Comments on: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/ Maw Books - book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:54:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Dominic http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-19465 Dominic Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:19:17 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-19465 I did enjoy this book better than others I have read, and it seemed as though the more I read it, the more it hooked me in. I found it hard to read little at a time, so I essentially read it in about 3 sittings. I enjoyed the way Christopher was portrayed by Mark Haddon I did enjoy this book better than others I have read, and it seemed as though the more I read it, the more it hooked me in. I found it hard to read little at a time, so I essentially read it in about 3 sittings. I enjoyed the way Christopher was portrayed by Mark Haddon

]]> By: Jenny D. http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-9757 Jenny D. Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:02:16 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-9757 I hate to disagree with everyone who has left a comment, but I feel that I must for those who will read this website in the future and who disliked this book. I really liked it at first, and I felt that although Christopher was not a character that I could connect with, I felt for him. I admired his courage, despite his disorder, and as the book went on, I felt drawn in more and more. However, as soon as I learned who actually killed poor Wellington, the book became a drag, and a tad boring. The style of writing that I had grown to love in other books was too much and I had the feeling, sooner than later, that I wished the book would end. I liked the characters, and felt they were incredibly well developed, but the plot of the story and how it dragged on did not appeal to me in the long run. I hate to disagree with everyone who has left a comment, but I feel that I must for those who will read this website in the future and who disliked this book.

I really liked it at first, and I felt that although Christopher was not a character that I could connect with, I felt for him. I admired his courage, despite his disorder, and as the book went on, I felt drawn in more and more. However, as soon as I learned who actually killed poor Wellington, the book became a drag, and a tad boring. The style of writing that I had grown to love in other books was too much and I had the feeling, sooner than later, that I wished the book would end. I liked the characters, and felt they were incredibly well developed, but the plot of the story and how it dragged on did not appeal to me in the long run.

]]> By: Josette http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2673 Josette Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:41:07 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2673 I'm not surprised that many people loved this book! I love it too! Christopher is a really funny character and my heart went out to the poor kid who's just trying to find out who killed the dog. This is and will always be one of my all-time favourite books! I strongly recommend it to everyone who just wants to have a good time with a good book. =) I’m not surprised that many people loved this book! I love it too! Christopher is a really funny character and my heart went out to the poor kid who’s just trying to find out who killed the dog.

This is and will always be one of my all-time favourite books! I strongly recommend it to everyone who just wants to have a good time with a good book. =)

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2648 Natasha Maw Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:36:14 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2648 Jonathan - Thanks for stopping by. I did like learning more about autism and how people view the world. Kim - Thanks for your compliments. Dewey and I actually continued our conversation via email, I need to ask if I can post the rest of the comments. Differing opinions are always interesting and invited. Jonathan – Thanks for stopping by. I did like learning more about autism and how people view the world.

Kim – Thanks for your compliments. Dewey and I actually continued our conversation via email, I need to ask if I can post the rest of the comments. Differing opinions are always interesting and invited.

]]> By: Kim http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2638 Kim Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:52:31 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2638 I really like your description of "bad" language. You are very good at expressing yourself and have a real way with words. I really like your description of “bad” language. You are very good at expressing yourself and have a real way with words.

]]> By: jonathan james http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2195 jonathan james Tue, 20 May 2008 09:04:39 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2195 i felt this novel was extremely interesting, the way in which haddon describes christophers journey and his insight into the illness it fascinating. a must read. thank you i felt this novel was extremely interesting, the way in which haddon describes christophers journey and his insight into the illness it fascinating. a must read. thank you

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2044 Natasha Maw Mon, 12 May 2008 04:38:54 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2044 Dew - You say "As far as the language, words are just words. What we call 'bad words' are just words like any other." I'd have to disagree. Not all words carry equal weight. Authors seek out that perfect word knowing that that word will be more powerful or weaker than others. Each word brings with it it's own feelings, whether it be good or bad. The use of a certain word can change the meaning completely. There are words that inspire and uplift and there are words that degrade. It is my belief that "bad words" have a connotation of filth and degradation. But what you say is true about classifying words as being offensive. What's offensive to you may not be offensive to me and vice-versa. Each person has their own definition of what bad language is. For some, it can be words as simple as "stupid head" or "shut up." For others it can be those four letter words and for others it can be words worse than those. It's hard to say. As far as this book, I can understand why the language (my beef is mostly with that infamous F-word) was used. Christopher lives in his own little world. He doesn't understand people, their questions, their actions, their language, and particularly their choice of words. I'm sure that Mark Haddon made a conscience decision to use the words he did because they emphasized the difference between Christopher's world and the "outside world." Which is what I think you meant when you said, "they want to represent a certain time, place, demographic, etc. and contemporary slang is one way to do that in a way most people will recognize instantly." Even though the language in this book was deliberate doesn't mean that I like to hear it, simply for the reason that it brings me down. I do love books and I know that there is no way to avoid foul language. Let's face it, it's not going anywhere. But at least I can complain about it. :) Dew – You say “As far as the language, words are just words. What we call
‘bad words’ are just words like any other.” I’d have to disagree. Not all words carry equal weight. Authors seek out that perfect word knowing that that word will be more powerful or weaker than others. Each word brings with it it’s own feelings, whether it be good or bad. The use of a certain word can change the meaning completely. There are words that inspire and uplift and there are words that degrade.

It is my belief that “bad words” have a connotation of filth and degradation. But what you say is true about classifying words as being offensive. What’s offensive to you may not be offensive to me and vice-versa. Each person has their own definition of what bad language is. For some, it can be words as simple as “stupid head” or “shut up.” For others it can be those four letter words and for others it can be words worse than those. It’s hard to say.

As far as this book, I can understand why the language (my beef is mostly with that infamous F-word) was used. Christopher lives in his own little world. He doesn’t understand people, their questions, their actions, their language, and particularly their choice of words. I’m sure that Mark Haddon made a conscience decision to use the words he did because they emphasized the difference between Christopher’s world and the “outside world.” Which is what I think you meant when you said, “they want to represent a certain time, place, demographic, etc. and contemporary slang is one way to do that in a way most people will recognize instantly.”

Even though the language in this book was deliberate doesn’t mean that I like to hear it, simply for the reason that it brings me down. I do love books and I know that there is no way to avoid foul language. Let’s face it, it’s not going anywhere. But at least I can complain about it. :)

]]> By: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon » The Hidden Side of a Leaf http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2027 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon » The Hidden Side of a Leaf Sat, 10 May 2008 17:51:50 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2027 [...] reviews of this novel: Natasha [...] [...] reviews of this novel: Natasha [...]

]]> By: dew http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2026 dew Sat, 10 May 2008 17:50:20 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-2026 This is one of my favorite books ever! I not only love Haddon's writing, but as the mother of a teenage boy with Asperger's, I loved Christopher. Asperger's falls on the autism spectrum, but as we see with Christoper, it's not what people would typically think of when they think of autism. As far as the language, words are just words. What we call "bad" words are just words like any other. Authors use them because authors are in love with language (as am I, if you couldn't tell by my need to get on a soapbox in defense of it). They want to represent a certain time, place, demographic, etc. and contemporary slang is one way to do that in a way most people will recognize instantly. Plus, people who work with words for a living are going to have respect for language as a growing, living phenomenon and have a problem categorizing certain words as offensive. It's only when words are used to hurt others (name calling, stereotyping, hate speech) that I can understand any objection, and this is probably true of the authors you wonder about, too. This is one of my favorite books ever! I not only love Haddon’s writing, but as the mother of a teenage boy with Asperger’s, I loved Christopher. Asperger’s falls on the autism spectrum, but as we see with Christoper, it’s not what people would typically think of when they think of autism.

As far as the language, words are just words. What we call “bad” words are just words like any other. Authors use them because authors are in love with language (as am I, if you couldn’t tell by my need to get on a soapbox in defense of it). They want to represent a certain time, place, demographic, etc. and contemporary slang is one way to do that in a way most people will recognize instantly. Plus, people who work with words for a living are going to have respect for language as a growing, living phenomenon and have a problem categorizing certain words as offensive. It’s only when words are used to hurt others (name calling, stereotyping, hate speech) that I can understand any objection, and this is probably true of the authors you wonder about, too.

]]> By: Tracee http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-1646 Tracee Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:18:49 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/04/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon/#comment-1646 I know what you mean, this book is EVERYWHERE! I'll be reading it at some point, just not sure when. I know what you mean, this book is EVERYWHERE! I’ll be reading it at some point, just not sure when.

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