The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

WARNING: SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD 

After the high of reading Coffee I was ready to embark on a new book journey. Jack and at least 3 of my friends have told me that this next book was spectacular. I've also read some other reviews and they seem to be mostly positive, so I was optimistic.

Man, was I so wrong. Dog is the story of a special needs boy who discovers his neighbor's dog dead. He starts to investigate the circumstances around the dog's death and along the way uncovers a few family secrets. Sounds very interesting, right? WRONG.

I feel so bamboozled. The summary tricks you into thinking there would be a lot of mystery in this novel, and while there is, it's not what you expect it to be. In a way, I guess it was my mistake to expect this book to be what it isn't. But that title! I was completely bamboozled, COMPLETELY.

Honestly, the start of the book was fine. There was the setup, and there was a bit of snooping. But it just devolves into family drama no one asked for. I probably would be more sympathetic IF LITERALLY A SINGLE CHARACTER WAS LIKEABLE. Not a single. character. was likeable. I've even discovered some reviews from people who have autism saying that this book is a dangerous representation of autism and I completely agree. 

Perhaps due to his upbringing, the main character is very violent, and armed. What sane parent with a special needs kid would give said kid a pocket knife? None! This should already paint a vague picture of the characters of this book. The dad also physically abuses the main character and then follows it up with a "you know I love you right?" BLERGH. 

HEAVY SPOILERS

Halfway through, it gets revealed that the mom wasn't actually dead. She ran away with their married neighbor, and the main character's dad lies to him and tells him she dies in the hospital. The mom sends him lots of letters and tries to explain her reason for leaving, which are, surprise surprise, mostly about her special needs kid. 

"And it made me so sad because it was like you didn't really need me at all. And somehow that was even worse than you and me arguing all the time because it was like I was invisible."

Way to go mom. Like, I can kind of sympathize when she got mad that the dad lied to the kid that she died of a heart attack, but forgive me, I have close to no sympathy for cheaters. Did she really think her ex would be considerate of her feelings after she leaves without warning? Leaving him to take care of their son who has special needs? Come on.

The second part of this novel is just the main character trying to find his mom in big, scary London. Let me tell you— it was like wading through mud. It was such a slog to read through. I am genuinely afraid that this book has destroyed the momentum Coffee set me on. Heck, I do believe that's what happened! I read Coffee in one sitting, and now even though I love the writing, I'm having trouble reading Hamnet. And Hamnet is 2 books after Dog!!!

So yeah. Had a bad time. 1/5*

my Storygraph review