Slightly off-topic but since you mentioned it, I'd like to let you know that more often than not when you walk out on your bill at a restaurant the server (who is most likely also broke and living off tips) has to pick up your tab.

I am a part-time server and have been walked out on on numerous occasions. Once for a bill over $100.00 - and I had to pay for it.

If you don't like your food, send it back to the kitchen and order something else. Don't make people pay just because you don't like what you ordered.

Have to echo Siobhain here as a former server myself. Lost all my tip from a huge table--my first ever--due to a party walking out on me. And walking out and not paying is stealing.

hey! mark this as a spoiler review! some of us haven't read the book yet. sheesh.

It is an amazing book, but it's not written by an autistic person, as you say in your review, but by a man that worked with autistic folk.

Doesn't take anything away from Haddon's acheivement, or your response to it, just clarifying.

Why are you commenting on walking out on tips? What the heck?

You brought it up. Just wanted you to know that your behavior has bad consequences. Waiters aren't exactly wealthy.

You need to add a spoiler alert to your review for those who haven't read the book it is not a good thing to find out the out come of the boy succeeding in his search for the real killer. I would have liked to read the book and have found that out on my own.
Please go back into your review and check the spoiler tab. Your review other wise is good...although why you would be proud to walk out on and not pay your food bill is bizarre I hope by finding out that it is NOT the restaurant that pays the tab but the HARD WORKING server you will not do this any more.

Just wondering if you paid Chapters for the book after you were done reading it cover to cover? ;)

There's only 233 chapters... not over a million, you thief.

I know it's totally unrelated but Why would you want to walk out on your bill?!?! I'm not a server or anything but even I know that someone has to pay for it.and anyway, it's not like somebody forced you to go to those restaurants. what you did was just plain wrong and on so many levels too..
but your rudeness aside, this book does sound interesting.

Oh, for heaven's sake - I was hoping there'd be discussion on the book.

Sean, you shouldn't have mentioned that personal quirk you have; it distracted from the topic.

I see you liked the book; you gave it a five . . . see my review on my book list here . . .

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Sean you are a bonehead. Not only did you spoil this book for others, but people probably don't care what you think about what books you've read because you are a thief and a bonehead. Decent people don't walk out on a restaurant bill, and decent people would read a few pages, decide they like it, and PAY for it. I live in Toronto. We have libraries. Use one - and bring a lunch from home.

You've cried? uh oh.. interesting!

this is a petetic excuse of a book it is the worst book i have ever read because it had no self expreashion and gives me a head ach when ever i think or read it worst book ever

"hence, by the end of the book, you're reading chapter 123 [divisible by 3],314,124 [both divisible by 2] or whatever"

Caleb, it does lack self expression. Individuals on the autism spectrum rarely do, which is what makes this book so perfect. The author holds true to the logic driven (to them, not us) mind of a child with High Functioning Autism. If you are not familiar with the population, then I suppose the book would seem pretty bad.

Sean, ugh! Really, your habits are selfish and appalling.

This book really made me felt better too! :) It was a nice change after reading those YA books packed with fantasy, you know, something closer to real life. Of course the book does lack self expression, but since it is supposedly written by an autistic kid, then it ties in very well. And the book was really funny too, because of the way Christopher expresses himself.

lol, i don't get why everyone is talking about your not paying the bill instead of commenting your review! Anyways, I read the whole book without knowing it was about an autistic guy. I thought: "What's the point of this story?" and "Is this guy retarded???" But after I read the back cover, everything made perfect sense. I think it's a very interesting book, and I am glad that now I learned more about how it is like to be autistic (although I didn't really know I was learning anything while I was reading it). Your review is pretty nice, and I was kinda surprised to see you cried when you read it :D

Thanks for the inciteful review This will be picked up on my next trip to the library. I'm looking forward to a book that makes me think.

Cried? I am laughing so hard at this thread that Im in tears. It was a difficult book to read, and i considered putting it down a few times but ultimately finished it, and feel better for it.

Sean, you're a prick!