The Art Of Racing In The Rain (#14)

This next book was pretty much an impulse decision.  I had kinda sorta heard buzz about it and then my fellow reading challenge participant Joanna told me about it... and I despite my ever-present pile of unread books... I found myself itching to read something new... so I pretty much went out immediately and picked up a copy of... The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. 

I have to admit I am a bit fearful when it comes to taking (or, for that matter, giving) book recommendations.  Being a stereotypical Libra of sorts, I like "balance" and do my very best to avoid conflict -- so I am always a bit wary of not liking a book that some else did or vice versa.  Can you see a bit of review foreshadowing going on?  But first (!!), a bit about the book.

This year my unofficial reading theme this year seems to be "keep an open mind."  Thus far in 2008 I have read books about time travel, alternate universes, vampires, and alternate world history... and now we have... are you ready for this?... a talking dog. 

Well, Enzo, the lab/terrier/poodle mix protagonist doesn't actually speak - but the story is told from his point of view and we are privy to his every thought.  We meet Enzo at the end of his life... but quickly flashback to his first meeting as a 'lil puppy with his new owner Denny... and we go on from there, ultimately coming full circle.

Now, I didn't have a problem with the "dog as narrator" part of the book.  I am certainly willing to keep an open mind and suspend disbelief... but Enzo ultimately is just too perfect of a dog... even when he does something bad (which ain't often), it ends up getting blamed on something like an evil/possessed stuffed zebra or else is totally justified.  I have a feeling if any of my dogs narrated a book about their life with me, some of their thoughts would be "screw you, I just don't feel like doing that" or "yes, I did it and I'm not sorry about it"... but Enzo is far too good of a spirit to venture into that territory.

I thought the title might have something to do with a dog running in the rain... but as it ends up, it's about auto racing.  Enzo's owner Denny is a race car driver (with a last name is Swift, which also seemed a bit of a head-clobbering in the symbolism department)... so there is a lot about car racing in the book, too much for my taste.  And other than racing and Enzo, Denny has absolutely, positively the worst luck/life of any fictional character that I have read in recent times... again a bit too heavy of a hand.  (Again, pretty funny that I am fine w/ the talking dog, but can't swallow other parts of the book).

So while this all sounds pretty bad, my struggle with the schmaltz was offset by being totally sucked into the story... and if you are a dog lover, it's very hard not to be sucked in.  It is extremely easy reading and with chapters averaging 5.5 pages each, this was the fastest I have read a book in some time (took my 3 days -- and pretty much 3 sittings -- to get through the 321 pages). 

And having just lost a dog this year, it was pretty much impossible not to get emotional up at the start and end of Rain.  While us dog owners often wonder what our dogs are thinking, I think when it comes to the end, many of us would make the deal with the proverbial devil to just allow our dogs to speak to us and let us know it's okay.

I am not giving anything away here (it's in the very first chapter), but when Denny speaks of going to the vet and being "not sure it's a round-trip visit" and shortly thereafter Enzo says "We had a good run, and now it's over.  What's wrong with that?"... well it's hard not to get choked up... heck, I even am now as I typed in that line. 

So a mixed bag for me.  I can see why this book is beloved (it has a lofty 4.5 out of 5 star average on Amazon)... and will likely become even more of a runaway bestseller when it comes out in paperback.  While I haven't read either, it strikes me as combination of say a Mitch Albom/Tuesdays With Morrie and real-life dog story, Marly & Me.  Perhaps I'm just a bit too cynical/critical, but nevertheless the devotion between Enzo and Denny still managed to warm my heart.

2008 1-2-3-4-5 Reading Challenge: + 321 Pages (Total: 5,221 pages - Finished: 6/18/2008)
-630 pages behind pace for the year (+186 change in pace since last book).

Comments

[Joanna]

Nicely done - I had mixed emotions too but was also won over by my dog loving heart!

Thanks for taking my suggestion - and for the link.

[Joanna]

P.S. I'm a Libra too!

[Eleanor]

I wonder if you might be interested in receiving a review copy of another original work of fiction, also narrated by a labrador--although this one is written in a very different vein (suspension of disbelief is definitely still required, but the novel is whimsical rather than sentimental).

A DOG AMONG DIPLOMATS (April 2008) is the second book in a quirky mystery series by J.F. Englert. The first book, A DOG ABOUT TOWN was published in May 2007, and the third book, A DOG AT SEA, is scheduled for publication in April/May of 2009.

I'm helping author J.F. Englert reach out to bloggers, and I'd be happy to send you review copies of either or both books if you're interested!

An overview of the books and excerpts from reviews already in are below.

Best,
Eleanor
adogabouttown@gmail.com

BULL MOOSE DOG RUN MYSTERY SERIES - A Dog About Town, A Dog Among Diplomats

In writing this fanciful mystery series, Englert adopts the daring and original conceit of employing a first-person narration by a labrador-cum-detective, Randolph. The first book in the series, A Dog About Town, was recognized with the 2007 fiction award from The Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA).

Unbeknownst to his owners, Randolph (a black lab) is both sentient and literate--even well-read, spending much of the time that he has to himself at their Upper West Side apartment immersed in books. A year before the first novel opens, Randolph's mistress Imogen disappears without a trace, leaving behind a broken-hearted and mystified boyfriend and dog.

In A DOG ABOUT TOWN, the object of Randolph's ability to read and to reason turns from private past time to undercover detective work as he gently prods his less-enlightened owner, Harry, toward the answers behind a suspicious death--which also holds clues to Imogen's disappearance. Combining his powers of reasoning with his superior sense of smell (100,000 more powerful than that of humans), he is able to literally sniff out the trail, as well as the guilty parties.

In A DOG AMONG DIPLOMATS, Randolph dedicates himself to a second murder case—this time one with ties to the U.N. and in which Imogen is implicated as a possible suspect.

Advance praise for A DOG AMONG DIPLOMATS
Englert's droll mix of mystery, philosophical musing about man and beast, political doings at the U.N. and the mysteries of love make this an elegant, funny and inspiring romp in the park. - Publishers Weekly

LibraryThing members on A DOG AMONG DIPLOMATS
"This book reminded me of two things, both very disconnected: the old-time movie serials where the heroine is always left in utmost peril until the next sequence and P.G. Wodehouse."

"the writing is sharp and witty"

"I couldn't help but fall in love with Randolph."

"a marvelous study of character, especially the dog's, and has some of the funniest writing I've ever read in the genre."

"Like Wodehouse, [Englert] often throws off phrases that you want to reread just for the sheer pleasure of it."