The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Book Club Discussion Questions

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is a mystery told from the perspective of a teenager with an intellectual disability. Lead your book club or class discussion of this clever tale using these reading group discussion questions.

Spoiler Warning: These questions may hint at key elements in the plot, so be sure to read the book before looking over the questions.

1. Were you confused by Christopher's odd way of telling a story when you first began the book? Did that frustrate you or draw you into the novel?
   
   
2. Did the story help you understand people with autism any better?
   
   
3. Talk about the relationship between Christopher and his father. Do you think his father does a good job of dealing with his behavior?
   
   
4. Do you sympathize with his father's actions, or do you think they were unforgivable?
   
   
5. Talk about Christopher's relationship with his his mother. How do the letters he finds help explain her actions?
   
   
6. Is it easier for you to forgive his father or his mother? Why do you think it is so much easier for Christopher to trust his mother than his father? How does that reveal the way Christopher's mind is different?
   
   
7. What do you think the illustrations added to the story?
   
   
8. Did you enjoy Christopher's tangents?
   
   
9. Was the novel believable? Were you satisfied with the ending?
   
   
10. Rate this book on a scale of one to five.