Book Review by Jacqui – The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein has the rare quality of being one of those books that once you start reading it you CANNOT put it down – I couldn’t even stop for lunch (I belong to a book club so believe me about the rarity of this kind of book).

The premise of the book is wonderful – a family’s story told through the eyes of Enzo the dog. All of the characters are beautifully crafted… make sure you have a large box of tissues handy before starting your read – it is both funny (you will laugh out loud) and heartwrenching. The ‘Evil Twins’ and dancing Zebra are pure genius.

You do not need to be a dog owner to enjoy this book. I LOVED it and give it 15 out of 10! I am buying copies for my favourite relatives and it will be my recommendation for next year’s read list at my book club.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

posted in 16 May, 2008 by Ottawa Dog Blog Founder, Liz

Book Review – The Art of Racing in the Rain

When I was younger, I was an avid reader. You could often find me in the library trying to figure out which book to read next. As the years went on and reading became structured and set out by course outlines and due dates, I read less and less for pleasure, and more of just what I had to so I could get good grades. I leaned towards magazines that I could finish quickly and more recently, I have been reading a lot online. I figured that maybe I had just lost the love of a good book…

…and then a good book came into my life.

It found its way to me through this blog, so I guess I have done something right so far. The book is called The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and it is a story about the love and bond between human and dog, as told by the dog.

The concept of being told from the dog’s perspective can seem a little silly, but the book is far from it. It seems natural to read from the point of view of Enzo, the dog, as he relays his life story with the family that he is a part of. Their joys and struggles and how he views them. He is quite jealous of opposable thumbs and believes that he is a human trapped in a dog’s body.

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