Book 29 "The Art Of Racing In The Rain"

The Art Of Racing In The Rain
By
Garth Stein

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoe at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

My Take

I didn't like this book.....

I LOVED this book.

It was hard to put down, until the end. I also appreciated Garth Stein's ability to add resolution and a good ending.

As a Dog lover, I appreciated the fact that Enzo (the dog) was the narrator. It made for an enjoyable read and hit on every emotional level. Stein took liberty in portraying how a dog thinks, and feels. He must have been a dog once upon a time? If he wasn't totally accurate on his portrayal he had to be close!

Sara Gruen, author of Water For Elephants, added these words-

"The Art of Racing in the Rain has everything: love, tragedy, redemption, danger, and-most especially-the canine narrator Enzo. This old soul of a dog has much to teach us about being human. I loved this book."

I loved this book too and highly recommend it!