Contact

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Art of Racing in the Rain


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:

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.

I absolutely loved this book. It was funny in places (every time I see a stuffed zebra I will think of Enzo). It was heart wrenching, it was moving and it had some great life lessons. The narration was perfect, I felt like Enzo was sitting telling me his story. I am so glad that I had this on audio, the book has been on my shelf since it was released and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner (thank goodness for the off the shelf challenge).

1 comment:

  1. This was one of my of most favorite reads last year. But then, I'm a dog lover. I felt the novel was just fantastic. There was so much substance to this one!

    Here's a couple of my favorite quotes:

    "That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves."

    "That which is around me does not affect my mood; my mood affects that which is around me"

    ReplyDelete