Title: The Art
of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Review: Get ready... get ready to have every
single one of your emotions tugged. The Art of Racing in the Rain is now one of
my all-time favorite books. It offers so much more than a singular,
one-dimensional plot; as with all books of merit, this one is not meant to be
dissected, but rather, one upon which to meditate -- leave your armor at the
gate before entering and allow yourself to savor the philosophy. If you spend
too much time analyzing whether or not relationships such as the ones presented
are realistic or if the storyline is too contrived, then you will miss the
grand point of it all. Well written books purposefully use characters and
scenarios to guide the reader along the author's carefully cultivated path in
order to present ideas and conjure up emotion, beckoning you to contemplate
"Now, what do you really believe about what I just said now that you're
safely tucked away in the cocoon of your own mind where nobody can judge
you?" The Art of Racing in the Rain has accomplished this more beautifully
than any other book I've read. There are so many things about it that I adore:
Enzo, the wonder dog and narrator extraordinaire (gawd, how could you not want
to take him home with you?!); the love and friendship shared between Enzo &
his best friend & caretaker, Denny; Denny himself, despite his flaws; the
ingenious racing car metaphors; the courageous undertaking of controversial
themes regarding life, death, and the afterlife that thread the story together;
the subtle reflection regarding one of life's biggest questions... how far will
you go to chase your dreams before it's no longer worth the price of admission?
This book is a roller coaster of sensations that will take you so far down that
you get angry at the author, Garth Stein, for making you care as much as you do
before he gently lifts you out of the depths with his well-planned rainbow
ending... but not before making you shed a bucket of tears before you get
there. The Art of Racing in the Rain is no less than a stunningly beautiful
book to be embraced.
Thanks go to T H Water for this review.
Publisher: Published 2008 by Harper Collins
ISBN: 9781554681723
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 321
Quick Review: 5
stars (out of 5)
Where I Obtained
the Book: From a friend
Synopsis: Enzo
knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul
(and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching
television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his
master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has
gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like
racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race
track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life,
recalling all that he and his family have been through. 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 Zoë at his side.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately
uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the
Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and
absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.
Author Biography:
Garth Stein is the author of three novels: The Art of Racing in the Rain
(Harper, 2008); How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets (Soho Press, 2005),
which won a 2006 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Book Award, and was
a Book Sense Pick in both hardcover and paperback; and Raven Stole the Moon
(Pocket, 1998). He has also written a full-length play, Brother Jones, which
received its first production in Los Angeles, in February, 2005, and was
described as "brimming with intensity," by the L.A. Weekly.
After receiving his B.A. from Columbia College (1987),
and his M.F.A. in film from Columbia University, School of the Arts (1990),
Garth worked as a documentary film maker for several years, and directed,
produced or co-produced several award winning films.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Seattle, Garth's
ancestry is diverse: his mother, a native of Alaska, is of Tlingit Indian and
Irish descent; his father, a Brooklyn native, is the child of Jewish emigrants
from Austria. After spending his childhood in Seattle and then living in New
York City for 18 years, Garth returned to Seattle, where he currently lives
with his family and his dog, Comet."
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