The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
by Garth Stein
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Book Reviews of The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
Book Review: A Fable
Summary: 3 Stars
Enzo, a lab-terrier mix, is tired of being a dog. He is looking forward, in fact, to the end of his life because of his certainty that, next time around, he will return to consciousness as a man. Enzo just cannot wait to have opposable thumbs and the kind of tongue that will allow him to form all the words he has rattling around in his head.
He knows how lucky he is to have been the one chosen from his litter of pups to live with Denny, a Seattle-based racecar driver and mechanic. Denny treats Enzo more as a friend than a pet and Enzo is smart enough to know the difference. He is not sure at first what to think when Denny falls in love with Eve and brings her home to live with them but, when a daughter is born to the happy couple, all is well again in Enzo's world.
Enzo learns about life by listening to Denny talk about his car racing philosophy, a philosophy filled with observations that work just as well in real life as they work on the racetrack. He fills, what would otherwise be lonely days alone, watching television documentaries and The Weather Channel and, in the process, becomes more and more convinced that he is, indeed, prepared to take on human form in his next life. His evenings are so often spent along side Denny on the couch watching tapes of Denny's past races that he even becomes somewhat of an racetrack expert.
When things take a turn for the worse for Denny and those closest to him, Enzo is there to suffer right along side him, and even manages to keep Denny from making a bad decision or two that might have cost him everything he loves most. Enzo is what we want to believe our own dogs are like. He is patient, loving, and totally aware of his place in the world but he remains capable of protecting us from ourselves and others.
And therein lies my problem with "The Art of Racing in the Rain."
I could never suspend my disbelief to the degree required to lose myself in the book and, without that suspension of disbelief, I was unable to appreciate Garth Stein's fable the way so many others have appreciated it. Enzo is the smartest guy in the room and, since the book is told from his point-of-view, he is almost always in the room. He understands Denny, his friends, his wife, and those who mean to harm him better than Denny ever will. All those hours spent in front of a television have provided Enzo with the equivalent of a college education, it seems. He not only understands everything he sees and hears, he is generally one step ahead of the humans around him.
I understand the appeal of "The Art of Racing in the Rain." Denny's race strategy and driving techniques easily translate into a coherent philosophical approach to life itself. It is a classic tale of courage, perseverance, love, and compassion, though, ultimately, it so closely follows the classic form that it holds few surprises. As in the case of many good books, however, the fun comes from the journey itself and not from the final destination. I dare say that most people who read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" are likely to enjoy it more than I enjoyed it, but I am not sorry that I spent a few hours with Enzo.
Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who has ever owned a dog or is a dog lover, The Art of Racing in the Rain is for you. Garth Stein tells the story of an aspiring race car driver, Denny, and his family through the eyes of his dog Enzo. Enzo takes the reader through happiness, sadness and moments filled with comedy. It is a story that pulls at your heart strings from beginning to end as Enzo tells his story.
For those of us who have a dog, there are events in the book that we all can relate to. For those who were fans of Marley and Me there are many scenes that remind us how dogs are, and the funny things that they do from time to time. Unlike in Marley and Me though, Enzo tells us why he is doing certain things. For anyone who has ever wondered what drives dogs to chew up stuffed animals, Enzo explains why, "... One of her stuffed animal toys had come to life... I stalked the bastard as it abused and humiliated each of Zoe's (Denny's daughter) with great malice. Finally I could take it no more and I moved in, teeth bared for attack, to end the brutal burlesque once and for all." Even those who are not dog-lovers or have never had a dog cannot help but laugh at some of Enzo's comical descriptions of how we (as humans) go around living our lives, and the assumptions that we sometimes make. The story is far from being only light hearted, though, as Enzo takes us through the hardships that Denny encounters and shows us how he helps Denny through his hard times.
Denny's life is by no means an easy one. He is a mechanic with a wife and daughter who aspires to be a racecar driver. His world is turned upside down, though, when his wife is diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor and dies. Enzo tries to help his master through his struggles but can only do so much, wishing the whole time that he could talk. Since Enzo's love of his life is Denny, Denny's heartbreak is also Enzo's. Their struggle to cope with the actions around them makes you root for them page after page.
Another key component to the story is that Enzo is getting older. The book begins with Denny telling a friend on the phone that the trip to the vet may only be one way. For anyone who has ever had a dog that has gotten older to the point at which they are but a shell of their form puppy selves, it is easy to see Denny's conundrum. At what point are you letting the dog live for your own selfish reasons? Enzo says that he is ready to go, and that he wants to go on to the other side. He constantly believes that he will come back as a human who will be able to talk to Denny and be near him always. "In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers into the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life." Enzo heard this once on the History channel and believes it to be true with all his heart.
All in all, I found this book to be an excellent read. As a dog owner myself, I couldn't help but connect to Enzo. Those who aren't dog owners may not appreciate the book as much, but will still find the plot of the book exciting. By the end they may find themselves going out to get an Enzo of their own.
Book Review: The Best Book I Have Read This Year
Summary: 5 Stars
Book Description
"I know this much about racing in the rain. I know it is about balance. It is about anticipation and patience. I know all of the driving skills that are necessary for one to be successful in the rain. But racing in the rain is also about the mind! It is about owning one's own body. About believing that the track is an extension of the car, and the rain is an extension of the track, and the sky is an extension of the rain. It is about believing that you are not you; you are everything. And everything is you."
"He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave. And I knew, as Denny sped me toward the doctor who would fix me, that if I had already accomplished what I set out to accomplish here on earth, if I had already learned what I was meant to learn, I would have left the curb one second later than I had, and I would have been killed instantly by that car. But I was not killed. Because I was not finished. I still had work to do."
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty and hope - a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life ... as only a dog could tell it!
Fine Printings' Review [...]
Life is short, filled with trials that as we know, are to make us humans stronger. However, have we ever stopped and wondered how our own everyday lives, routines ... these trials, affect our beloved pets? What courses through their minds? Are they as intelligent, perhaps more intuitive then we are? Do our actions or in-actions cause them to scoff at us in their own silent ways? In Garth Stein's, The Art of Racing in the Rain, these questions and more are effortlessly placed to rest.
What can we say ... dogs. Simple honesty ... dogs. These wondrous animals, man's best friend, soul companions, silent, strong, and wise onlookers to everyday life. They are not just balls of fluff, something to cuddle and pet. They are sometimes wiser than even we are.
In this novel, Enzo, a lab terrier mix, narrates a beautiful story that begins with the start of his puppy life in the arms of competitive racecar driver, Denny. A tale that is one for all readers to enjoy, and how could we not ... as we can certainly not attest to how many books have been written from a canine perspective. You will find yourself laughing out loud, yelling out at injustice and weeping out from both heartbreak and joy. The pages flow with philosophy, so when you set this novel down be sure to sit back and take stock of your life. This is not only a novel that marvels at the life around us, but one that teaches, in fact yearns to teach us on how to better one's own being and live with soul satisfying happiness. You do not need to be a car or dog fanatic to love and appreciate Stein's work, nor does it matter your age or sex ... this is a book for ALL readers, enjoy and embrace the spirit of family.
Book Review: Created on my Stephen Hawking computer
Summary: 5 Stars
All I have is my Stephen Hawking computer. I have no voice; no grand gestures. My Stephen Hawking computer is the only way I can express a point and make sure it is understood. I do what I can with what I have.
There are, within the hundreds of reviews of this book, a few statements by people who have difficulties (as monkeys do) "thinking outside the box". So much so that they object to the very phrase - even when it is used only once (in quotes) while describing the shortcomings of monkeys as close relatives of humans. Others think the book compares favorably with "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". That is an insult. Seagulls are the marine equivalent of crows - flying rats. Birds are the degenerate offspring of ancient reptiles, according to the TV people. A few of the reviewers are in apparent agony over reading "yet another dog story". I can't speak to that, having never read any others. I can tell you that I read this in one sitting.
Then there are those who refer to the "unbelievable family problems". How are they "unbelievable"? Because the alpha is a race driver? (Would being a plumber make it better?) Because his wife had brain cancer? (Would being hooked on drugs until an accidental overdose make it more believable?) And in-laws that do nothing but cause problems - nobody has that problem, right? I can provide worse than this from my own experience. What can I say? Zebra hides everywhere.
Life from the viewpoint of a dog, but not just any dog. Enzo is an old soul ready to give up his "dogness", and reincarnate as a man. He learned this from a TV show about Mongolia. He happens to share the alpha's enthusiasm for automobile racing. Much of the narrative is expressed in racing metaphors. Racing in the rain refers both to difficulties on the track and difficulties in life. I am, perhaps, not the greatest authority on "permissible" metaphors (if there are such things), but it is different and therefore interesting. And it works. If it didn't, there wouldn't be the hundreds of favorable reviews garnered by this story. Those who "don't get it" should probably be reading books with lots of pictures in them. They aren't good at manifesting.
From the start you know Enzo is dying, but that doesn't make it any easier when it happens at the end. The problem is that the intervening pages tell a heart rending story in which Enzo plays a large part, told, as it is, from his point of view. Anyone who grew up with dogs will have a hard time finding fault with this book. Those who think dogs are possessions to be ordered about, will see it as a lot of foolishness. Anthropomorphism. Fantasy. Whatever. Dogs have been with men since we sat around campfires and shared the day's kill. Even Neanderthals kept dogs. No animal has so closely allied itself with humans as dogs. If you don't feel it, no one can explain it to you, monkey boy.
Book Review: It's a Dog's Life
Summary: 4 Stars
I work part-time in a gift store that also sells books. "The Art of Racing in the Rain" has been flying off the shelves, so I picked it up one day to read the synopsis. What intrigued me most about the book is that the story is told from the dog's point of view. The idea reminded me of another book I read and enjoyed called The Dogs of Babel. I read a little bit of the first chapter to get a feel for the author's writing style (from the viewpoint of a dog), and it interested me enough to purchase a copy for myself.
The first chapter really drew me in, mostly because I love animals and recently had to say goodbye to one of my cats. Enzo, the dog, is getting very old and weak. He can barely walk by himself, he urin@tes uncontrollably, and sleeps a lot to ignore the pain. The time is the present, and Enzo sets up the story by advising the reader that the remainder of the novel will be set in the past, as he saw the events happen.
In Chapter Two, I discover that "The Art of Racing In the Rain" isn't a metaphor for a dog running through droplets of rain. It's literally about racing in the rain. Car racing. As in NASCAR. Cars going over slick, watered-down track. Clearly, the author is a big fan of car racing, as the level of detail about which he writes is way over the non-racing fan's head. Plus, if you're not a fan, it's quite dull. From Chapter Two through about halfway into the novel, I thought I was going to have to put the novel down. That's how disinterested I was. I really could have done without all the racing references, drivers' names, terminology, etc. I realize that racing is an integral part of the story, but I think the author could have been less specific and trimmed down the racing analogy, so as to not bore readers that aren't interested in car racing whatsoever.
Finally, I made it over the halfway mark and the story became interesting again. Dramatic events began to happen, ignoring the heavy race talk. This is where the author excels. He's great at human drama, capturing emotions, and making the reader care about the characters. From this point on, I didn't want to put down the book. The bond between Enzo and his master Denny was fantastic, magical, and true-to-life. Enzo and Denny each couldn't have asked for a better friend.
Without giving away any spoilers, I was very pleased and touched by the ending of this novel. The author wrapped it up beautifully, and I felt satisfied.
I'd give the book five stars for the character development, unique point of view, writing style, and human interaction, but I had to take one of the stars away because of the unnecessary, heavy (and dull) racing facts that bogged down the first half of the book.