The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Garth Stein
2008

This novel gives the floor to a dog who tells his life with a human, Denny and his family. Enzo, is this dog’s name, accompanies Denny, in his passion for car racing and his tumultuous family life.

Enzo spends a lot of his time alone at home watching television which makes him learn about the outside world. This is how he learned, in a documentary about Tibet, that dogs usually reincarnate as humans after their death. Enzo describes his life from this perspective: he is frustrated not having thumbs and not being able to speak although he is very successful in making himself understood by humans and changing the course of their lives.

It is interesting to read how Enzo perceives reality, what he understands, how he reacts and how some of his impulses seem uncontrollable. He insists on his acuity to perceive our states of mind, his sensitivity to smells, his perception of time. This perspective makes us think about how we act with our dogs. As it is a novel and not a scientific text, some elements are debatable.

Some passages are tasty. I liked Enzo's comment: "I'm sure my father was a terrier. Terriers are second to none to solve problems. They also obey, but only if the orders formulated coincide with what they wanted to do. (p.15)

Reading one of the most touching passages, Becka, my little Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, came to put her head in my hand and plunged her big eyes into mine, letting my emotions surface into present moment reality of her contact.

Very well written novel, it's a "page turner".

Louis Cimon
July 2019

Aussi disponible en Français : L’art de courir sous la pluie

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