The Art of Racing in the Rain

Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain is an amazingly entertaining book. It is surprisingly easy to connect with the main character and narrator--a dog. It seems like it would be a difficult thing for a person to connect with a character that is not even human, but Stein's depiction of Enzo makes this incredibly easy. Enzo is simply going about his daily life, watching as time passes by him, observing as the people around him change and develop. But he wants more than this. He is satisfied with his life, yes, but he is still waiting for something more. In Enzo's case, he wants to become human. While that is not relatable for the reader, Enzo's desire for something more is something all people experience at some point or another, whether they are happy with their lives or not. People are always searching for the meaning of things, much as Enzo tends to do. Despite the heaviness of this topic of yearning, The Art of Racing in the Rain is hilarious. There is an entire, albeit short, chapter dedicated to Enzo's theory that dogs are closer to humans than gorillas. His final piece of evidence? Werewolves. Now human turns into a gorilla during a full moon, do they? This balance of humor and thought-provoking themes makes for an amazing read.