Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Art of Racing in the Rain

So while The Book Thief is still my favorite book I've read this year, this book came in second by only a hair. Or maybe a cold, wet nose?

The book is told from the perspective of Enzo, a lab-terrier mix, who is one reincarnation away from becoming human. While most dogs are a little dim-witted (even my beloved Kobe, let's be honest), Enzo is very insightful. He hates that his tongue is too big and loose to form words, and he would like thumbs more than anything else in the world. He can't wait until his next life when he will be human.

But in this life, he is the dog of a semi-professional race car driver. His human, Denny, gets Enzo when he is a bachelor, but that soon changes and a wife and child are soon added to the family. The events that follow are trials and tribulations that could happen to any family, but being told from the perspective of a dog are what make them unique.

I loved this book. I have a unconventional perspective on what happens in the afterlife and I don't think the author's perspective, told through Enzo, is very far off from mine. The book also touches on the themes of destiny and fate, triumphing against all odds, the importance of family, and death.

A wonderful book, one any dog lover would enjoy. 

My rating: 5/5 stars.

2 comments:

  1. I really liked this book! although, I was bored stiff during the parts about racing cars.

    I too loved the themes about life and death and overcoming challenges. Great read.

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  2. The parts about racing were so short and far apart that it didn't bother me. Also it seemed like there was a life lesson weaved into the racing bits, so I didn't mind them.

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