The Art of Racing in the Rain

     I just started reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (for a second time). The first time I read it was about 2 years ago. I absolutely loved it then but I never re-read book...that is until now. I love it even more this time than last time. I think the difference between me reading it two years ago and me reading it now is my appreciation and understand for more than just the story line.

     I love how Stein alternates between two plot lines. The narrator of the book is a dog who loves race car because that is his owners passion. Enzo, the dog, is able to tie lessons he learns for his owner racing to real life morals but in the beginning in seems almost like two separate stories. You don't realize until later in the story the impact of these life lessons.

     One lesson Enzo talks about is "That which you manifest is before you." He discusses this in regards to racing. He explains how you have you know how to react before the car even slips so that you are in control of the situation. Denny, his owner, reminds him that there are accident though and you can't always manifest that which is before you. You can't necessarily see this connection to the main plot line until Denny's wife, Eve, gets very sick. You see how Eve refused to go to the doctor so she was unable to react to the illness before it affected her. This resulted in a tragic ending which is what Denny expresses can happen on the race track when you don't manifest a situation.

     I think the lessons that Stein explains throughout the book are very powerful. They can be related to everybodys lives. Many of the moral are about how you should react and control situation but they are broad enough to be applied to everyone. I love that this story is told from a dog's perspective because it allows the author to be critical of human kind and analyze us as a species.

     Overall, I really love this book (even the second time around). It has a great underlying message and it is very well written. It has great life lessons to learn from and the author can be humourous at time. I would recommend this book to anyone.