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. 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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Customer Reviews - courtesy of Amazon.com ( Marked4Sale.com is not responsible for review content )
Fantastic!
This book was fantastic! I was a little hesitant when it started out being narrated by the dog but it really worked. The main (human) character goes through such sad and emotional experiences but with the dog narrating it you are allowed to feel those emotions for yourself and not how the main character tells you to feel them, which makes it all the more personal and emotionally charged. The other thing I wasn't sure I would like at first was the 'race car' talk interjected from time to time, that seems to draw a parallel to the character's lives, but again, as I got further into the book the racing descriptions were a nice relief from the heartbreaking events and gave a little perspective on looking at life. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time!
must read
I'm recommending this book to everybody I know. If I had a print version I would pass it along to so many people. Hmmmmm, perhaps a paper copy is just the perfect gift this year for some of my friends and family. It's that good.
A touching story for dog lovers (and everyone else)
I read this book in two sittings, and it is now one of my favorite fiction books. The narrator is a dog who who hopes to one day become a man, despite bearing witness to the cruelties that people can inflict on one another. He realizes and shows the reader through the story he tells that although things can look hopeless love, determination, and loyalty can often set things right.
Clearly this book will appeal to dog lovers, but hopefully this book will find wider appeal. This book would also appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult because of a controversial subplot. Men will appreciate the descriptions of car races and references to famous drivers. This book will take you through emotional highs and lows. Any lover of engrossing fiction should be as happy to go along for the ride that Garth Stein offers as would the canine narrator Enzo in his master's race car.
Surprisingly Great
I picked up this book without large hopes. I read lots of books about dogs, but while I enjoy them, they are usually just light entertainment. This book, however, still has me tearing up an hour after I finished it. It is very touching in that it takes you through every emotion, sadness to happiness, anger to laughter. It was very convincing that it was narrated by a dog, Enzo. I fell in love with the main characters and think it would make a great movie. I highly recommend this book.
Great Read
This is a must read for anyhone who has ever shared their life with a dog, or rather anyone who has had a dog that let them share their life with them. Warm, funny and totally engaging. This is a book that I will read many more times.
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