A Book a Week: 52 for 2009

Started:  Jan. 26

Finished:  Jan. 27

As the result of the snow, I spent a majority of my day on Tuesday inside.  I was happy to have that time because Monday night I started reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon before I went to bed.  This novel is told by a 15 year old child with autism.  The main character, Christopher, is writing the book at the recommendation of his teacher, Siobhan.  He describes the book as a  mystery novel that explores, as the title suggest, an incident involving a neighbor’s dog.  Christopher is a great narrator, who takes great care to explain to his reader the reasons behind his actions and to define and explain terms and ideas he refers to in the text.  Told from another point of view, we would have a story observing the unorthodox behavior of a child with autism and the confusion or frustration experienced by those close to him.  

However, Christopher’s telling helps you see why he responds to each situation in the manner he does.  It helps you see into his life and understand his feelings.  Christopher’s connection with mathematics also greatly shapes the text (all the chapters are numbered using only prime numbers).  He has specific preferences and dislikes and is quite clear about them and how they make him feel.  Honestly, I could sympathize with many of his concerns.  For example, I have never been one to enjoy being touched by other people.  The only real exception to this is my husband.  I find having to touch others very uncomfortable.  I don’t mind hugging close friends and family as long as they are quick and aren’t too tight.  However, I hate it when those I don’t know well attempt to hug me or touch me in some way.  Of  course, the difference between Christopher and I is that I don’t scream when another human touches me.  I grin and bear it.  Also, like the character, I’m rather uncomfortable looking at faces.  I’ve noticed that during conversations I have a tendency to look beside the person or at something else interesting around us, rather than straight at their face.  I try to check in and glance at faces from time to time, but it’s awkward for me.  Again, the only exception to this is my husband. I also find myself engaged in some of Christopher’s coping mechanisms.   Having occasional anxiety spells, I do force myself to count my steps or tell myself “left, right, left, right” just to keep my focus on progressing to my destination rather than on facing the concerns that drive my anxiety.  I tend to think I’m rather neurotic, but I struggle to control my thoughts and force myself to cope.  

However, clearly the social barriers Christopher faces are much more severe than my own.  Still, I think it shows that no matter how different we might seem to be, given each person’s talents and abilities, there are always basic emotions and concerns that unify us all as people.  

This book was a very quick read for me.  I honestly could not put it down.  I was glued to it from the beginning.  I found behavior and insight into the mind of other humans tremendously interesting.  Sometimes I wish I had gone into psychology rather than English because it does fascinate me so much.