From the Bookshelf of La Crescent Public Library…

[close] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time was our library's August Book Club pick. This by far has been the most universally well-liked read of the year so far! All attendees felt the writing was easy to understand and engaging and very quickly connected to the protagonist, Christopher. Everyone was rooting for him.

Many book club members wished they'd read this with kids or grandkids, and understood why it was often recommended in schools, as it was a great book to discuss empathy. They were very interested in how Christopher's mind worked and how he was able to solve problems, use deductive reasoning even in scary situations, and deal with a lot of difficult life situations for someone his age.

In regards to the mystery element - who killed Wellington, the neighbor's dog - the group was split between those who guessed who did it fairly quickly and those who missed some clues and were surprised by the result later on. Once we did know, it lent to the discussion as to the kind of individual that character was and how we saw them change over the course of the book.

Most members were interested in checking out more by the author and appreciated the diversity in discussion around neurotypical individuals and how the publishing industry has increased its publication of books offering a wider spectrum of neurodiverse authors and content.

This was a fast, entertaining read with some serious moments, but much levity throughout. It was a great discussion read!