The Art of Racing in the Rain Reviews

• Wrenching and inspiring

  
  By A23US54A0OILE4 on 2008-05-14
  I picked The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein simply because, being a dog lover and seeing the dog on the cover, I couldn't resist. It was one of those moments, as a reader, you'll remember for a while. What a wonderful book.
  
  Enzo, the narrator, is a dog and Enzo wants nothing more than to be a man. Here is the only aspect of the book I might doubt. Anyone who is aware of "man's" human nature knows that dogs, as a creature, are much nobler. To become a man might not be an upward move. Nuff said there.
  
  Enzo is part of a happy family, Denny, the racer; Denny's wife Eve, and his daughter Zoe. Life is good. But then Eve develops cancer and decides to remove herself to her parents home along with Zoe. In the end, the parents of Eve decide to challenge Denny for custody to Zoe and do so in a manner that isn't befitting grandparents.
  
  This book will tear at you in so many ways and on so many levels. Without giving too much away let me just say that I haven't felt compelled to tear up so often by a book in a long time. Reading The Art of Racing in the Rain is like sitting through Old Yeller as a young boy and not crying. But don't let me scare you off. The Art of Racing is a book you've got to read, especially if you love dogs (or animals in general). With a wonderful storyline and characters you become attached to this book is cathartic.
  
  Garth Stein is to be congratulated on writing a book that is sure to become a classic.
  
  

• Characters you care about, a story that grabs you -- maybe more dogs should write novels

  
  By A1725KPO7A5ULX on 2008-05-13
  I have finally found a new novel I can stand to read.
  
  To my great astonishment, it's told by a dog. (I'm not a pet-lover).
  
  It contains many insights about car racing. (I have no interest in car racing, and I look askance at sports analogies.)
  
  And the author has described it as "Jonathan Livingston Seagull' for dogs." (That book is tied with 'The Giving Tree' as my Least Favorite Ever.)
  
  So what do I find to praise?
  
  The concept: "When a dog is finished living his lifetimes as a dog, his next incarnation will be as a man." Not all dogs. Only those who are ready. Enzo, a shepherd-poodle-terrier mix, is ready.
  
  Enzo has spent years watching daytime TV, mostly documentaries and the Weather Channel (It's "not about weather, it is about the world"). And because Denny Swift, his owner, is a mechanic who's training to race cars, he and Enzo watch countless hours of race footage. So Enzo knows about the world beyond the Swift home near Seattle.
  
  The situation is equally appealing: Enzo is old, facing death. While he has learned from racing movies to forget the past and live in the moment, this is his time to remember. And he can remember objectively --- as a dog, his senses are sharper, his emotions less complicated. With the clarity of a Buddha, Enzo can see. And he can listen: "I never interrupt, I never deflect the conversation with a comment of my own." So he's quite the knowing narrator.
  
  And then the story: a happy family, brimming with good feeling and ambitious dreams. Denny loves Enzo like a son. Denny loves his wife Eve, who works for a big retail company that "provided us with money and health insurance." And Denny lives for Zoe, their daughter. Then Enzo smells something bad happening in Eve --- the dog is always the first to know --- and you start to brace yourself. But not enough, not nearly enough. Bad things happen to good people in this novel, and then worse things, and soon you are so angry, so hurt, so tear-stained and concerned that you do not think for one second to step back and say, hey, wait, this is just a story! A shaggy dog story, at that!
  
  It works out. This is fiction, of course it works out. Not without cost to the characters and the reader. But the payoff is considerable --- a story that commands you to keep going, ideas that are a lot smarter than the treacle Garth Stein could have served up.
  
  "How difficult it must be to be a person." Enzo nails that. "To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live." Who wouldn't? "Racing is about discipline and intelligence, not about who has the heavier foot. The one who drives smart will always win in the end." And there's more --- yeah, this could be summer reading in progressive high schools some day.
  
  Or you could take a refresher course now in learning how to race in the rain.
  
  Why wait?
  
  
  

• A dog's eye view of humanity

  
  By A11K70GWSB7A5Z on 2008-05-19
  I might secretly be a dog person, or maybe subconsciously ... but if you were to ask me I would tell you I'm not a dog person. Oh, but how I loved Enzo.
  
  On the eve of his death, Enzo (a dog) tells what amounts to his master's life story. Stein's attention to detail was amazing - the book read like it was written by somebody who took the time to stop and think "what would a dog feel/do in this situation?" As a result, Enzo is memorable and lovable. He's at once a crotchety old man, and an innocent youth. He's wise, he's naive, and he is devoted.
  
  I'm not going to lie to you, this book is very sad. But it is also laugh out loud funny at times, and filled with love, devotion, philosophy and hopefulness.
  
  It's a beautiful book and definitely one of my favorites of the year.
  
  
  
  

• A Novel with Tremendous Heart

  
  By A1O7OMW58QWG5K on 2008-05-13
  Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2W9PSBE2WVOEK This morning, my wife and I learned that our son has been diagnosed with speech delay. He is our first child, and we've never been through something like this before. It is easily one of the most difficult days of my life.
  
  This evening, after we put him to bed, I settled into the last 100 pages of Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain. The story concerns one family's near total collapse as seen through the eyes of the family dog, Enzo. It is filled with more emotion than any other novel I have read recently, and it shines with wit, humor, and poignancy.
  
  Narrated by Enzo the dog, we are brought into the home of the Swifts -- Denny, Eve, and Zoe -- as Denny works to realize his dream to become a race car driver. Soon though, we learn that Eve has cancer and is going to die. Denny, who possesses tremendous compassion, patience, and selflessness, gives up his dream to race cars in order to take care of Eve in her final months.
  
  But Garth Stein ratchets the emotional screws tighter, and Eve chooses to leave Denny and live with her parents in her final months. To make matters worse, she takes Zoe with her, and Denny is left alone with Enzo.
  
  Just when Denny's situation can't get any worse, it does. His in-laws inform him that they're going to file for custody of his daughter, and they intend to fight him brutally in court to do so.
  
  It would be wrong to give too much of the second half of this novel away, but let me just say this: if this novel doesn't make you cry, you should have someone check your heart to see if it's still beating.
  
  The Art of Racing in the Rain is easily one of the most human and compassionate novels I've read in a long time. Harper Executive Editor Jennifer Barth compares it to Charlotte's Web, an appropriate choice for a lot of reasons. If I had to draw a comparison, I'd pick Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men... by virtue of the fact that both novels are short, poignant, sad, funny, and ultimately brilliant. And both stories are models of grace under pressure.
  
  Congratulations to everyone at Harper and to the folks at Folio Literary Management for bringing this novel to publication. And congratulations most of all to Garth Stein.
  
  This is an outstanding novel, and I highly recommend it.
  
  

• Very Depressing Story

  
  By A2D6J8WT5075CC on 2008-05-18
  I purchased this book at Starbucks with no clue from the cover reviews and story synopsis that the story would be so depressing. This story is not about a dog--it's about a man (the author) who speaks through a dog to tell a very depressing story about the highly anticipated death of a woman and the custody fight over her child. The side story regarding the husband/father's car racing provides an interesting perspective, but it does not overcome the main story. The reader can see the wife's brain cancer coming long before the wife is finally forced to see a doctor. Considering how long the story characters wait before seeing a doctor, despite the symptoms of extremely painful headaches accompanied by dizziness and vomiting, it's no wonder the wife/mother did not have a chance of surviving. Regarding the child, who in their right mind would allow a small child to live in her grandparents' household that is set up to care for the child's dying mother, when the loving, healthy husband/father who lives near by and visits his dying wife on a regular basis would prefer that his child stay with him. What environment would be healthier for the child!?! In addition, the dog man narrator is prone to gratuitous sexual observations that are just gross. NOT A BOOK FOR DOG LOVERS! NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN OR YOUNG ADULTS! Advertising for this book should have been clearer!
  
  
• Darned near perfect read
  By A2U1LYR4YWAWLL on 2008-05-18
  I stopped at Starbucks on my way to jury duty, for coffee and something sweet to get me through. I saw this book and, being a dog lover, the cover caught my eye. I read the flyleaf and had to have it. This is as close to a perfect story as I've read in a long time. Yes, the narrator is a dog who is wiser than most of us; yes, Denny is a zen-type race car driver (and I'm bored silly by the entire "sport" of car racing); yes, all sorts of bad luck is heaped upon Denny. With all that I was caught up in the story and believed every word as true and in the very realest sense it is. I've recommended it to all my friends and I recommend it to you too.
  
  
• Doggone good dog dawged by dog of a plot
  By A2E3GFHUDNPYDH on 2008-07-18
  There is a lot to love about author Garth Stein's charismatic canine novel narrator. Enzo, a mixture of Labrador on his mother's side, and, terrier, he speculates, on his father's. He is intelligent, throwing around (in his mind at least) phrases like, (p 4) "Life imitating art," waxing poetic, (p 46) "That which you manifest is before you," and "The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles...in order to triumph," handing out advice, (p 102) "Pretend you are a dog like me and listen to other people rather than steal their stories," and sharing his philosophy on life, (p 160) "To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live." A fan of TV, film and especially car racing, he disdains one thing above all others; crows, (p 69) "They are scum, creatures of cluster, they call them a murder when they are in a group. A good word, because when they are together, you want to kill them," Enzo steals the show, but can't carry the novel alone. And the author seems to have used up all of his imagination and creativity on man's best friend, leaving nothing for the remaining cast. There is Seattle-based racecar driver Dennis "Denny" Swift. Though likeable, he never seems to be in control of anything except the cars he drives. Daughter Zöe does little more than exist and be cared for by others. And Eve, Denny's love interest and later wife, is suspected (by Enzo) early on to have a life-threatening medical problem, so readers spend most of their time worrying about her health.
  
  The plot is even weaker than the characters. We are expected to believe that: a young newlywed mother would ignore obvious signs of ill health, a new father would allow those he loves most to be away for an extended period of time, and a young teen would put herself in a compromising position (the most obvious scene setup in the story). And, oddly, Enzo believes both in reincarnation, based on a National Geographic special on Mongolia, and divine intervention. When he survives an injury, he thinks, (p 257) "...I was not killed. Because I was not finished. I still had work to do." Every dog has its day, which is true, eventually, even for long-suffering Denny. And in spite of the dull human characters and thin plot, dog-lovers will likely love Enzo enough to suffer through it. Fans of the four-legged might also enjoy: Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen, The Tale of Desperaux by Kate Dicamillo, and Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
  
  
• Sentimental dog story with a lot of human cliches
  By A1ERZIZ48CBCSB on 2008-06-13
  Anyone who knows me knows that I am an off-the-deep-end animal lover and I cry even at benign "animal" films like Babe ("That'll do pig, that'll do...) let alone anything tear-jerky or involving the death of pet. And "Racing" puts its message way up front, in a forward that makes it clear from page one that the charming narrator is gonna die, putting all the cards on the table (so I am not really giving any spoilers).
  
  I noticed here on Amazon a video from the publisher, one so elaborate it is like a mini-movie/commercial for the book -- it had to have cost a fortune, including all the music and editing. That's very disheartening -- it underlines what I was only going to imply, which is that this book was probably written with the moneymaking potential of a sentimental movie (and the big money advances that entales) firmly in mind.
  
  Books (and films) about sentient animals (not just dogs, but obviously pigs, cats, horses, occasionally parrots and let's not forget the detective sheep in "Three Bags Full") are so ubiquitous now that it's not merely a sub-genre but practically an entire industry.
  
  It is in the "dog story" that "Art of Racing in Rain" is most successful. Enzo is a mixed breed mutt (though oddly depicted on the book jacket as a pure bred yellow lab) owned by a young man, Denny Swift, who is crazy about auto racing. (Hint to author: if you are writing about a racer, it is overselling your hand to name him "Swift" -- it's like having your protagonist being an author and naming him "Typewriter".)
  
  Enzo, a ridiculously smart and literate dog (he's been educated by 24 hours a day of PBS TV) with the intellectual equivalent of a PhD. His observations about life can be amusing, and he wants more than anything to be reincarnated in his next life as a human with opposable thumbs. Again, these are the best parts of the book, even though Enzo often doesn't seem very doglike (unlike all dogs I know, he doesn't seem to care much about food) and though he can't read, he has a complex understanding of things like dogs being color-blind. (This mystified me: as a human, I can see far fewer colors than a prey bird, like an eagle -- but unlike Enzo, I can't NAME the colors that I am not capable of SEEING.)
  
  The book is far less convincing as the story of down and out dog owner, Denny. Has there ever been a protagonist with WORSE luck? He struggles as a young married parent (maybe because he deliberately impregnates his 20 year old girlfriend on their first date), has lousy jobs, dreams of racing cars but bungles every race he is in. His beautiful wife gets BRAIN CANCER (cue the theme from "Love Story"), his monstrous in-laws try and steal his adorable little daughter by manipulating the legal system. Heck, a previously UNKNOWN and never mentioned teenage cousin appears from NOWHERE, accuses him falsely of statutory rape and causes him to lose custody of his beloved child. His life seques from one tragedy to another, a constant tsunami of lousy luck, until....
  
  Well, I guess you have to read it. It's a short book and probably a good beach read for this summer. You can't be overly critical or take a book like this TOO seriously; after all, dogs really don't watch TV and they probably don't get reincarnated WITH THE SAME EXACT NAME. (Hint #2: if your reincarnated dog is named Fluffernutter or Tinkerbell, does that mean when he reappears as a human child he will be called by that name?) Oh, and you can gain some comfort from the fact that most dogs -- especially healthy mixed breed mutts -- tend to live longer than Enzo and hip dysplasia (while painful and terrible) is a disease of INBRED PURE-BREEDS and not mutts. And dogs do not, to my knowledge, have the power to "will themselves to death" conveniently when you want to take a job in Italy.
  
  The book is loaded with gaffes like this, interspersed with Denny's simply awful tragedies (until suddenly at the end when his wildest dreams come true, interestly just like his tragedies they are solely the products of Deux Ex Machinas). Supporting characters like his too-cute daughter, rotten in-laws, dying wife and even the late arrivals of his estranged (and BLIND!) parents are cut straight from a big sheet of cardboard. Someone should tell Mr. Stein that weepers about young widowers with cute kids have been done and overdone as movies-of-the-week and add nothing here.
  
  But the world can easily absorb yet another good dog story. So if you love dogs, slog through the trite parts for the doggy bits, and bring a big box of kleenex for the inevitable weepy heartstring-plucking ending.
  
  In conclusion: coming to a theatre near you VERY SOON.
  
  
• Another canine narrator!
  By A3STL0U0CX0ERG on 2008-05-17
  Another canine narrator!
  
  Having just finished J.F. Englert's A Dog About Town and A Dog Among Diplomats, my interest was piqued by the prospect of another canine narrator.
  
  In The Art of Racing In The Rain, Enzo, a lab who never knew his father, has learned to understand speech (and form whole paragraphs in his mind) from watching TV. In this book as well as in Englert's novels, the lab narrators are fortunate to have owners who are constantly thinking out loud, recounting their lives, days and thoughts to their animals--which, admittedly, is probably necessary for the dog-as-narrator idea to work at all.
  
  Personally, I prefer Randolph as a narrator and also the overall whimsicality, intelligence and fun of Englert's books, but there's room for Enzo in the world of dog narrators--especially for people who believe dogs have many insights for us non-dogs.
  
  
• Dear lucky reader: this one's special
  By A63U10XVV66X8 on 2008-05-28
  In Mongolia, many believe dogs can return as humans in a future incarnation, but only after they've lived enough times to accumulate the right amount of cosmic grace.
  
  Enzo doesn't live in Mongolia, but if ever there's been a dog who is ready, Enzo is the one. Already, he's practically human; he knows the world (from watching cable documentaries and news shows), and has learned how to be honorable by watching his owner Denny, whose dream is to become a top race car driver, turn away from choices that would advance his dream in order to support his family. Enzo believes in Denny, who like Enzo himself, only needs a chance to show just how exceptional he is.
  
  But Enzo has also learned that racing isn't only about driving on dry, flat tracks. Nor does the next corner always reveal what we expect. Sometimes it rains, and things go badly wrong. When it rains, only the very best manage to stay on the track and win their way through.
  
  That's why when rain begins to fall into Denny's world, Enzo never doubts his master for a moment. He's there, and he will do his part to help Denny make it through.
  
  As you would expect, Enzo's observations tend to be simple, and the underlying theme and moral of his viewpoint remain visible just below the surface. Sometimes we tend to over-express when putting into words the principles we strive to live by. All the better for us because this is a mistake Enzo doesn't make. His conclusions are more powerful and poignant for their simplicity and as the overall theme is drawn toward the inevitable end point, the fact that we had a pretty good idea where things were going and were afraid for both Enzo and Denny while hoping and praying for the best, makes what happens all that much more satisfying.
  
  The Art of Racing in the Rain is an enthralling, uplifting, and beautifully imagined story. Five stars for all readers.
  
  Art Tirrell is the author of the 2007 adventure The Secret Ever Keeps.
  "Simpy put...the best underwater scenes I've ever read." - reviewer Meg Westley
  
  
• A wonderful novel that you'll never forget.
  By A2C7M79A9NKF5E on 2008-06-05
  This novel is now on my top ten favorite books list. It has a unique narrative voice, that makes this novel both singular as well as inventive, standing apart from the onslaught of new releases readers face each year. With themes that many people can empathize with balanced with the racing metaphor, which I thought would never work coming from a non-racing background yet ultimately will add to the experience to any reader. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
  
  
• Wow... What a fantastic journey
  By A2M3UTPDXERGQC on 2008-05-17
  Wow...
  
  I stopped by Starbuck's for a coffee on my way home from work and while I was waiting in line noticed that they had a book on display. I read the fly cover and had to buy this book.
  
  Once I read the first chapter I started on an incredible journey that unfolds throughout this book. The story is an emotional roller coaster that grabs you and makes you hold on tight until the end. I finished the book in a couple of sittings over a day and a half and am recommending it to my family and friends to read.
  
  This powerful book tells a gripping story from a dog's point of view.
  
  
• Nice Idea, Needed Better Execution
  By A34QOY21UZ95SZ on 2008-06-01
  I love dogs, books about dogs and the relationship between dog and man. This book has a good premise. Enzo, a dog, wants to be reincarnated as a man and narrates the story of his owner Denny, a race car driver recounting years of particular hardship for the entire family.
  The book has its moments both funny and touching and the narrative flows smoothly. The problem I had with it was that it was a little too predictable. Also, the characters are somewhat banal. The dog is the only one that I really cared about in the book. Denny and the other characters are developed well, but are too scripted and behave exactly as one would predict. One can predict the result of each twist and turn in advance. There are really no surprises.
  It may have been interesting if Enzo's point of view was more dog like rather than a human. I am sure some dog lovers will love this book but it left me somewhat cold and dissatisfied.
  
  
• Uninspired and Unimaginative
  By A1A0TJCM3G8SA7 on 2008-06-09
  This novel thinks it's much deeper than it is. I'm sure it got a green light from the publisher hoping to capitalize on the popularity of MARLEY & ME. RACING doesn't have anywhere near the heart, depth, or humor of MARLEY. The jacket promises a look into the mind of a dog, but it's only a glimpse into the mind of an author overly-impressed with his own idea of spirituality. Stein's characters are antiseptic, especially the dog Enzo, an improbable mixture of innocence and intellectualism. This is one dog of an effort that should've been put to sleep before it was whelped.
  
  
• Touches the heart of this dog lover!!!
  By A32XGYDA14KT13 on 2008-05-24
  I haven't cried over a book in a long time, but this one certainly touched my heart. My husband walked into the room as I was reading the last few pages and I started reading aloud to him. Knowing very little about what preceded those last few pages, he too was moved to tears. What a touching story! Dogs are such a beautiful gift from God. Please read the book, you won't regret it.
  
  
• Enjoyable, Sentimental Story
  By A16QQ78I8J29PA on 2008-06-07
  I enjoyed THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, a book that reminds me of the work of Mitch Albom or Nicholas Sparks. This is essentially the story of one man's life struggle, as seen from the perspective of the family dog. The dog, named Enzo, is as intelligent as a human being, and pretty much thinks like one. Most of the humor of the book comes from Enzo's unhappiness with his dog status, and his intense desire to be a human in the next life.
  
  The actual plot of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, however, revolves around Enzo's master Denny, who suffers a series of family tragedies. I personally found Denny's story a bit on the melodramatic side (nothing about this book is particularly subtle), but Enzo's presence makes this novel more original and fresh than it otherwise would be. The ending of this book struck me as a bit too Hollywood, but parts of this book are emotionally touching.
  
  THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is easy to read, and you can finish it in one sitting. There's quite a bit of crude humor in this novel, but I think most people will enjoy it. If you think Mitch Albom and Nicholas Sparks are pure schmaltz, you will no doubt think the same thing about this novel. But if you like short, sentimental stories, I think this book is definitely worth your time.
  
  
  
  
• A Racer's Life Seen Through His Dog's Eyes
  By ALXLK9DGZYSY9 on 2008-05-13
  I bought this based on Peter Egan's review in Road & Track. It's a touching story with a unique twist - the narrator is a dog named Enzo. The dog's acknowlegement of his unique ability to think like a human and penchant for philosophical wanderings give the story a slightly fantastical flavor. The other elements are grounded in reality: love and marriage, childbirth, death, racing and evil step-parents. I'd recommend this book to any fan of racing, dogs or dramatic fiction.
  
  
• Great concept, mediocre execution
  By A342EMO78F7SEO on 2008-05-26
  I was excited when I saw the cover--a picture of a dog, the book being the story of a dog told from the dog's perspective. But the book was a disappointment. The story seems to be more about the humans than the dog. I only made it through about 10 chapters, and I skipped a lot of paragraphs, such as passages where the owner was giving the dog a play by play of a minor league NASCAR race.
  
  Another problem is the book gets off on the wrong foot early--the dog's calculated behavior at the beginning (sorry for being vague, I'm trying to avoid spoilers) requires too much suspension of disbelief and creates a negative mood.
  
  Edit: I went back and gave it another chance. It still isn't great but maybe it should be 2.5-3 stars instead. It's still too much about the humans and too little about the dog, but the ending was better than I expected.
  
  
• Duke was my Enzo
  By A1G3DUZR0O5BG9 on 2008-05-21
  What a great story. I had a bond with my first dog, Duke, much like Denny & Enzo. And while I wasn't with Duke when he passed (my father was), my father said it was much the same way, and there is no foubt that Duke went with the same vision before him. Thanks Garth for showing me how beautiful it was for him.
  
  
• FANTASTIC! A MUST READ!
  By A1S7IVVDYYOHUM on 2008-06-09
  If you are a spiritually and philosophically open person, looking for a beautifully written and deeply intelligent novel that delves into themes of transcendence, forgiveness, and even magical thinking, then you will love this book.
  
  If, however, you prefer a more rigid spiritual or philosophical outlook--or, if you are extremely literal and simply can't get past what a dog really would or wouldn't think, then don't even try to read it. You will miss most of what this book has to offer. Sure, Enzo is a thinking dog, and tough things happen to the characters in this novel. And those of us who are spiritually deadened or hard-hearted may not see beyond that.
  
  But I believe this novel is about transcending physical and mental limitations, reaching beyond what seems possible, and taking on a new way of seeing things. There is truly great joy to be found in this book. Filled with wisdom, insight, and passion, the novel asks us to question assumptions we may make in our lives.
  
  I love how subversive this book is: Since Enzo is a dog (even though he believes his soul is nearly human), he is able to put forth some very progressive ideas--ideas that we readers might have rebelled against had Enzo simply been a human being. It is his dogness that makes him so disarming and allows us to fall effortlessly into his world and his take on things.
  
  The novel's greatness does not rest solely in its subject matter. So it really doesn't matter if dogs or racing are not your thing. I don't know much about racing, but I do appreciate Enzo's ideas of how the principles of driving can be applied to living a more successful life.
  
  This novel is at once original, funny, riveting, inspiring, moving, and profound. A rare novel with heart and soul, that is also beautifully written and intelligently conceived. A sure classic!
  
  
  
• BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By on 2008-06-15
  Since I am a young teenager, you might think it doesn't mean much for me to say that this is the best book ever. But I've read a pretty good amount of books for someone my age. When I read this book, I felt a connection with it that I haven't felt with any other book. It made me feel the pain, the happiness, the sadness, and the humor in the characters lives. I cried at two points in the book because of the way the author was able describe it. It wasn't that it was sad, it was just that it was told in such a beautiful and truthful way. Obviously, you might say that a dog could not think like a human, so how could it be truthful. But this book is not about what real dogs think. It's about spiritual and emotional truths. Doesn't anyone remember Charlotte's Web? Enzo says, "My intent, here, is to tell our story in a dramatically truthful way. While the facts may be less than accurate, please understand that the emotion is true. The intent is true. And, dramatically speaking, intention is everything."
  
  Because I'm 12, I did have to discuss the book with my parents. I needed to ask questions about the custody battle and Eve's sickness. I recommend this book to anyone who is open to the ideas of creating your own life and not being a victim. Anyone who thinks this book has anything to do with bad luck (I've seen some of the reviews) is really missing the message. There is nothing random. As Enzo says, we are all extensions of everything. Where you focus your energy is what happens in your life. What happens in the end is what has to happen. It is the only true ending that fits the whole buildup of where Denny and Enzo placed their energy.
  
  
• I'd rate it ten stars if that was an option
  By A27HB4L3I1WJUR on 2008-06-17
  I can't think when I've read anything like this book. Enzo, the family dog is the narrator. He tells us the story of Denny and his family as if we were right there with them. There are hilarious happenings, comforting times and....I must warn you.....heart-wrenching moments. To sum up....you MUST read this book. You'll never regret or forget it.
  
  
• A dog's life
  By A2EGK0YRDF4ZZB on 2008-07-01
  Enzo, a philosopher-dog with terrier/lab origins, has one wish: to be reincarnated as a human. Enzo's owner, Denny, is a semi-professional race car driver who talks to him like he's his equal, so Enzo is well-versed in the art of racing, particularly in the rain. Enzo and Denny watch in-car race videos of Denny's races, and the rest of Enzo's education comes from countless hours of television (some educational, some not).
  
  Enzo admits that he's frustrated by his lack of ability to communicate with humans, from his too-floppy tongue that fails to form words to his lack of opposable thumbs that won't allow him to open doors. He tries to conquer his animal instincts around Denny's young daughter Zoe (no biting and no chasing), and struggles to love Denny's wife Eve, whom he sees as competition. When multiple tragedies strike Denny's home, Enzo is as supportive as he can be under the circumstances. Towards the end of his life, he is reflective about his mission on earth, and looks forward to being reincarnated as a human, so he can finally talk to Denny as a man instead of barking incoherently.
  
  Enzo is a funny, observant narrator, who, although not book-learned (he was never able to teach himself to read), is intelligent, articulate, and has a wicked sense of humor (jalapenos plus obnoxious in-laws plus expensive Berber carpet, for example). His deep insights into human (and canine) nature ring true, especially when he is the only other witness to an incident that nearly ruins Denny's life, and Enzo plays a role in reversing Denny's rock-bottom fortunes.
  
  Delightfully told, The Art of Racing in the Rain is an outsider's look at what makes humans tick, as well as an ode to the art of Formula One and racing. It's a love song to the simple pleasures in life (walking in Seattle's drizzle, stretching out on a sun-warmed sidewalk) and the bonds we forge with those around us. Truthfully, most of the time I kept forgetting that Enzo was even a dog, although he does talk about his early puppyhood at a Washington farm, for Enzo is determined to shed his canine form for a human one, and this includes his thinking processes and actions (as his hips gradually deteriorate, he finds ways to mask his limp so that Denny doesn't suspect). The novel's ending may be a bit too sweet for some, but I found it to be a perfect ending to a tale that only Enzo could tell. Stein's rich, evocative language and heart-tugging storyline involving Enzo's family will be sure to delight fans of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog and other dog-themed novels.
  
  
• While hilarious at times, is quite often heartbreaking, but it is ultimately uplifting and heartwarming
  By A2F6N60Z96CAJI on 2008-05-20
  In Garth Stein's touching story, the appealing narrator is a dog named Enzo, who (of course) cannot communicate as he'd like to, by talking with his family. Instead, he pours his considerable heart and spirit into this book, sharing his experiences and reflections with readers. Although Enzo is frustrated with his limitations as a canine, he comforts himself with the fact that, according to a documentary he watched about Mongolia (Enzo is a dedicated television viewer), he will be reincarnated as a human. And he knows a lot about being a human after watching his master Denny Swift, who is a hero to him.
  
  At the beginning of the book, Enzo is just barely clinging to life, so he spends time reflecting upon his past. As Denny, who is a race car driver, has told him, drivers cannot contemplate their moves while they make them. Racing is like living; you can only do it and then remember it at a later date. For Enzo, in these last days he immerses himself in memories.
  
  His reminiscences begin with the day Denny chose him out of a heap of puppies, taking him from a country farm to an apartment in Seattle. Although Enzo doesn't enjoy living there, he adores Denny and thus looks on this as a good life. He later develops a fondness for Eve, "the interloper," who Denny falls in love with and marries. He stands in literally for Denny on the day that his daughter, Zoë, is born. Denny is off racing in Daytona, Florida while Enzo is at the new mother's side.
  
  For Denny, the joyous day of Zoë's birth is overshadowed as his racing career takes a beating. After a year of obtaining sponsorships in order to enter the race, he loses this hard-won opportunity to shine when a driver on his team has an accident. Denny returns to his day job as a customer service representative at a luxury auto shop.
  
  Shortly after giving birth, Eve asks Enzo to promise to protect the little girl, and the dog's feelings of commitment to his family are intensified. Enzo's role in the family becomes that of caretaker and watchdog. He takes his role of protecting his loved humans seriously --- and faithfully not only watches over them, but also manipulates their lives, often in humorous ways, to ensure that they are taken care of. This loyalty will be needed as their lives are about to unravel.
  
  When the family moves to a small house, Enzo enjoys a cozy backyard and sunny spots to lounge in. Eve chooses to go back to work, so Zoë enters daycare, which leaves Enzo at home, bored, until Denny begins leaving the television set on for him. But his happiness is short-lived, for he is the first one to realize that something is seriously wrong with Eve; his acute sense of smell has detected a decaying odor emanating from within her head. When Denny is away from home at his next race, Eve wakes up with a terrible pain. It's so bad that she gathers Zoë and goes away, leaving Enzo alone for days.
  
  While this is unfolding, Denny's team has won first place, and he's had an offer from a big-time team, but he must turn his back on the racing he loves as he has more urgent matters on his mind. Eve suffers an increasing array of terrible symptoms, such as mood swings, vertigo and nausea. She sometimes screams from pain yet refuses to seek medical care. And when she inevitably receives the worst diagnosis possible, the family is torn apart, beginning an intense emotional rollercoaster ride. Through it all, Enzo supports them in every possible way.
  
  THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is getting all kinds of buzz, and it deserves every accolade. Readers will be moved by this warm hug of a story (and may find themselves looking searchingly into the eyes of their own canine companions). Enzo is a charming and witty narrator. His tale, while hilarious at times, is quite often heartbreaking, but it is ultimately uplifting and heartwarming. And I found the ending to be oh so very satisfying!
  
  --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
  
  
  
• Even if you think you don't like "dog" stories . . .
  By AVGPPAZYEBD31 on 2008-05-22
  . . . this story of a dog who wants to be human will enter your psyche, your soul, and yes, ultimately your heart. It's THAT kind of book. Think Owen Meany meets Curious Incident. Think bigger than the ubiquitous "boy meets dog" love story that so many publishers are rushing to get onto the shelves in the wake of Marley and Me. Although this is a love story, it's more. Way more. Enzo and "Racing in the Rain" are touchstones for humans striving to do their best in a world that doesn't always make it easy, trying always to find the path to peace, love, and understanding. Do yourself a favor: Listen to the dog.
  
  
• I didn't want to like this book... but I really did.
  By ATN1SSKTJD8Z8 on 2008-08-06
  I first saw this book at Starbucks and picked it up to find out what it was all about. A book about car racing, told from the perspective of a dog? Now, I like car racing a lot and I like dogs a lot, but that just sounded far too hokey to me; after all, I read serious stuff, right?
  
  Then, my mother told me she read the book and that she thought I might enjoy it. That was the final straw. I had to read the book just to prove to myself that it couldn't possibly be good. (An admittedly odd reason to read a book, but given the result, one I may pursue again).
  
  I loved it.
  
  Garth Stein obviously knows dogs and racing. The whole book is filled with details about both that show his understanding of his subjects on a fairly deep level. Further, he knows something about life, and that's where this book really shines. Stein has - in a completely non-hokey way - used car racing metaphors to illustrate truisms about life. As a fan of racing, I particularly enjoyed the analogies, but I think the metaphors are just as accessible to non-fans. Stein keeps the ideas simple and explains them well, there isn't any jargon that would cause non-fans to lose anything in translation.
  
  Stein also uses the unique access of a "stupid dog" to situations his human characters don't get to witness as a great story-telling hook. Our canine narrator, Enzo, gets to go places his master, Denny, doesn't, hearing and seeing things for the reader that move the story along quite nicely. Again, it's an aspect of the book that could have gone over the top, but is instead used effectively by Stein and turned into a really good book.
  
  Take it from a skeptic turned believer. This is a book with some really good insights into life that is also a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Fantastic
  By AF2VRWDCXOLD on 2008-06-02
  If you loved Water for Elephants, this is a book to get. Anyone who has ever had a dog listen to them will be enchanted. While some complain it is not realistic, I challenge them to prove it. It is a book with huge heart and a great life lesson. I will name my next dog Enzo!
  
  
• BRILLIANT
  By A2SITDB3RSBWZ2 on 2008-06-08
  Forget all the long reviews. Quite simply, this book is nothing short of brilliant. I only wish I was half as insightful and as wise as Enzo. Without a doubt, The Art of Racing in the Rain is an absolute must-read book.
  
  
• Enzo had me at "hello".........
  By A13XKX745JJCHM on 2008-07-14
  I came across this book in my library's new book section. I have never finished a book in less than a day's time..... much less read 321 pages...... but yesterday I did. The story is told through the main character: a dog named Enzo. He had me at "hello" (or woof!)....... it's impossible to walk away from him after the first page.
  
  The physical setting is in Seattle, Washington but the real setting is in Enzo's mind and heart. He attaches himself to the reader immediately and you find yourself needing to see him through to the end of his life and the life of his human family.
  
  Seeing things through his eyes was enlightening.....especially his plea to humans to be more like a dog when someone's telling you a story -- listen and don't say anything...... don't interrupt. I even found myself struggling along with him through what he views as the biggest limitations of his "dogness"..... namely: his too-big tongue that doesn't allow him to form words for communicating his thoughts and feelings and his lack of opposable thumbs, which prevents him from grabbing someone by the collar at times to shake some reality into the person.
  
  I'm not a racing fan but some of the analogies that Enzo makes between racing well and living life well are "spot on"! The story isn't all about racing......... it's all about life....... with racing thrown in here and there, to "drive" a point home (pun intended).
  
  It's about love, family, devotion and staying the course to the end and being willing to fight for what you believe is right.
  
  You will fall in love with Enzo! I know I did................
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It is a fabulous story, and great literature.
  By A2DK2KZFNV8CXK on 2008-07-23
  Here is what I shared with the author:
  
  > I am certain you have heard tons of stories from dog owners who loved
  > "The Art of Racing..."; here is mine.
  >
  > We are on Golden Retriever #3, Barkley. First was George - made it
  > 13 years - then Sam - another 13-year verteran - now the B-Boy, who
  > will be 2 tomorrow.
  >
  > Received your book for Father's Day, inhaled it over a two-day period.
  > Could not put it down; did not want it to end.
  >
  > I guess all three of our Golden boys could have been named Enzo
  > after reading your novel! I call Barkley "Enzo" half the time now.
  >
  > I want to say "thank you" to you. I am not the most well read person
  > on the planet, but I have read most of the classics, devote a certain
  > part of the day every day to reading and keep my reading list diverse.
  >
  > This is one of the finest pieces of literature ever written, and I am
  > not kidding. You have taken the timeless issues of love, courage, faith and right/wrong, woven then in an incredible story line, told it through the eyes of a loyal,loving dog (which, as we all know is God spelled backwards) and made it work with precision. Then you fold in devotion, focus, even the concept of reincarnation with mastery.
  >
  > In a former life, I owned an advertising agency with my wife. I would
  > tell the copywriters if they could take a work OUT of an ad without
  > hurting it, they had helped it. I swear to you, I cannot think of one
  > single word that could be taken out of your entire novel WITHOUT
  > hurting it.
  >
  > You have incredible talent and I thank you for sharing it with me.
  > And all the Enzos in the world.
  >
  > Michael Coates
  
  
  

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