The Art of Racing in the Rain in Read by Theme

Dec 01, 2015 Brie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thought-provoking, t-squared, audiobooks

I almost rated this book 4 stars...I'd say I gave it 3.5 due to the main conflict's RIDICULOUS conclusion, which was a throwaway and completely unbefitting the novel as a whole. I shall say simply that this novel really did speak to my heart. As a mother of past and present four-legged creatures, I have always known they could understand and spoke to me in their own language. This was a beautiful look into the relationship between a family and their dog, with quite a few poignant messages that w ...more

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May 17, 2017 Nikki Johnson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really wanted to like this book. I even considered hoofing my review up to 3 stars but combing over the finer details of why I didn't like this book stopped me.

There are several reasons why, for me, this book just didn't work like it was supposed to.

1. Enzo is not a dog. Apart from the typical 'dog-like' things you'd expect (chasing a ball, barking) Enzo could have been anyone or anything. It could have been told from the perspective of a broom and it would have had just as much impact. The st I really wanted to like this book. I even considered hoofing my review up to 3 stars but combing over the finer details of why I didn't like this book stopped me.

There are several reasons why, for me, this book just didn't work like it was supposed to.

1. Enzo is not a dog. Apart from the typical 'dog-like' things you'd expect (chasing a ball, barking) Enzo could have been anyone or anything. It could have been told from the perspective of a broom and it would have had just as much impact. The story was Denny's story, and Enzo had zero impact on his life, apart from a soundboard to talk to (in a very human way. If you don't have dogs, let me tell you, there's less logical talk and more silly talk than this book would have you believe). I expected the plot to have Enzo at the centre, bringing the family back together (as the blurb would have you believe), but that didn't happen. Enzo contributed nothing and wasn't actually a dog-like character, so I couldn't for the life of me get emotional or relate to him, though I am a dog lover and own a couple myself.

2. From the perspective of the human characters in the book, everyone treats Enzo like dirt (excluding maybe Zoe, but she is a kid). Denny is meant to be his best friend, but he constantly forgets he has a dog. When Eve leaves Enzo in the house for three days without food, water, or bathroom relief, Denny is mad but hits Enzo when he learns he destroyed Zoe's toys. Are you kidding me? If my partner left our dogs home alone for that long, I wouldn't care if they'd destroyed the entire house YOU LEFT HIM FOR THREE DAYS. Try three days without water and see how you get on, really, try it. Once this scene happened I knew I wouldn't get on board with Denny's relationship with Enzo. And then the car scene. My god. Who calls their dog over from the other side of the road? Dumbass people, that's who.

3. The time the plot needs to ramp up the action, Stein uses a huge cheat, a get-out-clause that he knew he'd have to include in the book but couldn't get around it by telling it through Enzo. That's poor planning of writing and poor insight into your book's limitations. If Enzo wasn't privy to Denny's court situation, don't try to have the dog guess, write it in a clever way that doesn't feel like a massive cheat.

4. 10 is not an old age for a dog. Roughly, that's the age Enzo is at the end of the book. Sure, he has problems with his hips, but that shouldn't have caused massive heart failure at age 10. Dogs are technically seniors at 7-8 years old, but that age is not indicative of a dog's health in the slightest. Dogs can live up to 16 years old, maybe longer, and Enzo had at least a few more years in him. To have him expire at the end of the book and give him his wish of becoming 'a man' was far too neat and didn't make a whole lot of sense.

5. The ending is 100% bogus. Why would him being born into a human sway what your parents call you? Or was it coincidence? To be completely honest, I would be embarrassed if my dog came back as a human, there to torment my silly faces and voices, expressing my deepest fears, my secrets. My dog sees me do stupid stuff all the time, having that knowledge come back in human form? No thanks.

6. Why was Denny a good father again? It surely must be because he left his young child with his ailing wife for weeks on end, or maybe it's because his career is driving at high speeds which would cause immediate death if something should go wrong, leaving Zoe an orphan? While it was a horrible thing Eve's parents did, I can't support a character who risks his life for a hobby / career when he has responsibilities.

7. It is NOT good practice to remove the dewclaw of a dog when they are young. Anyone who believes this is common and a good thing needs to seriously look at their moral compass. The author has no clue what the purpose of a dog is, and clearly does not see them as our comrades - Enzo frequently calls Denny his 'master' which I find abhorrent. Any time you believe you are the master of your dog, stop, they are our family, our brothers, our sisters, they are not a fluffy thing you can use to do cute tricks and guard your home.

Clearly, this book was written to play on the heartstrings. But sadly for me, the song played a disjointed and disappointing tune. ...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Kalli rated it it was amazing

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" is most certainly one of the best and most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. So touching and heartfelt while still being incredibly amusing and insightful, this book was one I just couldn't put down. Enzo is sure to go down as one interesting character, able to convey such true observations about humankind from the unique perspective of a dog. This book has an array wonderful quotes, so many that a majority of the pages in my copy are dog-eared in the cor ...more

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May 19, 2012 Teresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! This is just an amazing book. Read it. And be prepared to cry.

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Mar 07, 2013 Tonya rated it it was amazing

Sobbing by page 13-the book is 320 pages. I didn't think I could handle that much emotional trauma but as the book progresses I went from sobbing to laughing out loud to shedding a few more tears. If you love dogs and books about dogs-do not read this book in public!! Unless public displays of gasping wails and the attention they receive are something you enjoy..
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Aug 15, 2012 Candace rated it really liked it

Shelves: general-fiction, 2013

I must confess that I didn't have high hopes for this book, despite the glowing reviews. I am glad to say that it wildly exceeded my expectations. ...more

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