Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

SYNOPSIS: This story is told from the point of view of Enzo, a very observant dog with a near human soul. Having learning nearly everything he knows from watching television and through careful observation of his master, Denny, Enzo is looking forward to his next life as human. The story follows Enzo’s life with Denny, an auto repair technician and budding race car driver with a knack for outperforming other drivers when the track is slick. Through all of Denny’s life changing moments — the courtship Eve, marriage, birth of first child, etc — the ever adjusting and deeply loyal Enzo sticks by Denny. Enzo’s disdain for crows and the playful nature of his character shine through.

REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book. In fact, this may be my favorite book of all time. I have sent a few copies of this book to family and friends who also enjoyed the read and passed it along. I laughed, I cried I couldn’t put the book down. Not since Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows (which I read in grade six) have I been so touched by a book. The story moves along at a nice pace with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. This book is a must read for anyone who is or has ever been a dog owner.

Ironically this is a book I passed over several times at the book store, largely because of the title. Although appropriate and aligning with the theme, it leads one to believe that auto racing is the major component of the book. It is in fact very secondary. I think this book would have been more widely read and popular with a different title and cover presentation. If you see this book, don’t make the mistake of passing it over, the laughs and journey with Enzo are worth your time. Certainly know that you won’t be reading sci-fiction, mystery or fantasy but if you are looking for a solid fiction read, look no further.

No comments:

Post a Comment