The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth SteinGoodreads description:
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, Zoë, 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 Zoë at his side.
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.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such an interesting book. I'd been hearing great things so I was excited when I saw it in a stack of books my boss handed me recently. I just LOVED the perspective of this book. As an animal lover, I completely fell for Enzo and loved to see his world through his eyes! What a cool way to read the story! It really made the book unique and interesting! It took a nice story to the next level.
I was worried about the racing content (since I'm not a racing fan) but I thought it was an interesting way for Garth Stein to connect life and racing. It was never boring to me. It added some character to the novel.
The story itself is not unique, per se, but I thought it was well done. And I enjoyed following the story to its conclusion and see it all come together. The emotional truth of the story was very well done and the pacing kept me intrigued from page one.
And, honestly, I'm not sure that I'll ever see dogs in quite the same way again!
I definitely recommend this book, particularly for animal lovers!
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I loved this book. I read it in April, and I still get a warm fuzzy feeling when I think about it. Glad you liked it.
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