Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain
Author: Garth Stein
Narrator: Christopher Evan Welch
ISBN: B0019HXPIC
Audiobook Length: 6 hours, 56 minutes
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis:
”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.”
Thoughts: Dog novels are dangerous for anyone who has loved and lost a pet. Typically, they involve many tears and can be an overall bittersweet experience because of that. The Art of Racing in the Rain does involve crying, but the tears that fall are good ones, shed in joy as much as in sadness. Enzo, with his unwavering faith in Denny, his skill as a driver, and his ability to be the best dad ever,
Christopher Evan Welch does a superb job narrating Enzo. He has an earnestness to his performance that makes it so easy to envision him as a dog sharing his insights of the human world. His voice is neither too old nor too young, and his delivery is forthright but with that sense of enthusiasm that every dog owner knows never disappears. One gets a greater appreciation for Enzo’s (and Mr. Stein’s) dry wit through the audio version that would be all too easy to ignore in print. While it would be all too easy to get bogged down in an overwhelming sense of sadness as Enzo shares his final thoughts, Mr. Welch’s straightforward performance allows a reader to focus on the sense of levity and unconditional love that Enzo has for Denny and Zoe.
The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautiful story of unconditional love and success against the most formidable of odds. Enzo makes for the best kind of narrator – honest and loving and thoroughly canine. Though it does reduce a reader to tears, the entire story ends on a note of hope rather than despair that is as heartwarming as it is endearing. All dog owners will have a greater appreciation of the underlying wisdom and faith of their beloved pet after reading Enzo’s philosophy about life.
Acknowledgments: Mine. All mine.
I can understand that. The end of the novel though is just spectacularly beautiful and poignant. You will shed good tears, I promise!
It really is. I'm sad that I avoided it for so long!
Exactly. I love that it is from a dog's POV. It just made it stand out from other dog books. And yes, the tears are for a completely different reason – a beautiful reason IMO.
I was too! Like I said, I'm always leery of dog books because they make me cry and not in a good way. This one was beautifully written. I fell in love with Enzo more than I thought I would!
I think the narrator was able to find that balance between dopey and wise canine that is Enzo. It worked for me. I don't know if I could have done this one in print. It would have been too easy to skim over some of the more difficult to read passages.
You are very welcome! I think one of the things I like about it is that you know upfront that Enzo is sharing his story near the end. It makes it a bit easier to read, although there is definitely some dread there. It does leave you with a greater appreciation for the unconditional love that is ubiquitous with canines.
I think I better wait a little while longer to read this one. Sometimes I look at Kona (the new furball) and think of Lucky (our late furball) and still get choked up. I know I am over emotional about animals anyway, but I do think this book sounds like it has wisdom to give me as well. Great review Michelle. Thanks!
I wondered about this one in audio. I really liked the book in print but was never sure it would be possible to get Enzo's "voice" right.
I really liked this book! I was surprised by how much to be honest.
That would be something to be cast as a dog, huh? This book was way different than I thought but I agree that it is worth reading and the tears are for different reasons than you think they will be.
I've been hearing about this around the blogosphere…it sounds lovely 🙂
I started this one once and was crying from the start. I'm such a mush ball. Someday I will finish it.