The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

· Sold by Harper Collins
4.5
813 reviews
Ebook
336
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM FOX 2000 STARRING MILO VENTIMIGLIA, AMANDA SEYFRIED, AND KEVIN COSTNER

MEET THE DOG

WHO WILL SHOW THE WORLD

HOW TO BE HUMAN

The New York Times bestselling novel from Garth Stein—a heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope—a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.

“Splendid.” —People

“The perfect book for anyone who knows that compassion isn’t only for humans, and that the relationship between two souls who are meant for each other never really comes to an end. Every now and then I’m lucky enough to read a novel I can’t stop thinking about: this is one of them.” —Jodi Picoult

“It’s impossible not to love Enzo.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“This old soul of a dog has much to teach us about being human. I loved this book.” —Sara Gruen

Ratings and reviews

4.5
813 reviews
A Google user
December 6, 2010
This is a book about life through a dog Enzo's eyes. He is honest and tells it like it is. He is the dog of his master Denny Swift. Denny is a road course race car driver. The greatness of Denny's driving is his ability to do it in all types of weather. Racing in the rain is his specialty. Enzo's greatness can be found through his philosophical view on the human spirit and his place in it. But with greatness comes weak areas with both Denny and Enzo. Their inability see death and obstacles off the race tracks and in the home makes this a story with many lessons. This book is a interesting read for the racing fans out there and armchair philosophers and psychologists to read. Pick up a copy today.
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Kristin O'Bannon
May 22, 2013
As a dog owner, this story intrigued me. I've the dogs perspective. I look at my dog and wonder how much of our human lives she grass, she is certainly part of the family. Cried at numerous spots in this book, loved each character. Was a quick read and I enjoyed the whole thing. While I do know a bit about Formula 1,you certainly do not have to be a car racing fan to enjoy this.
14 people found this review helpful
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A Google user
The Art of Racing in the Rain written by Garth Stein demonstrates the concept that we are in charge of our own lives and what we do influences everything around us. The story is from the lively perspective of a dog named Enzo who lives with his master, Denny, who loves to drive race cars. Early on in his life with Denny, Enzo saw a documentary that explained when a dog dies he is later be reincarnated as a man. Enzo wants more than anything to become a man. He constantly watches people’s actions and interactions so that when he is reborn he will be able to be the best man that he could possibly be. Enzo loves Denny and gets extremely jealous when a young woman named Eve becomes very close to Denny. Enzo does for Denny’s sake learn to love Eve and their new daughter Zoe. Just when things seem to be going terrifically as Denny gets a big break in racing, and the family is as happy as ever, events begin to take a turn for the worst as they have to experience tragedies that will change each of them forever and will test their bonds as a family. Throughout all of the bad times, Enzo stands by his master, showing him that he will never give up and Denny shouldn’t either. Together they push through tests of love, friendship, trust, and the law, in a story that by the end will have touched your heart. Garth Stein, like Denny, also drove race cars. Stein depicts Denny as a very skilled driver that does his best while racing in the rain. This is a place where Denny excels, whereas Stein stopped racing after a very serious incident that he had while racing in the rain. Stein, like Enzo, idolizes Denny’s amazing ability to be able to drive skillfully in such difficult conditions and wishes that he too could share in that ability. Being a previous race car driver Garth is very knowledgeable in the mental aspects of racing. Stein gives Denny a huge knowledge of racing and how to apply it to everyday life, just as he used to when he raced. The overall lesson from this book is that we are in charge of our own lives. Denny once said to Enzo, “That which you manifest is before you” (41). While driving a race car, as Enzo learned from Denny, even if your car begins to spin out, “the driver who looks down the track as he feels his tires break free will regain control of his vehicle” (83). Enzo understands that when something bad happens you mustn’t panic. When confronted with an obstacle you need to be calm and in control of what will happen next. Through the many hardships that Denny goes through, he no longer feels in control of his future and he loses all that he has in the suit filed against him. When Enzo defiles the paperwork that officially signs away his happiness, Denny realizes that Enzo was not about to let him give up. Denny was signing away control of his life. He had to forget all of the bad things that had happened to him because just like racing, “In order to reach any kind of success… a driver must never remember” (13). You need to forget the hardships of the past to create success in the future. He quickly rebounds and pushes hard until he regains the authority of his life and his situation. He successfully wins the suit against. Enzo, more than anyone understands the importance of life and pushing through hardships. He was almost killed from being hit by a car but he recalls that, “I was not killed. Because I was not finished. I still had work to do” (311). He knows he has to help Denny. Enzo wants so badly to be a human and to be able to use all of the information he has gained from Denny and others and apply it to his own life. Yet through all of the hardships that he and Denny have experienced together, he knows he can’t give in. This book touches your heart. At many points throughout the story you will find that you find the family’s situation so sorrowful that tears begin to fill your eyes. One hardship leads to another, and perhaps the reason that it is so sad is that it hits very close to home. It could happen to anyone without warning. We
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About the author

Garth Stein is the author of Enzo Races in the Rain!, based on the New York Times bestselling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain (and its tween adaptation, Racing in the Rain). His other works include A Sudden Light, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, Raven Stole the Moon, and a play, Brother Jones. He is the cofounder of Seattle7Writers.org, a nonprofit collective of sixty-two Northwest authors dedicated to fostering a passion for the written word. Garth lives in Seattle with his family and his dog, Comet.

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