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sams84's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really enjoyed this book, even though it's not my usual genre. I found Christopher's character charming and believable and Haddon addressed his autism in a very delicate and insightful manner. By the end of the story I was actually quite attached to Christopher and felt real pride that he not only solved the mystery but also got to London and through the Underground by himself (a place where I seem to get lost whenever I go), found his mum and passed his maths A level. Although I did find that I seem to share some of Christopher's defining characteristics, such as choosing one item over another because of the colour, having slightly unusual eating habitats, a need to stick to 'unnecessary' timetables and the need to plan ahead constantly...uhm curious.
roro_reads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mightigoreadnow's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a very interesting dive into the mind of a 15-year-old boy with autism. I understand from reading multiple reviews that people have different opinions on the book’s representation of autism. It’s a topic I’m not well versed in; I’m not a professional in the field nor do I personally know and live with an autistic person, so I don’t have strong opinions about that aspect of the book.
Christopher’s thought process is fascinating. More than once I found myself putting the book down and reflecting on well known concepts we often overcomplicate, and although his explanations can be too detailed or confusing at first, at the end he always leaves you with a well-rounded conclusion to think about. As a mathematics student, I was delighted by his explanations of mathematical problems and its comparisons to the real life world.
Interesting enough, Christopher’s investigation into the dog’s death is not the most captivating part of this book, but the family secrets he unravels on the way and his somewhat determination to face situations he would never deliberately put himself into. He goes through uncomfortable scenarios in his own way and not without a struggle or two (or more), but it’s worth it because he makes it to his goals and proves to himself he can be whatever he wants.
I did miss more insight into Christopher’s parents’ struggles. They love him immensely, but the only glimpses we get of how it is for them to raise a child with behaviour issues comes from the dialogues and letters and a part of me wanted ****more**** than that. I was heavily invested in the family dynamics and just wished for a more detailed and final resolution for them in the end.
It is a sweet, funny and heartbreaking book, but with an unfortunate anti-climatic ending.
Christopher’s thought process is fascinating. More than once I found myself putting the book down and reflecting on well known concepts we often overcomplicate, and although his explanations can be too detailed or confusing at first, at the end he always leaves you with a well-rounded conclusion to think about. As a mathematics student, I was delighted by his explanations of mathematical problems and its comparisons to the real life world.
Interesting enough, Christopher’s investigation into the dog’s death is not the most captivating part of this book, but the family secrets he unravels on the way and his somewhat determination to face situations he would never deliberately put himself into. He goes through uncomfortable scenarios in his own way and not without a struggle or two (or more), but it’s worth it because he makes it to his goals and proves to himself he can be whatever he wants.
I did miss more insight into Christopher’s parents’ struggles. They love him immensely, but the only glimpses we get of how it is for them to raise a child with behaviour issues comes from the dialogues and letters and a part of me wanted ****more**** than that. I was heavily invested in the family dynamics and just wished for a more detailed and final resolution for them in the end.
It is a sweet, funny and heartbreaking book, but with an unfortunate anti-climatic ending.
mcasiraghi's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
defiantmoon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
linneahbt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
buppal22's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
lschappy's review against another edition
2.0
A quick read, but that’s probably because I skimmed a lot of it. The story is told from the perspective of an autistic teenager and is meant to be heart wrenching, but it just wasn’t for me.