Discussion, Part Two. So?! What did you guys think? I loved it. I thought the insight into Christopher's head was really well done. I like the fact that it was written so "casually" from Christopher's perspective so we got an insight into the slang terms and things he used. It made it more personable, I thought, and it helped us get into his world.
Anyway, here are some questions if you'd like a bit of guidance on what to discuss, but obviously they aren't required. I just want to hear what you thought.
In his review of The Curious Incident, Jay McInerney suggests that at the novel's end "the gulf between Christopher and his parents, between Christopher and the rest of us, remains immense and mysterious. And that gulf is ultimately the source of this novel's haunting impact. Christopher Boone is an unsolved mystery" [The New York Times Book Review, 6/15/03, p. 5)]. Is this an accurate assessment? If so, why?
How much empathy does the reader come to feel for Christopher? How much understanding does he have of his own emotions? What is the effect, for instance, of the scenes in which Christopher's mother doesn't act to make sure he can take his A-levels? Do these scenes show how little his mother understands Christopher's deepest needs?
What is the effect of reading the letters Christopher's mother wrote to him? Was his mother justified in leaving? Does Christopher comprehend her apology and her attempt to explain herself [pp. 106–10]? Does he have strong feelings about the loss of his mother? Which of his parents is better suited to taking care of him?