The Art of Racing in the Rain

The whole anthropomorphic-pet thing has never worked for me: pretending that an animal without a prefrontal cortex is just a tiny-human-who-can't-speak is absurd—and not in the enjoyable sense of the word. Add to that some silliness about reincarnation, toss in some pointless car racing, a dash of maudlin, ... and thanks but no thanks.

(Audio CD edition; abandoned partway into 2nd disc.)

Hands down one of the best books I've ever read. I think it pulls at you more too if you are or ever have been a dog owner. I never wanted to put it down and invoked strong reactions from the very beginning. I feel equal parts hate and appreciation to my friends that encouraged me to read it. Not only am I incredibly impressed by the depth of the story, but I must admit it got to me. Even gave me a better appreciation for racing. A must read.