“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” by Mark Haddon

I was given this book in Fratelli’s Restaurant and Pizzeria in Oxford on World Book Night.

It’s not easy to write a book convincingly in the first person, but Mark Haddon has managed to do it well in this novella. His achievement is the greater for creating a very different character. Although it is easy to find the basis of the book if you read other reviews I don’t want to spoil the initial surprise so shall say no more!

All I will say is that he treats his subject with great sympathy and understanding. The story itself is both happy and sad, the sadness coming from the reader’s outside perspective on events. The book doesn’t take long to read and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. In keeping with the World Book Night convention I shall pass my copy on, wishing it well on its journey.