Product ReviewsThe Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (2008, Hardcover)

Definite fun read!

The Art of Racing in the Rain is a terrific book. The main character, Denny is a strong person, who experiences life's joys and sorrows. Denny is a fighter and is relentless in the truth even though others are sometimes against him. The author gives life to Enzo, Denny's dog, who is the narrator of this book. We lost our beloved dog to cancer, and this book brought back the beautiful memories of our dog, Hutch. My family is looking forward to purchasing a new pup even more since reading this book! The tributes to the famous race car drivers is awesome.Read full review...

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Good read. Nice ending.

Great book. Fun & easy to read, read it from cover to cover in a week. My only critique, the author’s descriptions and detailed accounts of the character’s racing experiences were a bit winded. I understand these descriptions were used as metaphors in developing some plots but pages & pages of detailed racing experiences made the book drag in some parts. Eventually I began skipping these winded recollections and I still got the point. The author was also very convincing; I believed the words I was reading were those of Enzo, the dog. The ending of this book was also beautiful. After reading this book I will never look at dogs the same! Great read.Read full review...

Best vacation book in many a moon

The most enjoyable novel I've read in quite some time. While I do enjoy cars and motorsport, don't be put off in the least if you do not. I think what's required for the full enjoyment of this book is a love of dogs.

It's a story of a man and his family and their tragedy and triumph, as told by their family dog. It's amazingly easy to suspend your disbelief as most dog lovers treat their mutts as though they think as does "Enzo."

A quick and easy read, I knocked it out in a bit over a day on vacation, and I read at just average speed.

I saw a terrific review in a car magazine and thought I'd found an undiscovered nugget, but it's apparently taken off in the general population, and deservedly so. Read this book.Read full review...

WHAT WOULD ENZO DO???

My best read so far this year...in a year where I've read The Kite Runner, Eat Love Pray, Water for Elephants and several other best sellers of the blockbuster kind. You don't have to be a dog lover to read this book. The book will grab you right from the start. The narrator is ENZO a mixed breed dog. He will tell the story of his life. He will teach you stuff too. You'll laugh...maybe cry and definitely cheer for him when you read his story. I promise you will. If the author, Garth Stein plans to write another book, he'll have to come up with a story that is nothing short of pure perfection to top this read. BUY IT...SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!Read full review...

This book is a MUST READ

This book is a MUST READ for anyone who has or loves animals! It is funny, sad, whimsical--there are just a gazillion adjectives to describe it, but in the end it is simply an excellent book. The story is as seen from the family dog's eyes and portrays the feelings that a dog could have when observing all the happenings around him: understanding situations (sometimes better than the humans in his life) but not being able to affect outcomes in a straight-forward way, no matter how much he wishes he could. The author portrayed the dog in a way that most all animal owners want to believe is true of their beloved pets. It is just an excellent book and I highly recommend it.Read full review...

For the marley and me lovers out there

If you read and loved while laughing 'rill you cried while reading "Marley and me" this is the book for you!
I am a life long dog lover and i couldn't put this book down! I'm already re-reading it! I'm not even half of a bookworm by any stretch of the imagination, but seeing life through enzo's eyes makes me look at my dog in a new way. You know how there are alot of books out there that have a great story but just as a bad of an ending? Well not here! The ending is just that much better. This is the book for dog lovers & owners, and for those who should be! I was laughing, crying, and laughing once again! Believe me i'm not an emotional kind of person when it comes to just about anything, especially "mushy" emotions, so this will tell you how great this really is! I just bought it for someone else because i loved it so much! I never do that! I hope Garth Stein writes another such book! I know that "sequels" or similar books don't tend to be as good as the originals, but this one was so good i doubt that this will be the case!Read full review...

Title is very significant-thought provoking

Was looking for a summer read. I always scan at the local bookstore for possible titles, and then come home to puchase them from ebay. It was quite different reading the story from the dog's viewpoint. I found myself looking at my dog and wondering just what he's thinking, and what does he do all day to pass the time while I am at work. I laughed and cried, (as all animal stories have a beloved pet passing away.) The story is an easy read and the chapters fly by. The story has many life lessons in it. It helps to get people to take a second look at their life and put in perspective the things that really matter. Would reccommend this book for both animal lovers and anyone looking to see the really important parts of life!Read full review...

Truly, a "Must-Read!"

I loved this book! I first saw it displayed at the Starbuck's in Estes Park, CO while vacationing with my family last May. I didn't buy it then, but did come away with a promotional bookmark. At the Denver Airport while waiting for my flight back to LA, I cruised through Hudson's Books and there it was! So I bought it on the spot. Two days later I picked it up and - unusual for me - read it in a day and a half! It held me completely. It is not just another dog story; it is about life lessons and relationships and so much more. I have since bought two copies of this book and given it as a birthday gift to my daughter-in-law and my hubby's ex. They both fell in love with it after reading the first few pages (as I suspected they would)! This is one of the best books I've ever read. And it's also a book I will re-read, sooner rather than later!Read full review...

RACING IN THE RAIN Hardcover 2008

If you think this is a book like "Marley and Me" then you would be wrong. Sure, it is about a dog but what a story! Told from Enzo's viewpoint...and yes, Enzo is a dog. You will learn what it is really like to 'live a dog's life.' Enzo believes that when he dies he will come back as a man only if he proves himself worthy in this life. He is the companion to a race car driver named Denny. Enzo is the constant observer of Denny's life. He watched him fall in love with Eve and will admit he is a bit jealous, but he rejoices when Eve gives birth to a baby and they all move into a large house that has a big backyard for Enzo! The book is not without tragedy. Eve falls sick and it tears the family to heartbreaking pieces. I loved this book. It made me both laugh and cry and I loved Enzo so much! Mr. Stein has written a book that will keep you thinking about it for days to come. Just beautiful.Read full review...

A Memorable Dog Story that Won't Break Your Heart

I just finished this book and I had to write a review to encourage others to read it. If you love dogs, you'll love the main character, Enzo. And you'll look at your own dog differently after reading the story as told by Enzo. So close to being a human, Enzo is a devoted friend to his owner, Denny. He watches as Denny goes through great challenges and he is there by his side, wishing he could speak. But Denny understands. It is a very touching book and you'll love the happy ending!Read full review...