The Art of Racing in the Rain

[Jake]

Category: Audio Book/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Read: February 3 - February 25

Summary: Enzo is different than other dogs. In a way he is like a human in a dog's body. He is educated due to watching lots of television and listening to his owner very closely. His owner is Denny Swift, a race car driver. Enzo learns that life, like racing, isn't all about going fast. There are skills required to get you where you are going. Zoe is Denny's daughter and her maternal grandparents are fighting for custody of her after the death of Denny's wife Eve. On the eve of Enzo's death he looks back on his life and recalls all that him and his family went through.

Personal Reaction: I liked how the book was written from Enzo's point of view. It makes you wonder what your pets are thinking. I also liked that Enzo believed he would be reincarnated as a man and become Denny's friend one day. It was interesting to me that Enzo could sense that Eve was sick before anyone else knew. Although the death of Eve was extremely sad I really liked this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Especially those who aren't particularly interested in reading. This book may just spark an interest.

[Dan]

I'm with you. I really loved this book. And the Epilogue?? I've never read a more amazing Epilogue than the one found in this book. It rounded everything beautifully. I recommend this book to everyone I know.

[Kay]

I own this book, actually I put it on my wish list and my son bought it for my birthday. I started reading it but lost interest very early on and didn't read anymore. This was quite a while back but I seem to remember that I got bored with stuff about cars or racing and felt it was not my sort of thing, less about the dog than I thought. Having read the previous comments I think I gave up on the book far too soon and will try it again,

[Patricia]

I loved this book...one of my all time favorites!

[Paul]

I own a dog and I too loved this book. Have you read 15 Dogs? Now that is a ridiculous dog book. Won some major book prize in Canada. Still trying to figure out why! But The Art of Racing in the Rain was an absolute delight!

[Patricia]

I am also a dog lover! I haven't read 15 Dogs, but I will check it out. Have you read "A Dog's Purpose"? I loved that book also!

[Vicki]

I read this book within days of the death of my 4 legged love of my life. I cried like a baby. I currently have a dog that watches TV she knows what is coming on before we do. If the sound is off she knows an animal will be on screen by viewing. I love the idea that a good dog comes back as a good man. What a great way to reunite with a lost love.

[Victor]

Kay, I encourage you to give it another try. I've heard of other avid readers being put off by the auto-racing element but that is not what this book is "about." If you can suspend disbelief & judgment regarding auto-racing (a subject I have no great love for either) this book is truly beautiful. If you have ever owned a dog the epilogue will make you cry.

[Kay]

Victor wrote: "Kay, I encourage you to give it another try. I've heard of other avid readers being put off by the auto-racing element but that is not what this book is "about." If you can suspend disbelief & judg..."

Thank you Victor, I take your word for it, I'll give it another go.

[John McR]

Patricia wrote: "I loved this book...one of my all time favorites!"

Do try it again! I tended to skim over the racing-saturated parts. One of my all-time favorite reads.

[Bern]

Absolutely phenomenal book with an ending that ties the book completely! It is a simply written book from a dog's perspective that is just amazing. There are, woven throughout the book, lots of racing stories, some very interesting (facts?) and tidbits about real racers, which I found fascinating, however, also included are lots of racing jargon, which I admit was not the best parts of the book to me. Get past those pages and I promise you, you will fall in love with this book. I highly recommend this book, easily on my favorite reads of all time.

[Kay]

I commented on here way back in March (2016) that I could not get into it, I was bored with too much talk about racing, speed, cars, etc. Several people urged me to try it again so I did and yes, I agree, it was worth sticking with it . I don't want to say anything to spoil it for people who haven't read it but it get's very special and moving, my eyes well up just remembering it . A good story.

[Victor]

Kay wrote: "I commented on here way back in March (2016) that I could not get into it, I was bored with too much talk about racing, speed, cars, etc. Several people urged me to try it again so I did and yes, I..."

Glad we got you to reconsider! Story seems tailor-made for television, eh?

[Ann, without an e.]

I truly enjoyed this book. It was a new point of view for me, a dogs perspective of a male themed story. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the personality and actions of the animal. I also appreciated that the book was so tactfully written. Some of the situations discussed in the book could have been very graphic. I'm appreciative of the clean content of complex adult situations.The relationship between a dog and it's human was so perfectly captured. This book had some tear jerking moments for me.

[[deleted user]]

Ugh! This book...so many laughs. So. Many. Tears. I loved it so much but the original description that I read before I ordered the book (I can't find it now) gave me the idea that it would be more funny and whimsy. This has since been added to my list of books that made me ugly cry! It was a beautiful read and the crying should not dissuade anyone from reading. Nor should the racing, although I am a race fan so that comment might be biased.

[David]

I read this book accidentally, on a whim rather. My friend had just finished it and I was out of books. I was able to read the book in one sitting; during which I laughed and I cried. What an amazing book! I just found out that the author, Garth Stein, is coming to my local library in a couple of weeks for a presentation and book signing.

[Deborah]

I would encourage you to meet him. A lovely man with twinkling blue eyes and his second book may not be as popular as "Racing in the Rain", but worth a read. Enzo will forever be the best storyteller.

[David]

Deborah wrote: "I would encourage you to meet him.
My wife and I really enjoyed seeing him. He is a great speaker and hilarious. I know have personalized autograph copies of The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Sudden Light.