curious incident of the dog in the night time, 2

an author's main aim in writing a story from the first person perspective is for the reader to identify with the protagonist. at least for this book.

besides recognizing many of the traits (which the reader associates with autism but, as another poster noted, are actually based on non-autistic persons' quirks) exhibited by christopher in myself, i also came to view truth (the result of applying logic to situations) in his almost mathematical-proof-proving method.

the use of dramatic irony in "curious incident" versus "animal farm" is noteworthy, i believe. in both novels, the reader knows more than the characters and is pained to see them not be able to explain their actions logically as christopher demanded or to forgot rules and their reasons so fast that they are easily misled by napoleon. i think this effect in both books makes them not only entertaining page-turners but also inducers of logical thought and action in the reader's life.

and what more can you want?

Animal Farm, Take 4

You all inspired me to read ANIMAL FARM again. The first time was when I was about 8 or 9, I found it on my dad's bookshelf - Hey! A book about animals who take over a farm! and it was simply an enjoyable story with something of a dark side.
In 9th grade we read it in school, but with an ignoramus for a teacher the first nine weeks, all I remember is his misspelling terms related to the book and getting things thrown at him when he turned to write them on the board. He was not teacher material and was soon replaced (taken away by the dogs, ha). Actually if I were him I would have quit which is possibly what happened.
Back on track: I read it again this afternoon. I cant get past reading it as a critique of Stalinist Russia in the manner in which Orwell intended it. But in that way it is informative. It is a detailed allegory arising from Orwell's convictions developed though his personal experiences of fighting in the Spanish Civil War and working as a propagandist for the BBC's Indian and East Asian arm.
Sidenotes (perhaps I cant get back on track after all): did you know that Orwell was born in Bengal, India? And his father worked there for the opium department of the Civil Service? What exactly does that entail? Did you also know that in 1954 Animal Farm was made into an animated feature film, a project funded and overseen by the CIA? THAT sounds interesting.

So Ive been thinking about what I can say about this book. It's a great allegory, both in the specific way in which the author intended it, but also in the way that alex and huitzi related it to our times. I can distinctly remember when the Bush machine started the spin on how 9-11 should be pinned on Saddam Hussein - I was in the apartment on First Avenue - pardon my French, but I couldnt fucking believe it. It would never fly, I thought. But it did ...and it went on and led to war. Donald Rumsfeld was like Squealer, wouldnt you say? Turning words around, etc. I had friends who participated in protests and marches but for nothing. That war still goes on. No good can come of it. It's like an evil scheme laid by Napoleon.

We've been watching old episodes of Da Ali G show here, and the performer Sasha Baron Cohen points out that "it's an interesting idea that not everyone in Germany had to be a raving anti-Semite. They just had to be apathetic."

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

I remember when this book came out (back in 2003) because I heard it reviewed on NPR. It stuck in my memory then. I am glad to have now had a chance to read it.

According to one reviewer of the book on Amazon.com who is autistic, the author does a good job portraying life through the experience of an autistic person. However, wikipedia notes that some with Asperger's disagree with the depiction. Asperger's is a mild form of autism. Haddon once worked with autistic individuals, but claimed to have drawn most of the main character's quirks from "normal" people he knew.

I like books in which I can learn something while being entertained by the story. This was one of them, and on different levels. Big picture: a view into autism (Asperger's) . Zoom in: the protagonist Christopher, who is enthralled with maths and science (especially astronomy), is continually providing the reader with explanations of natural events and logic problems. Here is a simple example:

"I went out to the balcony to find out whether I could see any stars, but there weren't any because of all the clouds and what is called light pollution, which is light from streetlights and car headlights and floodlights and lights in buildings reflecting off tiny particles in the atmosphere and getting in the way of light from the stars."

They get much more complicated and in depth. I just had to accept some of the math problems on faith. (Ha!)

This debut novel by Mark Haddon was well done and I would be interested in finding out if his subsequent work A Spot of Bother is equally charming.

I recommend this book as an entertaining and quick read (I finished it in two sittings). Thanks for the inspiration, frylime!


Here is a link to sources of free/in the public domain books online:
http://www.booksforabuck.com/general/pubsources.html

Animal Farm, 3

I read Animal Farm a couple of moths ago, and I felt that my opinion was overdue, but I hadn’t had the time to write it down and it wasn’t until the past week that I spent long hours in airports when I had just the much needed time…

......

Though Animal Farm is George's Orwell criticism of the abuse of power and use of patriotism-propaganda committed in Russia during the early years of the revolution in name of “egalitarianism”, the tale depicted in Orwell’s book is still much relevant.

Orwell makes an excellent job identifying actions that could make a well intended idea go wrong: The use of subjective numbers and figures, personification of the physical space, change of the law to legalize actions previously considered illegal, the use of an external (usually subjective) enemy, cuts that directly affect the well being of citizens (education, health) in order to increase military expenditures, etc. These actions have seen not only in Russia but they are still happening and now more close to home.

I believe Animal Farm’s open ending is Orwell’s way to tell us that, its citizens’ responsibility to keep checks and balances on power and that the official story is not enough. It doesn’t matter if the tag line of the policy is "spread democracy", "fight the imperio", "keep our nuclear deterrent", "4 good 2 bad"...... Democracy is only possible when there is a real commitment from their participants.