Book Review (Canon): The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Written by Garth Stein in 2008

The Raccoon: Enzo, a dog owned by professional racer Denny Swift, recounts the many obstacles he and his master faced together during his lifetime.

UNMASKED: Anyone who knows me personally has heard of The Art of Racing in the Rain; a novel which has curled up in a room within my heart and shows no sign of leaving.  Stein delivers a powerful exploration of the human condition through the eyes of an outside observer, destined to learn and reflect because of his inability to communicate.

On the surface, the story is simple, and The Art of Racing in the Rain is not unique for its atypical narrator.  However, in every other work I have encountered that is told through the voice of an animal, there is human-like communication between the narrator and his human companions, or, at the very least, other animals.  Stein establishes a much more realistic character in Enzo.  While Enzo does think like a human, the one and only aspect of the story requiring suspension of disbelief, the author does not grant any other animal this ability.  Furthermore, with humans, Enzo must cling to the one idea he is able to articulate (“two barks means faster, got it?”) and use gestures for everything else, hoping that his meaning comes across.  The fact that he is often unsuccessful both enhances the realism of the book and highlights Enzo’s strength of character.

It must also be acknowledged how well the title fits into the story.  Enzo, despite being a dog, has a deep passion for racing.  Just as a child might treat a playground game as if it were part of his favorite video game or action movie, Enzo views life, and specifically the lawsuit that Denny faces, as a race. The many comparisons he draws between his experiences and the great racing champions he has seen on television are both witty and profound.

Strong Points:

• Stein does not forget that Enzo is still a dog, and he finds fitting ways for Enzo to explain his animalistic behaviors.
• Enzo’s commentary about life as a human and a dog’s “true” place in the evolutionary hierarchy is hilarious, yet it does not take away from the gravity of the story.
• One does not need to own a dog to appreciate the subtleties of Enzo’s story, although I highly recommend acquiring a dog so that you may better appreciate life as a whole.
• This was my third time reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, and it was just as enjoyable and humbling as the first two times.

Weak Points:

• The epilogue presents the unrealistically happy ending of a Disney movie.  Certain other plot events can be interpreted as childish as well.

Rating: 19/20 hot laps

Ideal Setting: Read this next to your dog. You will slowly grow to love him/her more and more as the book goes on, and the idea that an animal may have a human intelligence and soul will never entirely fade from your mind.