Reading+reflections

__**2ND QUARTER**__
I really do not like this book very much so far. The main character Nick has a very difficult yet ignorant job. He is the chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. His job entails presenting the very challenging task of presenting the tobacco industry in a logical, positive light; which in reality, is not the case whatsoever. While society, family, friends, and media generally all tell us that smoking is extremely detrimental to one's health and is not a smart habit to take up, his job is to convince people of the exact opposite. I think that it takes a very specific type of person to hold a job of this sort. In my opinion, it does not reflect positively on him or his morals. Nick definitely knows how to talk and how to please people, which I suppose is a trait one must have to be successful in his field. In order to get good publicity for the company, he lies and manipulates the facts. I do not like Nick's character and I am kind of surprised and disgusted that someone in the real world has his job.
 * Reflection #1: Thank You For Smoking**


 * Reflection #2: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time**

Even though I am not very far into the book, I think it is already extremely interesting. I think the author does an amazing job of showing the reader how an autistic person's mind works. I actually really liked how the chapters were all prime numbers, since austistic people are more focused on them. Though he is autistic, Christopher seems like a very intelligent person. He is extremely logical, observant, and specific. Despite the fact that Christopher is autistic, I still think he is relatively "normal", or functional. If I found a dead dog, I would certainly be curious as to who killed it and what exactly had happened. I am very interested to find out who really killed Wellington and what the circumstances were. I think that many people "write off" people with disabilities. Upon reading this book, I think people should be more patient with people who are disabled, physically or mentally. There is a lot we can learn from them.


 * Reflection #3: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time**

Getting even further into this book has made me like it even more. This book is not really "traditional" in my mind. It does not follow a specific plot line (so far), and it is a very fun and easy read. I think it is interesting how the author wrote the book exactly like an austistic person would speak. I know someone who is autistic, and everytime I pick up the book and read I can relate it to them, how they speak, and how they act. Christopher has a very interesting way of thinking and I am very intrigued by him. I was a little bit surprised when the police found him with the dead dog. In a way, it bothered me that they arrested him and took him into the police station. In Christopher's mind, it was not assault, but self defense. There mind workings with people who are "normal" and people who have mental disabilities are very different. I feel like it is very obvious that he has a problem and the officer should have taken that into account. However, I suppose that it was necessary to do this, and in their minds, it is certainly possible that he could have killed the dog.


 * Reflection #4: The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-time**

I feel extremely sorry for Christopher. I think he is at an extreme disadvantage in society, specifically regarding the fact that he cannot detect the use of sarcasm and he cannot decipher body language. People generally express their feelings through body language more than anything. Being that Christopher cannot understand this like most people do, he can not really tap into someone's true emotions. Also, people do not mean everything they say literally, and Christopher takes it extremely literal. He is what Mr. Brunelli would call a "social idiot". He will never know that people are laughing at him, rather than with him. He will also never know what people are truly trying to tell him, unless it is the most simple and direct sentence. This will only get more and more difficult for him as he gets older. He will be given more responsibility and people will start expecting more of him. Though being an autistic child is certainly difficult, excuses are made for them since they are young. This made me think that being an autistic adult must be extremely horrific for someone.Though I feel extremely sad for him, I am genuinely enjoying reading this book.