Strengths of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

            One of the greatest strengths of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is its ability to offer something different to each reader depending on where he or she is in life. Everyone can take something different from the story. For example, a young child would see the story as simply an entertaining mystery novel that poses questions about gaining independence and growing up. Teenagers the same age as or older than the narrator can put themselves into Christopher’s shoes and experience empathy when imagining how difficult life would be with the mental problems that so obviously affect Christopher’s ability to live in mainstream society. Even adults could benefit from the book because their parental instinct and desire to help the young narrator would be the driving forces throughout their reading of the story, so the book would teach them about life in yet a different way. The novel is complicated and has many levels and can therefore be enjoyed more than once, and in a different way each time. No matter what level the book is read on, from the most superficial to the most complex, it poses questions about life on a larger scale through the medium of a very simple story. Not only does it pose different questions depending on where the reader is in life, but it also poses universal questions to all readers such as how to cope with loss. The genius of the book lies in the fact that it seems to be a very simple novel, but when dissected, it reveals deep insight about life and how different age groups have different perspectives and read stories in a different way while at the same time, no matter how young or old and no matter how mentally able or disabled, some life questions stay the same.

            Another incredible strength of the novel is the way it allows the reader to feel for a short time that he or she is in the position of someone with the medical condition that Christopher has. For a book to convey the experience, mindset, and thought-processes of a person with Aspergers or autism or a similar disorder is a difficult job because it is so unrelatable and unimaginable for those of us without such disabilities. The way that the author accomplishes the complex task of allowing the audience to relate to Christopher in such a way is to give him many characteristics that the average reader can relate to. For example, despite his many differences from the typical teenager, at his core, he still maintains the spirit of a rebellious teenager who desires independence and adventure and has difficulty obeying the rules set forth by his parents. He also has the goals and aspirations of a normal teenager in that he wants to do well in school so that he can live on his own and provide for himself. Many readers can relate to these aspects of Christopher’s personality, which therefore helps them understand his unusual, distorted point of view in a deeper way. Instead of just noting that many of Christopher’s beliefs or thought processes, such as his theory that whether a day is good or bad depends on what cars he sees that day, are completely unreasonable and irrational, readers begin to understand his logic behind such beliefs instead of just seeing him as crazy. Through this strength of the book, Haddon was able to give a voice to a group of people tat are not usually heard and help increase understanding and therefore acceptance.