel is simultaneously uncovering the mystery of Christopher’s deceased mother.
Though, in all actuality, the book is more so about Ed Boone (father) and the normalisation of his abusive tendencies. Throughout the novel Mr Boone lies about the death of Christopher’s mother, blames her disappearance on his son’s developmental disorder and displays mental and physical abuse towards his son. As Christopher can’t recognize this toxic, dangerous behaviour, the reader is led to believe that all is well… right? …Wrong. Haddon even goes as far to suggest that Christopher himself is responsible for this behaviour. But in the end his father buys Christopher a dog, so what do the consequences of his actions even matter?
Throughout the novel it becomes profoundly obvious that Christopher is meant to be suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disorder. However, the novel is not about a young teen living with autism … or at least it isn’t according to Haddon.
Hay Festival 2012’s audience heard from Haddon himself that he’d “…never specified any disorder…”. Though Asperger’s syndrome itself is mentioned by name in an earlier edition of the book. Haddon has previously stated many times that he “…knows very little about the subject [autism]…” and that he “…did no research for the curious incident…”. This lack of knowledge and Haddon’s audacity to clearly write ‘Asperger’s’ on the cover of his book is utterly offensive.
Through admittance of his father, Christopher’s parent’s divorce was blamed on his actions. He has little to no understanding of his hurtful verbal and physical actions, believing himself to be superior to other humans to the extent of desiring mankind’s extinction, is concerningly fond of knives and has violent outbursts rather frequently. The curious incident describes a horrible view of autism and, in some ways, a harmful and profoundly inaccurate depiction of life on the spectrum. This fact is made severally worse by the fact Haddon himself refuses to admit to the severity of what he has so obviously and inadequately represented. How a novel can be both so problematic and offensive… I will never know. Being poorly researched and inexplicably uncompelling, it also displays the worst of stereotypical behaviours, stoking the fires of discrimination for people living with either Autism or AD all over the world.
In conclusion, to the blindest of eye’s, the curious incident is a charming story about an autistic boy using his refined skills to solve a murder mystery that is close to his heart. Though to anyone else it is clearly a disgusting normalization of abuse, stereotyping and class a victim-blaming.
