The Art of Racing in the Rain
Ratings143
Average rating4.1
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoe at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.
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Reading this book is like cruising along as a passenger in a race car. It's a fast and easy read and requires no special exertion from the reader. The best thing about it is that the dog is a narrator. The worst thing about it is how the author forgets this from time to time, or has to work at getting the dog into the scene to be able to describe to the reader what is happening. I would have definitely preferred a story without all the ends tied up, but more closely aligned with what Enzo, the pooch, might have seen/heard/thought.
I appreciated the last few pages- they made me smile in a way I was hoping to smile through the entire book.
Taken from my post at College Students: One of my best friends recommended this to me when it first came out, and I've seen it on people's “must read” lists for a while now. I was skeptical. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. But I really loved the book; I found Enzo's quips and statements to be concise and poignant without being trite or simplistic.
I read this book in one sitting, and I highly, highly recommend it. I was suspicious of the plot because I thought it sounded silly at first: racing? dogs? I don't like either of those things. I don't even really like cars at all. And I'm definitely a cat lady.
“The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein is told from the point of view of Enzo a dog of indeterminate heritage who longs for opposable thumbs. It is his memoirs of auto racing, life and love with his human companion Denny. I'm not a big car racing fan and sometimes books with animals talking are too, too precious. Not this one. I alternately laughed out loud, blubbered so hard I couldn't see the words on the page and the most ugly part was when I wanted to find a couple of “evil twins” to smack because I got so annoyed with the “villains” of the story. In short, I give it two paws up!
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