The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night Time and sparks of genius

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The abstract noun "genius" is commonly misused. "You're a genius" is a common derisive remark. Leonardo Da Vinci was a genius. Ramanujan was a mathematical genius. The lists of Genuises cannot be complete without the mention of painters like Van Gogh. Edward Hopper. And poets like Li Young Lee. Roger Robinson. And then, there are sparks of genius. A genius is the purest form and the most intense application of the mind and heart.

For me, sparks of genius, were in movies like The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep says "that's all" with a soft yet stern tone that shakes institutions. Or Kangana Ranaut in Fashion. Her poise and her attitude was a spark of genius.

And, then, there are books like Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. The plot is simple: to solve the murder of a neighbour's Dog, Christopher resolves to find the crime-doer. Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome. It is mentioned nowhere but only in the blurb of the book. The writer, Mark Haddon, has done tons of research and more importantly, used it skillfully. Be it numbering the pages as Prime Numbers or providing an Appendix of mathematical equations or capturing the astute brain of Christopher who observes and records everything. Christopher hates the colour yellow. He hates handshakes. 

As a writer too, one needs to observe how Haddon has kept the character constant throughout and has used the subplots only for emphasis. The subtext involves Christopher than the murder mystery. It is only a beautiful ruse to understand the mind and the nature of Christopher and any person with any behavioral challenges. 

Every beautiful book is a spark of genius and how one uses those words is what makes the difference. 

"It's about how little separates us from those we turn away from in the street. It's about how badly we communicate with one another. It's about accepting that every life is narrow and that our only escape from this is not to run away (to another country, another relationship, a slimmer, more confident self) but to learn to love the people we are and the world in which we find ourselves.” - Mark Haddon, Free library blog


Picture Courtesy: British Council


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