The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Book Synopsis

Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking?

Meet one funny dog—Enzo, the lovable mutt who tells this story. Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: most dogs love to chase cars, but Enzo longs to race them. He learns about racing and the world around him by watching TV and by listening to the words of his best friend, Denny, an up-and-coming race car driver, and his daughter, ZoË, his constant companion. Enzo finds that life is just like being on the racetrack—it isn't simply about going fast. And, applying the rules of racing to his world, Enzo takes on his family's challenges and emerges a hero. In the end, Enzo holds in his heart the dream that Denny will go on to be a racing champion with his daughter by his side. For theirs is an extraordinary friendship—one that reminds us all to celebrate the triumph of the human (and canine) spirit.

Sharon's Rating

Sharon's Review

This was such a fast and entertaining book that I simply couldn't put it down. It has the rather unique angle of being narrated by a dog, which immediately caught my attention. Enzo the dog is lovable and amusing. His insight into human nature is better than most humans.

There's a segment where Denny is so embattled that he gives up and signs a document that Enzo knows is the exact wrong thing to do. Enzo grabs the document, runs away with it, tries to bury it, and then urinates on it. This is quite a feat for the dog, because he is old and very ill. Denny gets the hint and doesn't use the document.

Enzo sees a program on TV that suggests that good dogs will become humans in subsequent lives, so he spends his whole life being a good dog so he can become a human when he dies.

It's suitable for ages thirteen and up. There is an incident involving a fifteen year old girl as the aggressor that might be disturbing to parents of young teens. To the teens themselves, it would likely be considered fairly mild considering the access they have to much more disturbing material in movies and video games.

Enzo's philosophy is: That which you manifest is before you. This loosely means that we are the authors of our own fates by our actions. That includes the good, the bad, and the indifferent. I agree with it, but only up to a point. Regardless how you feel about that philosophy, it's still an excellent read.

This was a heart warming and as well as heart wrenching story. I laughed some, and cried more. I would highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: May not be appropriate for children due to sex.