The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.93 You Save: $14.06 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.65 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Art of Racing in the Rain
Book Review: Oh, the Caninity!!
Summary: 5 Stars
THIS IS A NO-SPOILER REVIEW
Enzo is a mixed breed dog adopted by Denny Swift, a customer service rep in the maintenance department of a luxury car dealership. More importantly, Denny is an aspiring race car driver, and Enzo is his greatest advocate. The story is told eloquently by Enzo, who desperately wishes he were human so he could speak, and have opposable thumbs. Enzo learns a great deal from his interactions with Denny, his wife, child, and friends. He also learns by watching television, something Denny has told him he shouldn't do. Denny and Enzo are committed to taking care of each other and their family. A tragedy strikes, and Denny's chances of becoming a race car driver are at risk. Enzo relates the intimate details of his relationship with Denny through his entire life. Both Denny and Enzo are driven yet compassionate. Enzo tells Denny's story, and his, with a deep understanding of the human spirit, the importance of love, and how much can be learned by dealing with life's difficulties. Not a boy and his dog story; this is a dog and his owner story, and Enzo is a wise story-teller. The plot is compelling and the book is well-written. This is a wonderful novel, the best I've read in 2008 and is suitable for all readers except pre-teens.
Book Review: The trials and tribulations of a race car driver--told from the point of view of his dog
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't worry--it's not as lame as it sounds.
The premise of this compelling novel is based on a Mongolian legend that a dog with a highly-enough-evolved soul will reincarnate as a human being.
Our young protagonist is an up-and-coming race car driver coping with the exigencies of a young family, and--oh, yes--before both his wife and his young daughter he procured a lab-terrier mix.
Those of us who have ever had a relationship with a dog (yes, "relationship" is the correct word, here) will swear that s/he is wiser than all of us put together and can read what's in our collective psyches before any of us poor human relations can. For those fortunates the book is written.
Even though there is a lot of race car jargon (Garth Stein, the author, used to race), the themes in the novel are universal enough that they should not discourage the layperson (Ever see "Brian's Song"?). However, those who are familiar with racing will, I believe, will be in a better position to understand the connection between the techniques of racing and the mechanisms for coping with life's crises.
I, the reviewer, know diddly about racing, but have a son who does--and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Highly recommended, especially to dog lovers.
Book Review: I can't stop thinking about it--an amazing book
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this book on a fluke... I saw it displayed in my local Starbucks, read the jacket, seemed interesting, and I thought the dog's perspective would be a nice change of pace. Pondered it a few days, finally just got it after staring at it everyday--and the dog on the cover is just too cute.
Yes, I had the same worries as others: the dog is going to die and I'm going to fall apart reading about it. But maybe, just maybe, it won't be so bad in this one...maybe I'll understand it this time...maybe I won't be so annoyed thinking "you knew it was going to happen and there you go reading anyway!" All I know is I want to go out like Enzo, and in a way, I was cheering him on.
I don't know how fast I read this book, but it's one of those books I FLEW through--could not put it down. I laughed out loud, got angry, laughed some more, weepy, more angry, and ecstatic as I ventured thru the book...the dog's narration is fantastic! Garth Stein has Enzo, human interactions (good and bad), and Formula 1 racing so perfectly braided...it all seems so current and relevant, almost looking into the lives of people you know. It's a beautiful, wonderful, amazing story--I can't wait to read it again. If you asked my 'inner dog' what it thought of the book, I'd bark twice!
Book Review: A book for everyone!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, I have to say that I love this book!! I did not read any reviews on Amazon prior to checking the book out because I did not want preconcieved ideas. All I knew was from a brief synopsis I had read in a magazine that said this was a book for dog lovers.
I first started reading this book and was immediately captured by how real the author told the story from a dog's point of view. I felt like I was inside of Enzo watching and listening to him. It was amazing the way he wrote to make me feel such realism. I truly felt pain and anguish when Enzo did and of course spent a fair amount of time crying. As I said at the beginning of my review that I thought this book would only be for dog lovers (which I am) but I could easily see anyone reading this book and falling in love with an animal shortly after finishing.
While obviously a work of fiction, the bond that an owner shares with their pet is strong, and this book showcased that. I know that I constantly look to my dogs for companionship, love, and trust. They will never let me down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading, not just pet owners. You will finish it with a feeling of contentment and wishing Enzo had puppies to carry on their father's story.
Book Review: Powerful and Gripping
Summary: 4 Stars
Enzo is a highly evolved dog who dearly loves his owner Denny. On the eve of his death, Enzo recalls his life with Denny which started when Denny was single. Enzo saw Denny through getting married, the birth of his daughter Zoe and great tragedy and adversity throughout their time together.
The Art of Racing In the Rain was my book club, Conversati-om's, January pick. I was a bit apprehensive about it because 1)I am ambivalent toward dogs 2)I do not like car racing. I think it's a true testament to the power of this book's story that I loved it anyway. The racing parts were brief and mostly used as metaphors so I was not bothered by them. And I kept forgetting Enzo was a dog, he was so insightful as a narrator. On the brief occasions that he did do something dog-like, it caught me off guard. I thought the author did a great job of explaining the rational behind Enzo's actions when he did do something that I wouldn't think a highly evolved dog would do - like tearing up Zoe's stuffed animals.
I was totally caught up in Denny's journey throughout this book. I don't want to give to much away but my stomach was in knots for him at times. This the first book by Garth Stein that I've read - I'm looking forward to reading more.