The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein
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Book Reviews of The Art of Racing in the Rain
Book Review: Thank you, Enzo
Summary: 5 Stars
I have lived in households that have included dogs my whole life. I have loved and bonded with a few through the years, including my present companion, a robust Chocolate Lab. I was glad to discover this small masterpiece.
First of all, I love the title. The Art of Racing in the Rain, told from the perspective of a dog named Enzo (after Ferrari) is a moving tale of love, loss and betrayal -- of overcoming impossible barriers and ultimate triumph. Enzo's master, Denny Swift, is a talented race car driver. He is also husband to Eve, father to Zoe, and this core family is Enzo's Universe. Enzo has gained great wisdom and insight from his master and from watching TV, including among other things racing videos and the Weather Channel. Enzo tells the story of Denny's life with honesty and insight. Through Enzo's eyes we find a hero in Denny, a good man who doesn't look at the wall as his car (and his life) spins out of control, but at the track. This is perhaps my favorite racing metaphor on life: that Denny does not meet the wall, but regains the track, even when he is racing blind. For Eve, Denny's dying wife, I feel incredible compassion. Eve, so afraid to be alone she asks Enzo to stay with her through the night and protect her, then whispers "thank you" to her protector on surviving the darkness. Young Zoe is her father's spirit, a tender, resilient child who completes the family. This novel keeps is eye on the next turn and remains on the track.
What struck me in particular in The Art of Racing in the Rain was the great character development that emerged through Enzo's straightforward reporting. I discovered Denny Swift navigating his difficult life with constraint, faith, courage and passion; Eve as a tender soul who endures even knowing she is doomed; Zoe, a bright, innocent child whose understanding far outpaces her years; "the Twins," Maxwell and Trish, flat, shallow and despicably impotent. I felt that I already knew Mark Fein, the bright, bombastic attorney. This all seems so seamless, so simple and I am sure it was the hardest part. Mr. Stein, congratulations and thank you.
Book Review: An Amazingly Inspirational Novel,,,,& future Movie?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the most amazing novel I have had the pleasure of reading in many moons. It is not only inspirational and thought-provoking, but it brands the reader's soul and leaves a permanent imprint.
Garth Stein performed an entertaining book reading at the Book Revue in Huntington, NY last month, and was so kind to answer audience questions about the "zebra" within us, the techniques of professional auto racing, (like visualizing egg shells between the foot and the accelerator, etc.)
One of the 2 excerpts he reads, deals with this most loving, evolved dog, Enzo. His fondest wish is to return as a man with opposable thumbs, the ability to embrace speech & the aspiration to become a grand champion race car driver. He watches TV, extensively studies racing videos with Denny, & learns "the car goes where the eyes look", as well as taking other steps to becoming a compassionate human being.
Enzo's sacrifices are many, as he reviews his life, and prepares for his imminent death,,, so he can take a leap of faith, and be reunited with his beloved human, Denny, and daughter, Zoe. He understands and evaluates the world and people around him, storing the information deep into the pocket of his soul, for the next lifetime.
He is ready,,, a double "WOOF WOOF" to indicate "Faster". Be prepared for Enzo's emotional "transition",,,so keep a few tissues handy.
The concept of writing a book from the canine's point of view is pure genius, and Garth Stein's mixing it with his extensive knowledge of car racing makes for a unique, one of a kind book.
What a fantastic movie this would make for the wide screen! Let's hope he writes a sequel,,,,"The Art of Flying in the Rain",,,where Jonathon Livingston Seagull meets Enzo the man.
I loved this book, and look forward to reading Garth Stein's other published books.
Respectfully
Arlene Millman
author of "Boomerang - A Miracle Trilogy (The Tale of a Remarkable Boston Terrier")
Book Review: If you check out negative reviews, read this
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was highly recommended on the Kindle Boards. Since I love dogs, I was interested and read the reviews here. And, as you can see, this book is loved by most of the people who have read it.
I have the habit of reading the negative reviews before I spend my money on a book. There are some things that drive me nuts in a book, things that might not bother anyone else, but that really grate on me. So I read the one star reviews and some of the one star people said something that really worried me-- plot developments came out of thin air. I hate that, it drives me totally insane and I end up tossing the book in the give to the library box.
But it was raining and I have a cold and so I downloaded the book and read it in one sitting.
Those people did not read the same book I did. The plot developments made sense. In fact the one that upset some of the one star reviewers was so boldly telegraphed, I would have been upset if the plot did not go the way it did. (I don't want to add any more spoilers to the mix here.)
As far as Enzo not being realistic, well, really, what kind of criticism is that? Dogs can't write books. Of course it's not realistic. As far as what dogs think about things, while I firmly believe that dogs have inner lives, I don't think any of them aspire to be race car drivers. But, heck, I truly believe my shy, scared little poodle dreams of being a big, brave dog someday, so maybe a race car driver's dog dreams of racing. How do I know? But I'd like to think that maybe they do.
I have no interest in racing at all, but the racing parts were very interesting, which surprised me and the racing theme fully supported the theme of the book--Stay the course, do the right thing, there's no shame in losing the race as long as you try. And someday you will win.
If you like dogs this is a must read. If you don't like dogs, I don't know if you would like this or not.
Book Review: Unforgettable
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" was stacked on the shelf at the coffee shop for its book club. The title intrigued me but the photo of the Yellow Lab is what clinched it. The book arrived from Amazon around noon one day and by 6:30 that evening, I had finished it. Three days later, I still couldn't talk about the book without tearing up. This is not a bad thing.
It's been a long time since I've been so moved by fiction, and it's difficult to remember while reading that this IS indeed fiction and not a real memoir written by a real dog.
Enzo the dog wants to be a man. He feels he will make a "good man" because he is a good listener, among the many qualities he brings to the table. He is wise in the most practical and simple ways and has learned much about life from watching racing videos on the Speed Channel. His owner, Denny, whom Enzo loves and respects, is an up and coming race car driver. Over the course of the story, the family of Denny and Enzo grows to include Eve and then Zoe, the child of Denny and Eve.
You need not be a dog lover to appreciate this marvelous book, but if you are, the book will move you like nothing written before. The prose is lovely, the images perfection and the wisdom light-handed and sprinkled throughout. I rarely mark up my books, but I couldn't resist underlining many of the passages in this one.
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" will take you by the hand on page one and by page two, have you by the throat. You won't be able to put it down. I am only sorry it didn't go on for another hundred pages. I wept (I'm a sucker for dog stories), and I laughed myself silly. I was deliciously worn out when I finished this one.
This book is a joy. Garth Stein has given us a lovely literary gift that is sure to become a classic.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Book Review: Beyond hackneyed
Summary: 2 Stars
At first I didn't think this book was so bad. Sure, the family is incredibly boring. There's nothing wrong with leading a dull life mostly devoid of meaning; I just don't want to read a book about such people. Yes, the book turns into a Lifetime Original Movie (TM) at about the halfway point, and telling the book from the point of view of a dog is a stupid conceit that the writer doesn't have the skills to employ effectively. Still, once I finished the book, I thought, eh.
After I mulled it over for a while, though, I started to get kind of angry. There's the attempted emotional manipulation of the reader. There's the terrible pacing and character and plot development. How does such a mediocre writer get such a sweet book deal? Danielle Steele writes better books than this without the literary conceit or pretense of originality.
What I really can't forgive is the treatment of the teenage girl. It's obvious that Stein has little or no experience with teenage girls, at least as an adult, or he wouldn't expect readers to accept a 15-year-old girl as the attempted date rapist of an adult man. What Stein does or does not know about teen girls turns out to be irrelevant, as it becomes obvious that the entire Annika plot line is a feeble writer's attempt to insert conflict into an otherwise pointless story. He also makes this girl out to be worse than she needs to be by having her continue her false rape allegations even after the accused confronts her and appeals to her better nature. A confident writer would have left the confrontation out altogether and left her to recant for her own reasons.
Even if this is just a matter of personal taste and agreeing to disagree, I really can't understand how anyone can accept the ending. It's quite possibly the most absurd deus ex machina I've seen in any medium, and that includes the raining frogs at the end of "Magnolia".