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Contributors | November 10, 2009

Zachary Lazar: IMG Evening's Empire



Without knowing it, I'd always had two unspoken arrangements with the world. The first was that I would not trouble it with unpleasant conversation... Continue »
  1. $17.49 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

The Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain Cover

ISBN13: 9780061537936
ISBN10: 0061537934
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

Only 2 left in stock at $11.95!

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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: 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.

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.

Review:

"If you've ever wondered what your dog is thinking, Stein's third novel offers an answer. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race car driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off. Denny meets and marries Eve, has a daughter, Zo, and risks his savings and his life to make it on the professional racing circuit. Enzo, frustrated by his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs, watches Denny's old racing videos, coins koanlike aphorisms that apply to both driving and life, and hopes for the day when his life as a dog will be over and he can be reborn a man. When Denny hits an extended rough patch, Enzo remains his most steadfast if silent supporter. Enzo is a reliable companion and a likable enough narrator, though the string of Denny's bad luck stories strains believability. Much like Denny, however, Stein is able to salvage some dignity from the over-the-top drama." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Stein...creates a patient, wise, and doggish narrator that is more than just fluff and collar....[S]hould appeal to fans of both dogs and car racing." Library Journal

Review:

"Pointedly inspirational." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

Meet Enzo, the unforgettable canine narrator of this bittersweet and transformative story of family, love, loyalty, and hope. Enzo is a philosopher with a nearly human soul, and he's gained a wealth of knowledge from hours spent in front of the TV.

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About the Author

The author of two novels, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets and Raven Stole the Moon, and a play, Brother Jones. Garth Stein has also worked as a documentary filmmaker. He lives in Seattle with his family.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 10 comments:
Robert Schindler, September 27, 2009 (view all comments by Robert Schindler)
I would give this book five stars except that it's so damned heartwrenching. Stein does a superb job of bringing out emotion. I finished the book with tears streaming down my cheeks, and I cannot recall the last time that happened. This is a great book.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
andersee, September 25, 2009 (view all comments by andersee)
Apparently I'm the only one who didn't like this book:) While it was readable, I thought the voice and wisedom of Enzo felt contrived with a strong stench of implausibility swarming around it. For me, the ending was an eye-rollingly, gackingly sweet, awe-shucks moment that left me to feel I needed an insulin shot to even out the sugar poured into me.
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(2 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
emmejo, July 15, 2009 (view all comments by emmejo)
Enzo is a dog, a very smart almost human dog. This is his life story, and the story of the human family he lives with. Enzo does his best to support and help his family: Denny, a race car driver, Eve, Denny's wife who doesn't understand his obsession with racing and Zoe, Denny's daughter who loves Enzo dearly.

If you don't like books that will have you crying, don't read this book! The writing is wonderfully simple and straight forward, just as I would imagine a dog would see things. This is not a cheerful book, there is heartbreak and loss and worry. But always, Enzo refuses to only see the glass as half empty, and he pushes and inspires the humans around him.
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(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780061537936
Author:
Stein, Garth
Publisher:
Harper
Author:
by Garth Stein
Subject:
Dogs
Subject:
Automobile racing drivers
Subject:
General
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Experimental fiction
Publication Date:
May 2008
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
321
Dimensions:
8.46x5.82x1.23 in. 1.11 lbs.

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