The Art of Racing in the Rain

Enzo is a dog. He’s been Denny’s dog since he was just a puppy. Enzo sees Denny through, not one but two, tragic events, and before he can leave this world, Enzo must be sure that Denny will be okay without him. The Art of Racing in the Rain is Enzo’s look back over life with his race car driver owner and his family. As the book's narrator, Enzo leads the reader through his story which is often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always very touching.

I would have absolutely never, ever have picked up a copy of this book and read it on my own. First of all, the dog is dying. It says it right there in the synopsis of the book. I HATED reading those doggie death books (Old Yeller and Stone Fox) with my students when I taught fourth grade. (It was required!) Why is it so sad when a dog dies in a book? It’s almost worse than a person for me. I don’t know why. Second of all, this book seemed to have a lot to do with cars. It’s right there in the title, after all. I’m not a very macho girl, and I don’t care too much about cars. Looking at them or driving them doesn’t thrill me the way it does some people. Having said that, I AM SO GLAD that someone in my book club selected this book and made me read it! What a fabulous, fun, and original story!

One of my favorite things about this story is that it’s told from the unique perspective of the dog. How many stories for adults have a dog as the narrator? Not many. Of course Enzo is no ordinary dog. His owner is a race car driver, so he knows A LOT about cars and driving. He also gets left home with the TV turned on, and rather than frying his doggie brain, the television has educated Enzo in a major way. He reminds me a lot of Rain Man. His knowledge is vast but only in very specific subjects. There was the potential for Enzo to come off corny. I’m reminded of the Look Who’s Talking movies. But I think Stein pulled it off. Enzo is very realistic, for the most part. There were only a couple of times during the story when I thought, “Hmmm. I’m not sure a dog would really do this.” Most of the time the author takes what we do know about dogs and gives Enzo very plausible motivation for those actions. Why would a dog tear up a stuffed zebra? Why would a dog eat a hot pepper when it made him sick the last time he ate one? Stein comes up with his own answers to these questions, and the outcomes are quite comical. Stein writes Enzo in such a vivid way. He’s a fully fleshed out character, even if he is “only a dog.” Enzo is completely lovable, sweet, funny, endearing, and, of course, incredibly loyal.

There were a few passages when Enzo was describing a driving technique or a racing experience where I found myself a little bored. Like I said, I’m just not a car person. My mind tended to wander in those sections, but I was quickly snapped back into the story when they were over. I’m also very glad that the author didn’t beat around the bush getting into Denny’s legal troubles. I don’t want to give anything away for those that haven’t read the story, but I sensed what was going to happen when Denny was being questioned by his lawyer. And, lo and behold, there it was in the next chapter. I was grateful that I didn’t have to spend pages and pages thinking, “I know what’s going to happen; let’s just get on with it!” And even though it would have kept me from reading the book, I’m very glad that the author lets the reader know right from the get-go that things aren’t looking so good for Enzo. Enzo knows he’s dying. The book is really him looking back over his life with his owner, Denny. It softens the blow that the death of the dog does not come out of nowhere.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of those rare books that I believe will appeal to both men and women equally. And, yes, sensitive readers will probably cry a bit at the end, but you won’t be reduced to a sniveling mess, and you won’t be sorry you read the book. The way Stein wraps the book up actually manages to give the reader a sense of peace and hope. And readers can put this story away thinking about those they have lost in their lives and how the ones, like Enzo, who change lives with their love are never really gone.