Big Fat Search |
Author: Garth Stein $16.29 |
|
Editorial Review:
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, Zoë, 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 Zoë 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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 
Book of the year: 
Forget about Edgar Sawtelle and all the other hyped novels in 2008. This is the one book you should read. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. I read 40+ books last year and this one is definitely in the top 3.
You MUST read this book ---TWICE!:
This book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, is such a wonderful feel-good book that you will want to reread. Buy a copy to keep for yourself, and one or two to give away. Hint: keep the tissue box close by!
Defies expectations: 
Any attempt that I make to describe this book merely makes it sound like the kind of book that I would normally avoid. "It's written from the dog's point of view? The dog longs to be human and is a car racing fanatic?" Well, yes - but somehow this fails to capture its charm.
The plot of this novel is a conventional boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy fights for custody of his child storyline. What sets it apart is that the book is narrated by a third part observer: Enzo the dog. While I am not a dog...more info
Interesting concept: 
A friend who knows how much I love dogs told me about this book. Most of the book is "narrated" by a dog. I found it to be an interesting concept. It was pretty light reading until about 3/4 of the way through. In all honesty, that part (I skimmed most of it) was just too much of an emotional bummer for me to go through. I picked it up again for the ending, and loved it. I think the author could have entirely skipped that agonizing part and come out with a better read.
Similar Products:
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Portions © Amazon.com, Inc. |
| Featuring TOP Sellers in Electronics... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
