The Art of Racing in the Rain

I love fiction like this. Fiction that is this well told, with well developed three dimensional characters, and a story that is thoroughly absorbing.

The story is told in the first person. The novel twist is that the first "person" is a dog named Enzo. Enzo is an astute observer of his master's life, and has a lot of wisdom to impart, if only someone could hear him.

Who knows if dogs really think this deeply, and wax poetic about life's ironies and victories and tragedies? I like to think that they do.

Enzo loves his master, Denny, a race car driver, very much. He thinks that Denny is amazing. His loyalty and love color his observations as he watches Denny navigate some enormous life difficulties and personal tragedies.

What would your dog say about you if he could speak? How do you know his small gestures aren't an effort to communicate his love and support and insight to you?

This is an engrossing and heartfelt book, and makes it onto my list of all time favorites.

C.A.Wulff - Author of Born Without a Tail

Enzo is more pragmatic than most humans. Yet his great desire is to be reborn as a man.

Enzo, you see, is a dog. Not just any dog, though. He's a real zen-master of a dog, providing some excellent advice for all--as well as enough laughs and tears to use up a box or so of tissues--throughout this thoroughly enjoyable book by Garth Stein.

There are a few places where you'll have to suspend disbelief but, remember, this is a novel and not reality. The gods grant fiction writers a little leeway in that respect, no matter what critics may say.

No need for me to get into the plot. Others here have already outlined that and it appears a majority agree Enzo is one of the most charming characters and this is one of the most pleasant reads to come along in recent years.

I am a dog lover, have three so that kind of proves it, and the fact that this book was narated by the dog "Enzo" locked the sale for me. I was in a small boutique bookstore owned by a friend of a friend in Sun River, Oregon, and wanted to spend some money to help them out. I love to read - really do, but life and work gets in the way and I find it hard to indulge in a good book when my laptop sits so close by buzzing away with the constant chimes of "new mail" coming in. So, I don't read as often as I would like to, but this book grabbed me. The writing is beautiful, engaging and I have thought about the hidden messages in this book for the last three days. I finished the book tonight after work, torn between doing my nightly chores, or finishing the last three chapters of this book. I honestly did not want the book to end. Can't wait to read more from this author. I am hooked. This is an awesome read and I will recommend this to all of my friends. Take the time to read this one, you won't regret it.

What a great book -- not in the sense of masterful literature but, rather, a satisfying "read" with a wonderful message. Check out the review by Jesse Kornbluth for a taste of what the book has in store for you that I wouldn't attempt to recreate. I read it 3 weeks ago during our vacation in Maine. Had occasion to describe it to a new-found friend we just met at dinner one night whom we learned happens to own a Doberman and gave the book to him (I don't want to disclose much about the ending except to say 'paying it forward' is a theme). So, why am I here? I'm buying another for my daughter who is about to get a "rescued" dog. Enjoy!

I'm not a dog-owner and I have no interest in race-car driving (or watching), but I still loved this book. Enzo's musings on life apply to all of us. He has some laugh-out-loud comments and moments -- as well as of course many heart-wrenching ones. (In fact, at one reading, I had to put down the book, thinking, "Oh, no, I think I know what's coming and I don't want something bad to happen to these characters I care about!") Enzo gains a lot of insights from watching television. My husband and I don't watch much tv and now I'm wondering if we're shorting our two cats!
--Kathie Hightower, co-author of Help! I'm a Military Spouse -- I Get a Life Too! 2d Edition