The Art of Racing in the Rain in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Aug 08, 2019 Heather L rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, fiction

Some books should come with a tissue warning. What a great read!

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Kristin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

While some of the content of 'The Art of Racing In The Rain' was unexpected and hit me at the wrong time personally, I thought this was an excellent book and well worth the temporary emotional hit I took. My coworker read this before me and clued me into the gist of the book, that it was narrated by the dog on the cover and that the dog dies. But as I later found out, you know the dog is going to die in the first chapter and the book is his reflections on life and all that he's seen, as he ponde While some of the content of 'The Art of Racing In The Rain' was unexpected and hit me at the wrong time personally, I thought this was an excellent book and well worth the temporary emotional hit I took. My coworker read this before me and clued me into the gist of the book, that it was narrated by the dog on the cover and that the dog dies. But as I later found out, you know the dog is going to die in the first chapter and the book is his reflections on life and all that he's seen, as he ponders what will happen once he is no longer a dog.
Along with the dog, Enzo, the main character is Denny, a race car driver who is trying to balance his career potential with family issues, and when those issues keep him from the racing for a spell, he and Enzo together watch many of his races, taped from the in-car camera. Where Denny's talent shines the brightest is the races in the rain, and while he might not realize it, Denny's off-hand comments to Enzo were understood by the dog, and Enzo makes it evident that he is Denny's biggest fan, though he can't articulate his tongue to tell him so, nor does he have thumbs to enable him to write it out. Those lessons on the art of racing in the rain not only form the book's title, but also Enzo's way of looking at all of the events the two of them have seen together.
As a fan of auto racing, many of the driver names were familiar to me as were the circuits on which Denny raced, but because American racing is so NASCAR-centric, and NASCAR stops when rain starts, I have a feeling many readers of the book may not understand Denny's observations. By focusing on the kind of racing that doesn't get top billing here in the U.S., even though Denny's experiences most often occur on real tracks in America, Stein has also provided the opportunity for the sport to gain more fans who probably would have never given a book on sports car road racing a second look.
I loved Enzo, even though I knew that there could never be a sequel due to Enzo's circumstances at the beginning fo the book, but because of that, I particularly looked for a completeness in the book, which I found in the end. Certain things that Enzo mentions early on come back towards the end, and while they made sense the first time, they are even more fitting later on. ...more

Like · see review

Feb 01, 2015 Amy rated it really liked it

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. The novel is told from a dog's perspective and readers will be lapping up Enzo's story. As the novel races along, Enzo has his paw on the metal as Denny's career and family life unravels. It's a unique 'tail' that illustrates the bond between man and his best friend. ...more

Like · see review

Jul 24, 2009 Gina rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

I picked up this book at a library book sale when I was in NY. I love dogs, so of course I would love this, right? I wasn't prepared for the car racing (not my favorite), but ultimately the metaphor works in this book. Enzo, the dog, as the narrator is great. ...more

Like · see review

May 12, 2014 Megan rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookclub-ish, finished-2014

You know, I'm really NOT a dog person, but this book could almost convert me... Enzo is a very smart dog with a near-human soul who is his master's greatest supporter. He sees Denny through some pretty tough times, things happening which are enough to make me rather furious on Denny's behalf. ...more

Like · see review