"Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them." – Albert Einstein

It’s time again for the GAMBLE Book Club to resume its new schedule.  Apparently, we are not the only book club list that February’s pick is on.

Are y’all ready to strap in again?  I hope so, because here it comes:

 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

From the Publisher

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher’s mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.

Author Biography:

MARK HADDON is a writer and illustrator of numerous award-winning children’s books and television screenplays. As a young man, Haddon worked with autistic individuals. He teaches creative writing for the Arvon Foundation and at Oxford University. He lives in Oxford, England.

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 I honestly don’t remember who added this one, but it combines my two favorite book genres – mysteries and children’s books.  I’m looking forward to it.

February 1st, 2007 at 11:06 am
3 Responses to “Welcome back, your dreams are your ticket out…”
  1. 1
    Kat Says:

    I’m hep. I’ll even read it again.

  2. 2
    Rixende Says:

    My co-worker is reading this right now. She has a son with Asberger’s syndrome, and it was recommended to her. I’ll probably chime in with her thoughts. I’m currently in the middle of “The Servant” – It’s a leadership book that has the potential to be on my “So, you want to be crown?” reading list.

  3. 3

    I’m doing good with the GAMBLE this year! Did my Bryson reveiw today and then went right out and picked up this book! Started reading it and everything. I’m liking it so far but I’ve gotten terribly far.