"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein

As most dog owners can testify, their animal is more than just a pet. A dog is a faithful companion which is often a member of the family just as much as anyone else; they may not be human, but that doesn't mean they can’t experience love, affection and happiness. 

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?) dogs are not capable of communicating in the same language as us, which often leaves us to guess as to what they are thinking, and in some cases barking about. Interested by such a puzzle, Garth Stein undertook the task of writing a book titled The Art of Racing in the Rain from the viewpoint of Enzo, a lab terrier mix.

My loved one Dina

Before getting deeper into what the book is about, it is important to remember that it is likely we will never, or at least not anytime soon, get an indisputable answer as to what dogs are really thinking; it is best to go into this over-the-top drama with an open mind and a suspended sense of disbelief. 

The story basically follows Enzo’s life as he spends his early days on a farm in Seattle as he was chosen to ride shotgun with a race car driver known as Denny Swift. Enzo sticks with Denny as he gets married to his wife Eve and has a daughter, Zoe. Enzo watches as Denny lives his life fully and excitingly, everyday putting his life on the line in order to feed the family.

While it may seem like Enzo has the perfect life, it is far from the truth. There are two things which bother him very much: he has no opposable thumbs, nor is he able to express his thoughts and opinions. 

He spends much of his time thinking about how life works, often making parallels between it and the racing world. I will stop here for fear of spoiling the book any further, but rest assured that humor and over-the-top drama remain at the foreground during pretty much the entire story, making the book an excellent read for practically anyone… especially dog owners.

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Garth Stein Personal site Garth Stein is an American film producer and author from Seattle, best-known in literary circles for his masterpiece of a novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain. In addition to the afore-mentioned titles, Stein is also a playwright, teacher, and even an amateur racer. How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets is another rather notable novel on his part, and it ought to be mentioned that he is the recipient of two PNBA Book Awards.