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A review by sidharthvardhan
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
5.0
Somebody, I can’t recall who, has said that fiction is successful with people in as so far as their ability to show compassion for others – our very ability to step in to others shoes. And, so if the character in question is more like us or is facing problems that we have faced or are facing – it is easier to show compassion, and the artist is more likely to be successful. However, that also means that one is not challenging oneself too much – both as an artist and audience.
Christopher is rendered too different from us by his circumstances – the problems he faced are not ones we had to face, and so it must be that difficult for a writer to step into his shoes. C. is a differently-able fifteen ear old boy; who can’t bear crowds or strangers. Also, he can only understand words in their literal sense- so, he has problems with metaphors including expressions like ‘apple of eye’ or vague xpressions. This sometimes makes him an innocent quibbler – to fury of his parents. His inability to filter the information his mind is receiving makes him anxious in new places.
Also, he has a problem using what is called ‘Theory of mind’ – the assumption (which in usual cases is acquired in children by age of three) that other people have a mind of their own; and which also another thing which help enjoy fiction. So, Christopher is not able to enjoy fiction; except for detective novels which he see as puzzles – and he loves puzzles.
These very problems make him excellent with numbers and logic – far better than most of us; he finds the world of numbers much more secure and likes spending time with them. He likes numerical and visual patterns; and he has a great love for prime numbers because they defy all patterns. He relaxes by solving complex mathematical problems and puzzles. Also, he has an incredible memory. He is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes - who had willingly worked hard to be as logical as Christopher naturally is. The very things that make him different make him more conscious of the way mind work than most people are.
All these differences are incapable of beating his courage. He has a goal, that of being an astronaut. We don’t know if he will achieve that goal but he definitely has a genius and a courage that makes so high an aim possible, and a positive attitude that makes him look at problems as puzzles and challenges to be fought. This story is example of the little victories, that he won against his social-anxieties, which can act as stepping stones towards his goal.
Christopher is rendered too different from us by his circumstances – the problems he faced are not ones we had to face, and so it must be that difficult for a writer to step into his shoes. C. is a differently-able fifteen ear old boy; who can’t bear crowds or strangers. Also, he can only understand words in their literal sense- so, he has problems with metaphors including expressions like ‘apple of eye’ or vague xpressions. This sometimes makes him an innocent quibbler – to fury of his parents. His inability to filter the information his mind is receiving makes him anxious in new places.
Also, he has a problem using what is called ‘Theory of mind’ – the assumption (which in usual cases is acquired in children by age of three) that other people have a mind of their own; and which also another thing which help enjoy fiction. So, Christopher is not able to enjoy fiction; except for detective novels which he see as puzzles – and he loves puzzles.
These very problems make him excellent with numbers and logic – far better than most of us; he finds the world of numbers much more secure and likes spending time with them. He likes numerical and visual patterns; and he has a great love for prime numbers because they defy all patterns. He relaxes by solving complex mathematical problems and puzzles. Also, he has an incredible memory. He is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes - who had willingly worked hard to be as logical as Christopher naturally is. The very things that make him different make him more conscious of the way mind work than most people are.
All these differences are incapable of beating his courage. He has a goal, that of being an astronaut. We don’t know if he will achieve that goal but he definitely has a genius and a courage that makes so high an aim possible, and a positive attitude that makes him look at problems as puzzles and challenges to be fought. This story is example of the little victories, that he won against his social-anxieties, which can act as stepping stones towards his goal.