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: Unexpectedly Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
When told a book was "written" by a dog, you expect the cutesy. Unexpectedly, this book is excellent and never cute. The canine author is an astute observer and philosopher. He watches the daily events in the life of his master, idol and race car driver owner, Denny Swift. With all the knowledge he could possibly glean from habitually watching TV, Enzo, the dog, gives us particularly good insight.
The person who recommended this book said you'll and you'll cry. She was right. But - again - unexpectedly. At the outset, the reader is led to believe he will cry at then end. Nope. You'll cry at other places in the book, but not the end. The ending is extremely artfully crafted and touching without being depressive or maudlin. You'll laugh throughout, though never at inappropriate moments. The author does not fall back on humor to get through tough times.
This is the story of Enzo, the dog, and his owner, Denny Swift. During their years together, Denny gets married, Zoe is born and events occur that are emotionally uplifting, depressing, positive and disturbing. Enzo relates all the events in this man's life as a keen observer of humans and the human condition. He is a great story teller as well as astute observer who can make any reader laugh. Although the story is told with humor, comedy never overrides the plot lines, which is always a delicate balancing act. What could be maudlin told by a human comes off without sap when told by an erudite pooch.
The writing is terrific. I reread a description of a murder of crows three times just to enjoy the passage for a second and third time. The characters, too, are drawn with a fine pen. They have depth and believability. All have strengths, weaknesses, desires and foibles.
I highly recommend this book.
Book Review: A Dog's view
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew I was in trouble when tears were forming in the corners of my eyes before the end of first chapter of The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein. I am a dog lover, so my opinion of this book may be biased but I would venture that most folks would fall under the spell of Enzo, a lab/terrier/? mix who, as narrator, reflects on his life. Enzo's philosophical views on the world are largely based on his family, watching documentaries and The Weather Channel ("it's about the world"), tapes from his "owner" Denny's racing career and visits to the racetrack. He is frustrated with his lack of thumbs and lack of voice. He cannot wait to come back as a human someday. He is a constant in a family that faces many crises. Another constant is racing. Denny is an aspiring race-car driver working his way up through the circuits. Enzo compares living a good life to what it takes to be a great driver. It is not only about going fast. Now, I am not a race fan. I have never really understood the driving around the same path over and over but I must admit, I have a different perspective of the sport after reading this book.
Garth Stein's writing is thought-provoking and honest. Enzo's narration is so compelling and believable. He is able to see the wonder of being human even if we have forgotten. I found myself looking at my dogs and nodding in agreement with Enzo's thoughts. Mr. Stein's descriptions of racing, what it is like behind the wheel and what it takes to be a great racer are beautiful. If being a driver is akin to Mr. Stein's depiction, I now understand the need for speed.
Do you need to be a dog lover or race fan or both to enjoy this book? I should hope not.The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
Book Review: Beautiful Story
Summary: 5 Stars
What happens when a very smart dog learns about the human world through his interactions with his family and what he sees on television? In his sensitive and highly spiritual novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, author Garth Stein speaks in the voice of his unlikely hero, Enzo, a lab/terrier mix with a surprising philosophical bent.
Enzo is a good and loyal dog who has long felt that he is not like other dogs. Once he watched a National Geographic documentary on Mongolia that talked about how, when a dog died, he was allowed to roam the plains until he was ready to come back, and, when the dog is ready, he will become a man.
Enzo wants nothing more than to become a man. He feels he is already a human soul trapped in a dog's body. He envies men their thumbs and small tongues, and feels that if only he had thumbs, he could be so much more.
Enzo has been a good and faithful companion to Denny Swift, a race car driver who gets derailed from his racing dreams by life. Through Denny, Enzo learns the art of driving a race car by focusing only in the moment and allowing connection to everything. Now, at the end of his life, Enzo reflects on his life with the Swift family. He looks forward to his reincarnation a a man, where he will use all he has learned from Denny to drive a race car. And in that life, he will seek Denny out, walk up to him, shake his hand and say, "Enzo says hello" with a wink and a nudge.
Filled with gentle wisdom, The Art of Racing in the rain is a compassionate and sensitive novel that never feels preachy, but offers up a philosophical view of life and the beyond, why we are here, and how we can love and appreciate our lives as human beings. And there's no need to be a dog lover, an animal lover or a racing lover to be captivated by Enzo's message.
Book Review: Enzo is nice, but not very dog-like
Summary: 2 Stars
I love dog stories. I love the way that authors use these loving animals with distinctive personalities both to celebrate the wonder of the dog and to draw out the best aspects of humanity. I even love that every dog story ultimately ends the same way, and readers get to enjoy the catharsis of crying for an animal. After hearing some positive comments about this novel, written from a dog's perspective, I thought that I would love it.
Unfortunately, Stein doesn't really capture a dog's voice very well. Enzo, the narrator, writes as if he's the Dalai Lama, but who has fur, can't speak, and has a nearly unhealthy obsession with racecars. He's certainly a likable character, with a generous heart and well-constructed observations from Eastern spirituality (I don't personally agree with the reincarnation idea that permeates the book, nor with the oft-referenced idea that we make our own problems, but I think Enzo communicates clearly, and I respect his views). But he doesn't sound like a dog.
Also, there is a human story that is initially compelling - a young family with a terminally ill member and some meddling in-laws - but it gets absurd quickly (the legal struggles may not frustrate non-lawyers, or maybe they're accurate in Washington, but as a public defender in Massachusetts, I was irritated with the way a criminal case could be used as a bargaining chip in a tangentially-related civil matter). This book isn't terrible, and many people may find it helpful, but I did not enjoy it, and I recommend Dean Koontz's A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog (Thorndike Press Large Print Core Series) as an example of how to celebrate a dog while letting it still be a dog.
Book Review: Fun And Inspirational
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked this book up way back in June and never really had the time to sit down and read it straight through. It is definitely one of the most lovable tales out there ... way better than "Marley and Me." This book sounds kooky at first ... a story told by the dog's point of view. But once I started reading it, I could not stop reading it. It's so relatable and wise and wonderful all wrapped in one novel. It has been quite some time where I can actually enjoy a novel without being impatient for the conclusion. The writing style is concise, smart, funny and filled with wisdom that only a dog can portray.
I like pets but a lot of times, I find stories told from an animal's point of view to be pithy and sometimes, predictable. Not this time. This one really rocks ... and Enzo is a dog that I will never forget. How can I? He's a wise soul wrapped in a furry body, unable to help his friend (pet is not the right word) Denny through his biggest mishap in life, other than to be there. Perhaps that is the greatest lesson one can gleam from this book.
Enzo is a race car dog as well though he has only ridden in a fast car once but he has never forgotten it ... Two barks means faster, Denny. Denny leaves the tv on for Enzo while he's at work and Enzo learns so much and has his favorite actors all lined up and with justifiable reasons to back it up. How can anyone not like this dog? I think he's cool.
This book will be a fast read because it's set in a conversational tone ... there is no self-consciousness about this dog and there is no conceit either. He just tells it as he sees it and wonders why we humans just don't get it.
This is one of my favorite reads of the year ... and definitely a book club choice as well!
9/14/10