In this blog we can discuss the form and content of Mark Haddon's novel from 2003. Hopefully, we will have many creative an interesting discussions on our way towards a better understanding of the book.
Your personal opinions are very welcome here, but remember to be relevant and argue your points in an adult and proper manner. As a rule I (JT) will post questions and statements for you to answer and reflect upon, but you may also start your own discussions. If you do, remember to be relevant and serious.
Good luck!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Topic 1:
The title of a literary piece gives the reader certain expectations. Discuss briefly what anticipations the title of this novel gives you. You do this by clicking "comment" underneath here.
When I read the title I think it's a crime fiction, like a detective mystery. "a curious incident", something has happend and you are curious about what. Then it's normal to want to find out what happend, and that's what detectives do. What ever happend the victim was a dog,and the incident was set in the night-time. The night-time gives me a feeling of mystery.
So my expectations is a novel about someone being a "detective" who try to solve a mystery, because he or she is curious about the insidence.
I also get the feeling we are going to read a crime/mystery book, only for kids. The title also has a lot of irrelevant information, like a "curiouos" incident and a dog "in the night time". Yet again, it'd be boring if the title was "the incident of the dog". This makes us unsure of what to expect from the book. - Marius
I both agree with Thale and Joakim, that the title sounds like this is a crime book. When I see the picture of a dog killed by a fork, I definitely think about a murder and someone trying to figure this out, like a detective. The title underlines this by telling us that there have been a "Incident of a dog". This makes my thoughts stronger about that there have been a murder of a dog.
I have to agree with the people above on this. I feel everything indicates that this is a crime novel. From the look of the book you can kind of see what the title emphasizes. You see the moon on the right top of the cover, whitch indicates that the story happends in the night-time, and a injured dog. The fact that the injured/dead dog is in the middle of the cover, may in my head say that the dog is a kind of mainperson in the book. So just based on the cover and title, I expext to hear a lot about this dog and its story.
I agree with Marius, especially about the tittle. The tittle is quite long, and I don’t think it’s very catchy. Both the tittle and the picture below gives me the feeling that this is a crime book for kids in primary school. My expectations are that something strange has happened to the dog, and that the plot is going to be very mysterious.
I totally agree with you Thale. It is not a very catchy title, because it is long with a few difficult words as "curious" and "incident". Immediately, when I read the title, I knew it had to be a crime book. It sounded mysterious, and I excpect the book to be about someone doing detective work about the dog.
When I read the title, I, as well as the others, think of this as a crime book. The fact that the title starts with "The curious incident" catches my attention, and makes me want to find out more about what happened to the dog. Like Julianne wrote, I too think that the plot is going to be mysterious.
The first thing that sprung to my mind when I read the title was something a bit out af the ordinary as it is after all a "curious incident". If you ask me that sounds like something worth looking into, and I totally agree that it makes it sound like there is some mystery-unraveling to be done. The use of "night-time" also catches my eye, as titles are usually a lot more vague. On the contrary to the majority of you it seems, I think the title is rather catchy. The plentiful use of words makes it stand out as something out of the ordinary in the midst of other one-word titles.
I like the title of the book. It doesn't reveal anything but the fact that something had happened to a dog during the night. At first sight the title might hint to a dark, serious book, but "curious incident" and "night-time" adds a touch of playfulness and makes the title more childish. Which hints that this might be a book for children. Another thing that reveals that this is a book more for the people under 16 than over, is that the title itself looks like a boy of age 12 has written it himself on the front cover.
The title of the novel is quite mysterious, suggesting a plot which may be exciting as well as challenging for the reader. The title motivates the reader to open the book. On the other hand, I agree with my fellow students above. They propose a shorter, to-the-point title. However, to develop a short title is difficult.
I find the title quite interesting, in contrast to many of my fellow students i don't think it is to long. It is a title out of the ordinary, a title you notice, as well as being a perfect fit for the main character because it goes straight to the point, but without revealing too much.
I agree that the book at first sight seemed to be a novel for kids, due to the fact that the author had included "unnecessary" facts as "in the night-time" and "curious" in the title. It turned out that this was a perfect hint of the main characters personality, and a good way of telling the reader something about the context.
I have to agree with the rest of the people above me, when I first read the title of the book I get the expression of a crime book. Also the picture of a dead dog lying there with a garden fork in his stomach makes me associate to a crime story. The fact that the title starts with "the curious", makes me want to read the book and see what happens. Just like Solveig said.
I’ve read this book a couple of times before, so when I see the title of the book I know just what the title means is and what the plot of the book. If I hadn’t read the book before and if I then had seen the title I would have found it interesting because it could look like something weird and exciting could happen in the book. It’s because if you see on some words in the title, such as; “Curious incident” and “Night time,” it could mean and symbolize that something weird and mysterious happens in the book.
The title "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time" gives me a mysterious feeling. It makes me question if this is a childrens book at first, but when I think about it more, maybe there has been committed a crime that has to do with a dog? As I started reading I understood why the book has the title is has, and it suits very much!
I have to agree with the people above me. The way the title is written, with big letters, where the words "curious", "incident" and "dog" are bold, gives me a mysterious feeling. As I see it, the title wouldn't be as catchy without "in the night time" at the end of the title. And as Julianne said, the picture gives me a feeling that this is a novel written for kids.
The first thing that popped into my head when I read the title, was that this had to be a mystery novel. Probably because of the picture of the stabbed, dead dog. The word curious helps a lot to make me want to read more, obviously because it probably is curious! Personally, I'd think this was a book for young adults that also would work for grown ups, too.
I agree that the book at first sight seemed to be a novel for children. But when I first saw the title of the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" I tought of a mysterious or a crime fiction book. So maybe the book works for both grwon ups and children.
The title of the book is catchy, but I can imagine that this is a novel for kids. Both the lay-out and the title can tell me that: The picture of a red car and the drawing of a dog that could have been drawn by a child tell me this is a book written for teenagers or kids, that doesn’t means adults can’t read it. The title is also a bit strange. If the book was written for an adult the part “In the night-time” would not be in it. The title is also quite exciting because “The curious incident of the dog” makes me wondering omg, what has happen with the dog?”
I think the title is way too long to get people interested in reading the book. It makes me think that the book is written by silly child, who tries to act grown up by making the title sound like a mystery novel. I would never have picked this book because of the title if I had seen it in a bookshop!
The first thing that crossed my mind when I read the title, was that it was unusually long, but very concrete. “The curious incident” really awakes my own curiosity, and catches my attention, and makes me want to find out what happened to the dog. - Bendik
When I read the title I think it's a crime fiction, like a detective mystery.
ReplyDelete"a curious incident", something has happend and you are curious about what. Then it's normal to want to find out what happend, and that's what detectives do.
What ever happend the victim was a dog,and the incident was set in the night-time. The night-time gives me a feeling of mystery.
So my expectations is a novel about someone being a "detective" who try to solve a mystery, because he or she is curious about the insidence.
I think you might be on to something here, Thale. Thank's for starting us off on the blog. Yours was the first comment.
DeleteThe title sounds like it is a crime/mystery book, about a dog that either is special, or something peculiar happens to it.
ReplyDeleteBecause it is a "curious incident" I think there is something strange that happens to a dog and someone wants to find out what.
My expectations are that there will be a lot of mystery and questions. And that all the tiny pieces of the puzzle will come together at the end.
I also get the feeling we are going to read a crime/mystery book, only for kids. The title also has a lot of irrelevant information, like a "curiouos" incident and a dog "in the night time". Yet again, it'd be boring if the title was "the incident of the dog". This makes us unsure of what to expect from the book.
ReplyDelete- Marius
I both agree with Thale and Joakim, that the title sounds like this is a crime book.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see the picture of a dog killed by a fork, I definitely think about a murder and someone trying to figure this out, like a detective. The title underlines this by telling us that there have been a "Incident of a dog". This makes my thoughts stronger about that there have been a murder of a dog.
I have to agree with the people above on this. I feel everything indicates that this is a crime novel. From the look of the book you can kind of see what the title emphasizes. You see the moon on the right top of the cover, whitch indicates that the story happends in the night-time, and a injured dog. The fact that the injured/dead dog is in the middle of the cover, may in my head say that the dog is a kind of mainperson in the book. So just based on the cover and title, I expext to hear a lot about this dog and its story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marius, especially about the tittle. The tittle is quite long, and I don’t think it’s very catchy. Both the tittle and the picture below gives me the feeling that this is a crime book for kids in primary school. My expectations are that something strange has happened to the dog, and that the plot is going to be very mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Thale. It is not a very catchy title, because it is long with a few difficult words as "curious" and "incident". Immediately, when I read the title, I knew it had to be a crime book. It sounded mysterious, and I excpect the book to be about someone doing detective work about the dog.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the title, I, as well as the others, think of this as a crime book. The fact that the title starts with "The curious incident" catches my attention, and makes me want to find out more about what happened to the dog. Like Julianne wrote, I too think that the plot is going to be mysterious.
ReplyDeleteSee you soon, raccoon.
I totally agree Solveig, good reflection.
DeleteSee you in a while, crocodile :-)
The first thing that sprung to my mind when I read the title was something a bit out af the ordinary as it is after all a "curious incident". If you ask me that sounds like something worth looking into, and I totally agree that it makes it sound like there is some mystery-unraveling to be done.
ReplyDeleteThe use of "night-time" also catches my eye, as titles are usually a lot more vague.
On the contrary to the majority of you it seems, I think the title is rather catchy. The plentiful use of words makes it stand out as something out of the ordinary in the midst of other one-word titles.
It gives an expectation that it is going to happened something curious and it makes you want to find out what.
ReplyDeleteI like the title of the book. It doesn't reveal anything but the fact that something had happened to a dog during the night. At first sight the title might hint to a dark, serious book, but "curious incident" and "night-time" adds a touch of playfulness and makes the title more childish. Which hints that this might be a book for children. Another thing that reveals that this is a book more for the people under 16 than over, is that the title itself looks like a boy of age 12 has written it himself on the front cover.
ReplyDeleteThe title of the novel is quite mysterious, suggesting a plot which may be exciting as well as challenging for the reader. The title motivates the reader to open the book. On the other hand, I agree with my fellow students above. They propose a shorter, to-the-point title. However, to develop a short title is difficult.
ReplyDeleteI find the title quite interesting, in contrast to many of my fellow students i don't think it is to long. It is a title out of the ordinary, a title you notice, as well as being a perfect fit for the main character because it goes straight to the point, but without revealing too much.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the book at first sight seemed to be a novel for kids, due to the fact that the author had included "unnecessary" facts as "in the night-time" and "curious" in the title. It turned out that this was a perfect hint of the main characters personality, and a good way of telling the reader something about the context.
ReplyDeleteWell observed, Viktoria!
DeleteI agree! And I think that the author made it like this on purpose, in order to fit the style of writing in the book.
DeleteI have to agree with the rest of the people above me, when I first read the title of the book I get the expression of a crime book. Also the picture of a dead dog lying there with a garden fork in his stomach makes me associate to a crime story. The fact that the title starts with "the curious", makes me want to read the book and see what happens. Just like Solveig said.
ReplyDeleteI’ve read this book a couple of times before, so when I see the title of the book I know just what the title means is and what the plot of the book. If I hadn’t read the book before and if I then had seen the title I would have found it interesting because it could look like something weird and exciting could happen in the book. It’s because if you see on some words in the title, such as; “Curious incident” and “Night time,” it could mean and symbolize that something weird and mysterious happens in the book.
ReplyDeleteThe title "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time" gives me a mysterious feeling. It makes me question if this is a childrens book at first, but when I think about it more, maybe there has been committed a crime that has to do with a dog? As I started reading I understood why the book has the title is has, and it suits very much!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the people above me. The way the title is written, with big letters, where the words "curious", "incident" and "dog" are bold, gives me a mysterious feeling. As I see it, the title wouldn't be as catchy without "in the night time" at the end of the title. And as Julianne said, the picture gives me a feeling that this is a novel written for kids.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that popped into my head when I read the title, was that this had to be a mystery novel. Probably because of the picture of the stabbed, dead dog. The word curious helps a lot to make me want to read more, obviously because it probably is curious! Personally, I'd think this was a book for young adults that also would work for grown ups, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the book at first sight seemed to be a novel for children. But when I first saw the title of the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" I tought of a mysterious or a crime fiction book. So maybe the book works for both grwon ups and children.
DeleteThe title of the book is catchy, but I can imagine that this is a novel for kids. Both the lay-out and the title can tell me that: The picture of a red car and the drawing of a dog that could have been drawn by a child tell me this is a book written for teenagers or kids, that doesn’t means adults can’t read it. The title is also a bit strange. If the book was written for an adult the part “In the night-time” would not be in it. The title is also quite exciting because “The curious incident of the dog” makes me wondering omg, what has happen with the dog?”
ReplyDeleteI think the title is way too long to get people interested in reading the book. It makes me think that the book is written by silly child, who tries to act grown up by making the title sound like a mystery novel. I would never have picked this book because of the title if I had seen it in a bookshop!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that crossed my mind when I read the title, was that it was unusually long, but very concrete. “The curious incident” really awakes my own curiosity, and catches my attention, and makes me want to find out what happened to the dog.
ReplyDelete- Bendik