Reviews tagging Violence
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
16 reviews
cassie7e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's bittersweet, and more on the bitter side.
The author kept describing overwhelm as almost purely visual and intellectual, especially with words. While lots of sights of signs can be part of it, along with lots of things to think about, sensory overwhelm isn't just about how *many* things are around that you "notice" but that they feel intense. In fact bc of the intensity of color and brightness and sounds and temperature and air currents and clothes and people moving and bumping, you might "notice" even fewer things, bc it's hard to be observant when you're overwhelmed! The author does not seem to understand this distinction between being extremely observant while calm and being overwhelmed.
The author kept describing overwhelm as almost purely visual and intellectual, especially with words. While lots of sights of signs can be part of it, along with lots of things to think about, sensory overwhelm isn't just about how *many* things are around that you "notice" but that they feel intense. In fact bc of the intensity of color and brightness and sounds and temperature and air currents and clothes and people moving and bumping, you might "notice" even fewer things, bc it's hard to be observant when you're overwhelmed! The author does not seem to understand this distinction between being extremely observant while calm and being overwhelmed.
This character isn't totally unrealistic (I'm sure there's someone out there like him), but he embodies all the stereotypes one could cram into an autistic character at once. The math thing is especially heavily utilized in this story. Christopher also is quite ableist and condescending to the other "special needs" kids at his school, has casual racial prejudice, and other prejudiced fears of certain kinds of people. I can't tell if he's just supposed to have picked these up from the people around him or if the author considered these accepable prejudices at the time that no one would think twice about reading.
There were a few things I liked about this book:
Totally related when Christopher was asked "Do you like biscuits?" and he said "Some biscuits" because there are different kinds w different textures and flavors and sweetness you could like or not!
Christopher's dad (when he's not angry and frustrated, which was hard for me to read this second time having experienced that in real life) does a lot of useful things, like explaining how he's going to touch Christopher to move him, and where, and why, and all the steps, before he does it; prepares foods in a way Christopher can/will eat and doesn't force him to eat differently; has a special gesture to show love that doesn't force hugging.
The informational digressions!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Ableism, Animal death, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide, Racism, and Violence
cheyrohm's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Animal death
Minor: Bullying, Violence, and Death
ageckocalledachilles's review
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I found this book funny and cool when I first read it at 11 years old, but since then I have grown up and come to realise that it wasn't that great.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
Christopher is treated with mingled pity and irritation by the author, to the extent that his father is portrayed as 'the reasonable parent' (he hits Christopher at several points. That's literal child abuse.) The portrayal of autism is accurate in places, but in others comes off as stereotyped and poorly researched. In summary, if you're gonna write a book where the adults treat a child like shit, don't imply that it's justified bc their disability is 'just so hard to deal with'.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
Christopher is treated with mingled pity and irritation by the author, to the extent that his father is portrayed as 'the reasonable parent' (he hits Christopher at several points. That's literal child abuse.) The portrayal of autism is accurate in places, but in others comes off as stereotyped and poorly researched. In summary, if you're gonna write a book where the adults treat a child like shit, don't imply that it's justified bc their disability is 'just so hard to deal with'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Violence
marinapaso11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Violence
alexisgarcia's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
While I thoroughly enjoyed being able to read this book through the perspective of someone with Autism, I really did not enjoy the plot or characters. there were also some racist undertones and micro aggressions. like when dreadlocks are explained they’re explained as dirty? and i can’t tell if that’s to allude to the locational and overall racism in the world and how the main character absorbs the info he’s fed or if it’s just straight up racism. so it was a little educational but not my fave unfortunately
Spoiler
like the mom??? she talked about how much she missed him, how broken up she was about it, and how much she regretted the way she treated him. but then when he started acting in ways that she didn’t like she did the same thing as before.. and i feel like we also glazed over the fact that because the dad was upset he killed a dog??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
cameronreapereads's review
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, and Animal cruelty
jennalynn48's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Violence, Vomit, Mental illness, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Excrement
greasybloaters's review
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Animal death
seaschells's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
If you read this book, I hope you find it entertaining, well-paced, and interesting, but it is NOT educational. The only things you’ll learn about autism are stereotypes. Additionally, I’d put a trigger warning on it for parental abuse of their kid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Vomit, Chronic illness, and Blood
nina17's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Ableism
Moderate: Violence