The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain
Garth Stein
Harper Collins

If dogs could talk, how would they tell their stories? Stein takes a fresh approach to the popular genre of dogs and their owners. Instead of yet another story of an owner droning over how their dog changed their life, we are told the story straight from Enzo – a smart cross who thinks dogs, not monkeys are humans closest relative.

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: he enjoys watching documentaries and video tapes of car races – a passion he has acquired from his master Denny, an up and coming race car driver. The two share everything including the racing philosophy that ‘the car goes where the eyes go’, a philosophy they use in their day to day life.

Denny soon meets and falls in love with Eve despite her parents’ disapproval of him. A year later when they marry and have Zoe, life seems ideal. Until the day Enzo smells the illness that was growing inside Eve’s brain yet feels powerless to warn them of it.

The chain of events that follows Eve’s illness unravels their happiness and lead to circumstances that threaten all that is dear to Denny and Enzo.I was a little disappointed with the predictable ending to the book. However this tale of love, families and determination is so well told, one could easily forgive the author for his indulgence.